ASTM_F_2621_-_F_2621M_-_19.pdf

Designation:F2621/F2621M19Standard Practice forDetermining Response Characteristics and Design Integrityof Arc Rated Finished Products and Evaluating otherProducts in an Electric Arc Exposure1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2621/F2621M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the yearof original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice identifies protocols for use in conductingarc testing on finished products intended for use as thermalprotection by workers who may be exposed to electric archazards.1.1.1 The practice is also used for other components whichcan be exposed to electric arc,but which do not require an arcrating.1.1.1.1 If items are tested and they do not meet the appro-priate standard,it is the responsibility of the specimen submit-ter to provide this information for indication in the test report.1.2 Arc Rated protective items are typically tested using thispractice to evaluate the performance of the interface areabetween the product and the other arc flash PPE or to evaluatezippers and other findings.1.3 When evaluating arc rated PPE with non-arc rated PPEfor due diligence(such as respirators,etc.),this practice doesnot result in an arc rating and non-arc rated components orproducts shall be clearly indicated as having no arc rating.1.4 This practice is not intended to produce an arc rating anddoes not replicate in all types of arc exposures.1.5 This practice is used with the following standards:1.5.1 Protective fabric materials receive arc ratings fromTest Method F1959/F1959M.1.5.2 Face protective products receive arc ratings from TestMethod F2178.1.5.3 Gloves receive arc ratings from Test Method F2675.1.5.4 Rainwear materials,findings and closures are speci-fied by Specification F1891.1.5.5 Garments are specified by Specification F1506.1.6 The test specimens used in this practice are typically inthe form of arc-rated finished products.These arc-rated fin-ished products may include,but are not limited to,single layergarments,multi-layer garments or ensembles,cooling vests,gloves,sleeves,chaps,rainwear,balaclavas,faceshields,andhood assemblies with hood shield windows.Non-arc ratedfinished products may be included when part of a flame-resistant system,or for evaluating heat transmission throughthe finished product for incident reenactment,or for evaluationof products needed but not available as arc rated(such asrespirators,etc.)1.7 The arc rated finished product specimens are newproducts as sold or products which have been used for theintended purpose for a designated time.1.8 This practice is used to determine the response charac-teristics or design integrity of arc-rated materials,products,orassemblies in the form of finished products when exposed toradiant and convective energy generated by an electric arcunder controlled laboratory conditions.1.9 This practice can be used to determine the integrity ofclosures and seams in arc exposures,the protective perfor-mance of arc-rated products in areas where garment overlapoccurs or where heraldry reflective trim or other items are used,and response characteristics such as afterflame time,melting,dripping,deformation,shrinkage,electric arc ignition,or otherdamage,or combination thereof,of fabrics,systems of fabrics,flammable undergarments when included as part of a system,sewing thread,findings,and closures.1.10 This practice can be used for incident reenactment,training demonstrations,and material/design comparisons.1.11 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system are not necessarily exact equivalents;therefore,toensure conformance with the standard,each system shall beused independently of the other,and values from the twosystems shall not be combined.1.12 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraisethe fire hazard or fire risk of materials,products,or assembliesunder actual fire conditions.However,results of this test maybe used as elements of a fire assessment,which takes intoaccount all of the factors,which are pertinent to an assessmentof the fire hazard of a particular end use.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on ElectricalProtective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF18.65 on Wearing Apparel.Current edition approved April 15,2019.Published June 2019.Originallyapproved in 2006.Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F2621 12.DOI:10.1520/F2621-19.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Stan