2 What is an fault arc - Die BG ETEM

6 Textile material and protective clothing
identical material for jacket and trouser as well as the consideration of the design
requirements given in IEC 61482-2 are essential. If as result of the risk assessment
of the workplace the use of protective clothing for the upper part of the body is
sufficient, the user has to guarantee the suitability of the selected trouser by itself.
To avoid resulting uncertainties and possibly occurring risks, the selection of a
complete suit of jacket and trouser or a coverall is recommended.
It can be recommendable to protect the neck by using clothing with collar.
Protective clothing and other personal protective equipment should be inspected
prior to use. These must be removed from service if found to be defective. The
performance of arc resistant protective clothing can be reduced or negated by flammable
contaminants. It is imperative to regularly clean protective clothing to remove
any possible contaminants. Protective garments are labelled as to the recommended
washing procedures. It is important to follow these recommendations to maintain the
protective characteristics of the garment. Additionally, garments should be repaired
with components that are at least equivalent to the original. Additional cleaning and
repair information can be obtained from the manufacturer.
The European Directive 89/686/EEC [1] requires that the manufacturer has to give
product information for the user. The clothing shall be marked for example with the
address of the manufacturer, number of standard, protection level, size of clothing,
washing and/or dry cleaning procedure, comfort, ageing.
Additionally each product has to be equipped with “relevant information” for the customer
in order to explain the kind of use, the level or classes mentioned, restrictions
for use, warnings and information about storing, cleaning, decontamination, repairing
and so on.
As additional important information it shall be emphasised that the garment is
normally not an electrical isolated protective clothing, for instance according to EN
50286:1999. And the user has also to consider that the whole protection against the
thermal risks of an electric arc requires, additional to a garment, suitable protective
equipment for the head (face and eye protection) as well as for the hands. These
items shall be tested according to the present available methods following IEC
61482-1-1 or IEC 61482-1-2, too.
28