27.07.2024, 12:20
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PROTECTION AGAINST THE THERMAL HAZARDS OF AN ELECTRIC ARC

The standard defines test methods for protective clothing used in work situations involving thermal hazards from electric arcs. An arc fault is caused by the passage of electricity through ionised air. It is an unwanted and unplanned connection between two conductors. As a rule, this connection lasts less than one second. 

IEC 61482-2

PPE protective clothing is marked with these pictograms. Both awards are possible.

Various causes during electrical work cantrigger an arc fault : 


  • Mishandling
  • Technical defects
  • Contamination by foreign bodies in the system
  • Changed weather conditions (e.g. increased humidity)

During the propagation of an arc, temperatures of more than 10,000 °C can occur  arise. Suitable protective clothing should prevent the thermal effects of the electric arc as far as possible Of the arc fault as far as possible. The protective function is only Only when a complete, closed suit is worn. In addition, according to on site, head and hand protection must also be worn must be worn. The However, the clothing is not electrically insulating protective clothing. A protective effect against an electric There is no protective effect against an electric current flowing through the body.

Protective clothing against thermal hazards of an electric arc is divided into two protection classes. These differ in the magnitude of the arc energy and the incident energy. The arc protection classes are indicated as APC 1 or APC 2.  

The following table gives an overview of the relevant parameters of each test class:


TEST CLASS
Mean value of
Arc energy
Warc [kJ]
Mean value of
Impact energy
Eio [kJ/m2]
Test current
[kA]
Arc time
[ms]
APC 11581354500
APC 23184237500