Just Published – IEC 61482-1-1

It is once again a privilege to announce the recent publication of IEC 61482-1-1:2019 Live working – Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc – Part 1-1: Test methods – Method 1: Determination of the arc rating (ELIM, ATPV and/or EBT) of clothing materials and of protective clothing using an open arc.  This standard is one of the dozens of standards that fall under IEC Technical Committee 78 that I have the privilege to Chair.

IEC 61482-1-1:2019 specifies test method procedures to determine the arc rating of flame resistant clothing materials and garments or assemblies of garments intended for use in clothing for workers if there is an electric arc hazard. An open arc under controlled laboratory conditions is used to determine the values of ELIM, ATPV or EBT of materials, garments or assemblies of garments.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

– addition of the Incident energy limit (ELIM) as a further arc rating performance property value;

– replacement of char length requirement in the scope by indication that Procedure A is applicable for testing of materials meeting the limited flame spread requirements of IEC 61482-2;

– clarification of the definition and the meaning of the Stoll curve;

– modification of specification of positioning of monitor sensors with respect to the electric arc as function of intended high incident energy exposure of test specimens;

– modification of specifications of monitor sensor construction;

– specification of black paint;

– elimination of calorimeters from the chest of the mannequin;

– specification for possible positioning of mannequin(s) at a height different from the centre of the electric arc and possible turning in order to adequately expose all parts of the garment or clothing which would affect performance;

– more explicit description of requirements for data acquisition system;

– preconditioning of the samples;

– modification of requirements for apparatus and arc exposure verification by bare shots;

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