ASTM_F_1116_-_14a.pdf

Designation:F111614aStandard Test Method forDetermining Dielectric Strength of Dielectric Footwear1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1116;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers testing to determine the“Di-electric Strength”of dielectric overfoot and overshoe footwear.Testing is done over the maximum possible area of thedielectric footwear without permitting flashover between elec-trodes.1.2 The use and maintenance of dielectric footwear isbeyond the scope of this test method.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specific hazardstatements appear in 5.2.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage andDielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materialsat Commercial Power FrequenciesF1117 Specification for Dielectric Footwear3.Terminology3.1 Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 useras used in 1.3,the entity employing the actualworker utilizing the equipment;if no separate employer,thenthe individual.3.1.2 overfoot footwearfootwear designed to be worndirectly over the feet as the only source of foot covering.3.1.3 overshoe footwearfootwear designed to be wornover existing footwear.4.Significance and Use4.1 Electrical contact injuries to workers may involve acurrent path through the feet of the worker.The footwearcovered by this specification is dielectrically rated to provideadditional insulation and isolation to the wearer.This testmethod will determine that dielectric footwear has dielectricintegrity at the time of the test.5.Apparatus5.1 Electrical Test Criteria:5.1.1 Test ProcedureThe footwear shall be immersed inwater or other conducting media to a depth where the flashoverclearance is consistent with the proof test voltage as listed inTable 1.Since the water or other conducting media inside thefootwear forms one test electrode and the water or the otherconducting media in the container outside the footwear formsthe other electrode,152 mm or 6 in.of clearance betweenelectrodes consists of 76 mm or 3 in.of clearance from the topof the footwear to the top of the water or other conductingmedia both inside and outside of the footwear.Water isrecommended as the medium for the electrodes to ensurecomplete coverage of the surfaces of the footwear.Water maywick up the inner lining on certain brands of footwear.Toovercome the wicking effect care needs to be taken to keep theinner area above the water dry and conduct the tests promptlyafter placing the water inside the footwear.The water or otherconducting media inside the footwear forms one test electrodeand shall be connected to one terminal of the voltage source bymeans of a metal chain or sliding rod that dips into theelectrode.The water or other conducting media in the containeroutside the footwear forms the other electrode and shall beconnected directly to the other terminal of the voltage source.Due to the weight of water or other types of electrode media,support racks are needed to secure footwear being tested.Themaximum protective area of the footwear shall be tested.Caremust be taken to thoroughly dry the inside of the footwearfollowing the test and prior to storage.See Fig.1 and Fig.2 fortypical test arrangements for dielectric test of rubbers and bootsusing water electrodes.NOTE1Water used as electrodes should have a minimum conductanceof 0.25 mho.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 onElectrical Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee F18.15 on Worker Personal Equipment.Current edition approved Aug.1,2014.Published September 2014.Originallyapproved in 1988.Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F111614.DOI:10.1520/F1116-14A.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.2 PrecautionsIt is recommended that the test apparatusbe designed to afford the operator full protection in perfor-mance of his duties.Reliable means of de-energizing andgrounding the high-voltage circuit shall be provided.It isparticularly important to incorporate a positive means ofgrounding the high-voltage section of the dc test apparatus dueto the likely presence of high-voltage capacitance charges atthe c