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A First-Hand Perspective of Flash Fire Testing

Flame resistant (FR) coveralls, shirts and pants afford workers a few extra seconds of escape time when faced with a flash fire and aim to dramatically reduce or eliminate body burn. FR garments are tested according to a variety of standards. For flash fire, ASTM F1930 (Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Flame Resistant Clothing for Protection Against Fire Simulations Using an Instrumented Manikin) tells us how to do the manikin test. NFPA 2112 was the standard developed specifically to address flash fire hazards, and uses ASTM F1930 setting a pass/fail limit at 50% burn in a three second exposure.

How Long Do Flash Fires Last?

The answer to this question has been debated along with other FR marketing issues; however, groundbreaking research has been conducted to reaffirm the behavior of flash fires. Research performed by the University of Alberta’s Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility (PCERF) has reaffirmed the industry’s benchmark flash fire standards from the NFPA and CGSB.

Making Sense of NFPA 2112

You’ve been told you need NFPA 2112-compliant garments but do you understand what compliance actually means? NFPA 2112 is an industry standard on flame resistant garments for protection of industrial personnel against flash fire. NFPA 2112 provides minimum performance criteria and sets clear guidelines for testing. What’s vital to understand is that the significant majority of NFPA 2112 testing, using the ASTM F1930 and other test methods, rates performance of flame resistant fabrics as opposed to garments. It is the fabric type, brand and weight that determine the vast majority of the most important characteristics of the finished PPE.

OSHA & Industry Changes that Impact FR Clothing Programs

The challenge of keeping pace with keeping safe

In today’s world, information overload makes it nearly impossible to digest all of the messages constantly being pushed at us. With a steady stream of news updates always in front of us, it can be difficult to pull out the most important and relevant issues. Two items that are particularly important to the electric and utility industries are OSHA’s changes to standard 1910.269 regarding FR clothing and the proposed changes to ASTM F1506. Read more to learn about OSHA clothing regulations and requirements.

Is Safety an Initiative or a Value at Your Organization?

Safety is an initiative that every organization should prioritize, and eventually turn into a value. Being safe is about employee buy-in and the employees themselves – not just about the numbers. Much like with personal protective equipment (PPE) – where you have to get employees to see the value in wearing it or they won’t – if your employees don’t stand behind your safety program, it is not going to work.

When Proper Arc Flash Protection Performs as Designed

Arc flash accidents are frequently noted when, unfortunately, something terrible goes wrong and an employee is injured. However, not all of these stories end badly due to proper use of arc flash protection. In his article for Flame Resistant Insights, Larry Hilgeman of The Hilgeman Group, Inc., shares a report from a real-life arc flash incident that ended positively as a result of the worker wearing the right PPE.

Westex Makes $650,000 Commitment to NJATC

Westex has entered into agreement with The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry (NJATC) to create the Westex Personal Protective Equipment Academyprogram to train the next generation of union electrical workers.

Over the next five years, Westex will donate $650,000 in cash, product and training support, to enhance the IBEW/NECA training efforts by Read More

Westex and the American Society of Safety Engineers Sign a 2-Year Extension

Westex and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) have signed a 2-Year extension to the existing Gold Sponsorship Agreement for 2014-2015. Over the next two years, Westex will provide a financial contribution to ASSE along with product and educational support to the ASSE membership.

INHERENT VS. TREATED: DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Historically, the flame resistant properties of flame resistant fabrics could be separated into two categories: Inherent and treated. Once upon a time, this was a relevant distinction. It meant the difference between FR properties that were durable, and those that were not. However, these terms ceased to provide information to safety managers looking to evaluate FR fabrics way back in 1987.

THE SAFETY IS IN THE FABRIC

The success of your flame resistant (FR) clothing program depends heavily on the fabric used to construct the garments. Both arc rating and flash fire “2112” testing are done by fabric brand and weight; the fabric brand is also the key factor in durability of FR properties, initial and long term comfort, shrinkage control, wear life, and more. For these reasons, it’s very important that you take an active role in specifying the fabric used to produce finished garments. Here are a few questions to consider when evaluating fabric manufacturers: