As especificações e testes dos equipamentos de proteção contra os efeitos térmicos de fogo repentino também estão contemplados nas normas da ISO (InternationalOrganization for Standardization). Para a proteção contra arco elétrico, as normas são feitas em colaboração mútua com a ISO e IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
Flash Fire
ISO 11612
It establishes the minimum performance requirements for protective clothing against heat and flames, which can be used for a wide variety of end uses, and are intended to protect the worker's body, except his hands, from heat and flames. The test must be performed on an instrumented dummy according to ISO 13506, with a minimum exposure time of 3 and a maximum of 4 seconds, or up to 8 seconds for multilayers, although it does not establish a maximum limit for the percentage of burns, such as the NFPA 2112. The specifications are in accordance with the regulations in force in the country of origin.
ISO 13506
Test the full protective clothing against heat and flames using an instrumented dummy to assess the behavior and resistance to sudden fire. These evaluations are recorded graphically by means of sensors that, due to their precision, can measure all degrees of burning. After the flame is applied for the time determined in ISO 11612, the reading is made for a period of up to 60 seconds, for a layer, or 120 seconds, for multilayers, after the flame ceases, to evaluate the possibility of burns in this interval.
The conclusive report must record the time of exposure to the flames, the burning areas in percentage, the sample behavior (if there was smoke emission, shrinkage, intensity, and duration of the post-combustion), volume of smoke generated during and after the test, dimensional stability, among other factors.
ISO 15025
It establishes two test methods to limit the spread of the flame. The after-flame in both methods must be less than 2 seconds. Both textile samples and samples that contain all types of materials that make up the clothing externally (velcro, zippers, thread, etc.) can be evaluated.
Electric Arc
IEC 61482-2
It establishes the minimum certification requirements, and is similar to ASTM F 1506. It allows the assessment of clothing by two methods: IEC 61482-1-1 or IEC 61482-1-2.
IEC 61482-1-1
Evaluates the performance of textile or clothing materials in the presence of an arc using two methods. The first, method A, determines the ATPV (similar to ASTM F 1959), HAF, and breaks in tissue samples; the second, method B (similar to ASTM F 2621), evaluates the performance of the constructive characteristics of the clothes on an instrumented dummy.
As a precondition for carrying out the test, it is necessary that the textile materials meet the requirements of ISO 15025 regarding the extent of carbonization, which must be less than 100 mm, and the after-flame, which must be less than 2 seconds. It differs from NFPA 70E in that it does not separate it into risky categories.
IEC 61482 1-2
Evaluates the performance of fabrics or clothing in the presence of an electrical arc using the box method (Box Test). It classifies the tested materials in two protection classes:
• Classe 1 – Corrente de teste 4 kA – 3,2 cal/cm².
• Class 1 - Test current 7 kA - 10.1 cal / cm².
It uses ATPV information according to method A. IEC 61482-1-1.
