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TECHNOLOGY
Protective clothing for the aluminium industry from South Africa
A. Charnaud, Charnaud & Co. (Pty) Ltd
© Charnaud
A. J. Charnaud & Co. (Pty) Ltd has
been manufacturing industrial protective
clothing (PPC) since 1975. Hot metal
splash-resistant protective work wear for
the aluminium industry was added in the
late 1990s after IPAI, now known as the
IAI (International Aluminium Institute),
changed the goal posts and increased the
required protection levels. They introduced
a standard test that has become
known as ‘Procedure B’, which has become
the benchmark for IAI members to
follow.
ALu-SAFE protecting clothing
Because IPAI raised the minimum performance
standard, most of the PPC being used
in the global aluminium industry fell short of
this standard. The race was then on to develop
Example: mobile gas treatment system and
furnace covers with gas exhaust
products which could meet the new standard.
It was in response to this challenge that
Charnaud decided to develop its ALu-SAFE
product in South Africa.
Today ALu-SAFE has become a global
standard in many smelters as well as in downstream
operations across the world under a
wide range of climatic conditions. Charnaud
is the only producer in the industry who controls
the quality of its product through all the
manufacturing stages, starting with the raw
fibre, and down to the finished garment.
The company’s holistic approach to PPC
and personal protective
equipment (PPE), brought to
live the ‘Head to Foot’ concept
of protection. The aim
of the company is to provide
protection of the worker exposed
to molten aluminium
and cryolite splash, not only
by supplying items of clothing,
but through a complete
protective ‘kit’.
The ALu-SAFE range
of protective clothing and
equipment consists of head
and neck visors, knitted undergarments,
casting coats
and suits, shirts and trousers,
socks, footwear, winter
warm coats, and electric arc
flash garments, to name but
a few. The range of protective wear was developed
whilst taking into account the workers’
special protection requirements when
exposed to both molten aluminium and cryolite.
The range is
triple certified
and meets the requirements
of the
US ASTM standards,
European
standard EN ISO
Revamping solutions 11612:2008, plus
IPAI Procedure B
and tailor made for molten aluminium
and cryolite,
aluminium melting
and where appropriate
the garments are
and holding furnaces
also CE certified.
Today the Charnaud
and ALu-SAFE
brands have become
synonymous
with the ultimate in overall hot metal protection.
The range contains some unique products,
including a fabric which offers D3 protection
against molten aluminium, B65 protection
against molten cryolite, plus HRC2 protection
against electric arc
flash for workers
carrying out
electrical work in
the hot metal
areas.
E20300 with
red insert
For foot protection a special hot metal sock
was developed. Apart from offering molten
splash protection and being inherently flame
resistant, the Charnaud Thermal Sock has a
permanent anti-bacterial feature built into
the fibres. The anti-bacterial treatment lasts
for the life of the sock and ensures the sock
says free of odours for several days.
Workers can choose between two specialised
protective work boots, depending of the
type of hazard they face in their workplace.
The Charnaud Smelter Boot and the E20300
Work Boot both carry the necessary certification
for work in the hot metal industry. The
ultra-high temperature sole of the Smelter
Boot will protect the wearer even in the event
of a direct dip into molten metal. This boot
was the first of only two in the market that
meet the new European standard for hot metal
and furnace footwear EN ISO 20349:2010.
The E20300 is a unique general purpose hot
metal boot that is completely metal free. The
boot has a 300 °C tolerant sole that is electric
shock resistant up to 20,000 V.
Charnaud not only provides world-class
head-to-toe protection, but also assists customers
with garment care and laundering to
ensure that the PPC and PPE last as long as
possible. We are proud to be the total solution
for PPC and PPE to the aluminium industry.
Author
Andrew Charnaud is chairman of A. J. Charnaud &
Co. (Pty) Ltd based in Honeydew, South Africa.
42 ALUMINIUM · 3/2013