PWG: electric arc protection from head to toe

PWG: electric arc protection from head to toe. PWG has launched a High Energy ARC kit made from Nomex that introduces the latest technology in protective clothing against electric arc. The kit consists of a jacket, trousers, hood and gloves that can be used in conjunction with respiratory equipment.

Safety engineers from DuPont production plants recognised the need for a high energy arc kit because of the risks faced by them whilst carrying out operations such as changing switches in electrical distribution systems or maintenance routines in low voltage environments. These could be prone to electrical arc hazards resulting in incident energies of up to 40 cal/ cm² and an individual who is not sufficiently protected may receive life threatening burns.

As a result safety managers called for full body personal protective clothing including high performance protection for the head and hands. PWG designed the High Energy ARC kit that features jacket, trousers, a hood and gloves.

The kit has been successfully tested and certified as electric arc protective clothing with ATPV > 40 cal/cm². The ATPV indicates the maximum thermal energy to which a fabric can be exposed without the wearer suffering second degree burns. Unprotected human skin may show such an injury when exposed to about 1.2 cal/ cm² energy.

Three Layers of Nomex

The material selected to achieve both high protective performance and maximum comfort. A combination of two layers of Nomex Comfort was selected plus one layer of Nomex felt. The three layer construction combines high inherent flame and heat resistance with durability and electric arc protection against incident energies up to 40 cal/cm².

Despite its high protective performance, the suit allows freedom of movement and can be adapted to the body with Velcro fastenings in the lower end of the back.

Contact:

DuPont,
Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland
www.dpp-europe.com

Tjeed Sorgedrager
PWG Bedrijfsveilige Kleding, Goes,
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 113 21 34 40
E-Mail: t.sorgedrager@pwg.nl
www.pwg.nl