PPE FEATURE GET KITTED OUT
DuPont’s protective clothing and Nomex specialist Elaina Harvey, offers expert guidance on all there is to know about heat and flame protective clothing
A
t the moment some buyers and end users are puzzled as there is no clear
distinction between the terms ‘resistant’ and ‘retardant’. Currently the CIRFS (European Man-Man Fibres Association), the representative body for the European man-made fibre industry, is attempting to create an official definition for the various combinations of terminology using resistant, retardant, inherent or treated, in order to clear up confusion. As a rule of thumb, the following definitions are widely accepted - ‘flame resistant fabric and flame retardant are two terms that are used to describe a material that is self extinguishing after removal of an external ignition source.’
is robust despite the probable non- observance of the manufacturers cleaning instruction. Non-inherent fabrics, sometimes known as coated FR or coated flame retardant fabrics, use a chemical treatment to achieve protection. The treatment chemicals are frequently ‘activated’ by intense heat, producing char and gases that inhibit combustion for a certain time. The limitations of flame retardant treated fabrics are that the added chemicals may be affected or removed by external factors such as washing, exposure to heat or exposure to other chemicals. The non- inherent fabrics are limited in that the heat and flame protective properties are maintained for the indicated wear life, i.e. for up to an indicated maximum number of cleaning cycles. However, this will only stay true as long as the user adheres strictly to the manufacturers cleaning instructions, otherwise there is risk of damage to the flame protective properties, potentially putting the wearer at risk.
The distinction of inherent versus non-
inherent fibres of fabrics, is whether the flame resistant or retardant properties are intrinsic to the polymer or fibre properties or whether a flame retardant or resistant chemical treatment is applied somewhere after the fibre production.
INHERENT OR COATED PROTECTION? When a fabric offers inherent protection, this is because it is manufactured with fibres, such as Nomex, whose intrinsic structural properties make them naturally flame resistant. Because the properties are part of the structure, they cannot be washed out or removed by cleaning processes, wear and tear, and will continue to offer the same level of protection throughout the garment’s lifetime. The advantage of these types of protective fabrics is that the performance
EUROPEAN LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS Before being placed on the EU market, garments must undergo specific tests and surpass a set level to ensure the wearer will be adequately protected. Under the EU legislative framework, the user, to be effectively protected by PPE, must ensure, based on the first directive, to have conducted a risk assessment to determine the appropriate level of protection required, and purchase PPE compliant with the second directive -
Category I: PPE of simple design and assumes that the user can access the level of protection against gradual risks which the user can identify in good time, for example gardening gloves and sunglasses.
Category II: PPE that is neither simple nor complex but is considered intermediate design. This category provides intermediate level of protection.
Category III: PPE of complex design which is intended to protect against mortal danger or against dangers that may seriously harm a person. The design assumes the user cannot identify the risk in sufficient time. This would include heat and flame protective garments.
Above and left: DuPont scientists have
engineered materials like Nomex that help provide industrial workers with protection from intense heat and flames
Directive 89/656/EEC ‘Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for the Use by Workers of PPE’ - known as the PPE ‘Use Directive’ which sets down the employers’ obligations towards health and safety of workers through a risk analysis and assessment, and free of charge supply of appropriate PPE and training, and Directive 89/686/EEC 'Approximation of the Laws of Member States relating to PPE’ - known as the PPE ‘Product Directive’ which specifies the procedures for the placing on the market of PPE from its manufacture and certification that it conforms with the basic requirements to protect users of PPE. The Product Directive brings together
PPE covered into three distinct groups and whilst the directive does not explicitly define these three groups into categories, it is common practice to use the terms Category I, II and III respectively (see below left). In addition to this, PPE placed on the
EU market must also carry CE marking. This symbol implies the conformity to all provisions of the relevant directives. Manufacturers’ information is also required to be supplied alongside the PPE and forms an integral part of assessing the conformity of an item of PPE. By understanding exactly what to look for, the different standards the garments must adhere to and the various types of protection available when choosing heat and flame protective garments, not only will workers be protected properly in life threatening situations, but you’ll be completely ‘in the know’ about what to expect from your garments.
DuPont
www.dupont.co.uk T: 01438 734 450
/ ELECTRICALENGINEERING
Enter 218 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING | NOVEMBER 2014 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52