ASTM F2675 has been revised and published as a 2019 edition with significant updates. All references to ASTM D120 for rubber insulating gloves and ASTM F696 for leather protectors have been removed. This change allows rubber gloves and leather protectors to be rated independently of those product conformance standards. Arc ratings were previously limited in the scope from applying towards D120 and F696 conforming gloves. With this revision arc ratings on rubber gloves and leather protectors can be marketed with enhanced performance qualities where they were confined before.
Another significant update to the standard is the introduction of “ignition withstand”. This new protocol will allow gloves to be tested above their their rating to check for melting and dripping or ignition sources for glove findings, components, or accessories that do not otherwise meet the requirements of ASTM D6413, the vertical flame test.
The new ignition withstand method is designed to represent the reality of hands being closer to an arc in an incident–it allows for gloves with ignitable components to be tested at a level above the arc rating. Arc ratings are determined by considering a distance of 12in from the arc, which is not representative of real-life applications concerning hand protection. While the test is conservative, in an accident the hands are often closest to the arc. Performing testing at a level above the rating will help to reveal which materials have a potential to ignite if hands are exposed to an energy higher than estimated. Gloves in the marketplace have become more complex and innovative. It is useful for end users to have glove options that serve as protection from mechanical hazards like cut, puncture, impact, or abrasion, and many current models are designed to accommodate for different hazards.
A table has been published in the standard as a guideline on appropriate incident energy levels to use when performing ignition withstand testing on finished products. The base gloves are provided with an arc rating, and the finished gloves (that might contain components that do not meet the requirements of ASTM D6413, like impact protection) are tested for ignition at a level above the rating. If no ignition is found, an Arc Rating limit is listed as appropriate for the finished product.
Additionally, section 1.2.1 has been revised to remove consideration for ratings of gloves using flat materials in accordance with ASTM F1959. This is not a retroactive change, but the update does not leave room for fabric panel ratings to be applied to glove materials as was done before the glove test method was published in 2013. This is particularly important as fabric ratings are not representative of glove ratings–the products perform differently in the different configurations and testing to ASTM F2675 on a hand form is the most appropriate method for gloves. Hands are often closer to the arc and gloves are often more taut across the hand compared to clothing draped on a body.
Additional changes include:
- Removal of Heat Attenuation Factor calculations
- Updates and clarifications made to the data acquisition system, calibration check, determination of time zero and care of sensors
The new edition of the standard can be purchased at ASTM.
ArcWear is an accredited third-party testing laboratory and can assist with evaluations to ASTM F2675,
