ArcWear™ Electric Arc Rated ASTM F1891 & NFPA 70E NASCO’s ArcWear line of rainwear is designed to provide utility workers with protection from foul weather as well as an electric arc flash. Linemen are faced with the daunting task of restoring power during storms and they need to have a product that will keep them dry, visible and safe. ArcWear products are designed by linemen, for linemen to help them get the lights back on. Left: When exposed to an electric arc, suit ignites, melts, drips and fails to meet F1891. Right: NASCO suit does not ignite, melt or drip and exceeds ASTM F1891 requirements. ArcWear™ Products Understanding Flash Fire Rainwear For workers needing flame resistant (FR) rainwear, there is often uncertainty about the proper type of rainwear to select for their application. There are specific types of flame resistant rainwear which are designed for specific flame hazards. Since not all FR rainwear is necessarily the same, it is important to clarify what the “FR” claim in rainwear means. There is a lot of confusion around what is being sold in the market place – some FR claims even can be decieving. To clarify and determine what your needs are, the first step is to determine the type of flame hazard you are trying to protect against. To help clarify the standards for FR rainwear, it is pretty simple; there are only two. Electric Arc Protective Rainwear ASTM F1891: Standard and Specification for Arc and Flame Resistant Rainwear Flash Fire Protective Rainwear ASTM F2733: Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Rainwear for Protection Against Flame Hazards. FR rainwear meeting one or both of these standards will be identified on the product label. These are the only FR standards that have been developed specifically for rainwear. Therefore, it is important to select the rainwear which has been appropriately tested to the standard which best meets your hazard. Purchase a copy of the standards from ASTM: ASTM F1891, ASTM F2733 and ANSI 107 Download your free copy of Understanding Flash Fire RainWear [PDF] ArcWear™ Standards ASTM F1891 ASTM F2733 ANSI 107 This specification establishes applicable test methods, minimum physical and thermal performance criteria, a suggested sizing guide, and suggested purchasing information for rainwear for use by workers who may be exposed to thermal hazards of momentary electric arcs and open flames. It does not however apply to electrical contact hazards or electric shock hazards involved with electric arcs nor to flash fire hazards such as industrial hydrocarbon flash fires or other petrochemical flash fire hazards. The rainwear shall be manufactured of materials and constructed using seams that meet the requirements for leak resistance and shall meet the physical requirements of this specification initially as manufactured and after five cleanings. The specimen shall be subjected to tests to determine conformance to the following requirements: flame resistance, tear strength resistance, waterproofness, electric arc resistance, material average weight, arc rating, arc thermal performance value, breakopen threshold energy, heat attenuation factor, and melting and dripping. The material response characteristics for rainwear material, including afterflame time, breakopen, charring, dripping, electric arc ignition, embrittlement, melting, and shrinkage, shall be reported for two typical exposures at least equal to the arc rating and also for two typical exposures at least two times the arc rating. Scope from ASTM 1.1 This specification establishes applicable test methods, minimum physical and thermal performance criteria, a suggested sizing guide, and suggested purchasing information for rainwear for use by workers who may be exposed to thermal hazards of momentary electric arcs and open flames. 1.1.1 This specification does not apply to the electrical contact hazards or electric shock hazards involved with electric arcs. 1.1.2 This specification does not apply to flash fire hazards such as industrial hydrocarbon flash fires or other petrochemical flash fire hazards. 1.2 The objective of this specification is to prescribe fit, function and performance criteria for rainwear that meets a minimum level of thermal and physical performance when exposed to a laboratory–simulated electric arc or flame exposure. 1.3 This specification is not intended to serve as a detailed manufacturing or purchasing specification, but can be referenced in purchase contracts to ensure that minimum performance requirements are met. 1.4 Controlled laboratory tests used to determine compliance with the performance requirements of this specification shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations to which wearers of this protective clothing may be exposed. 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