For many Health and Safety managers, the combination of welding activities and protective clothing is an absolute no-brainer. But are you aware of the differences between class 1 and class 2 of EN ISO 11611? And do you know what the impact is of comfort on safety?
In this page, we inform you about protective clothing for the use of welding and allied processes.
Protective clothing for welding is designed to protect wearers against molten metal splashes, but also protect against short contact with flame and radiant heat from an electric arc that is used for welding. On top of that, the clothing also minimizes the possibility of electrical shock by short-term contact with live electrical conductors at voltages up to approximately 100V (in normal welding conditions).
Apart from protection, comfort also plays a highly important role in this industry. You will probably recognize that protective clothing that is worn during welding activities is often not comfortable. However, protective clothing for welding that is both safe and comfortable has a truly positive influence on the overall effectiveness and happiness at the workplace. It is advised to take into consideration the following factors:
The balance between protection and comfort is very important. Higher levels of protection often means more weight, but the garment has to remain comfortable enough. Constructions and fibre blends can make the difference.
EN ISO 11611, or ‘NEN-EN-ISO 11611:2015’ is the current standard which specifies minimum basic safety requirements for protective clothing for welding and allied processes. This international standard does not cover the requirements for feet, hands, face or eyes, so take into consideration that proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed to ensure overall protection for welders.
The EN ISO 11611 norm consists of four tests, which simulate different FR-risks: radiant heat (ISO 6942), molten metal (9150), flame spread (ISO 15025) and electrical resistance (EN 1149-2).
The EN ISO 11611 itself is divided into class 1 and class 2. Do you know which one you should comply with? Gas welding, for example, is a class 1 welding activity. MMA welding (with basic or cellulose-covered electrode), MAG (with CO2 or mixed gasses) and MIG (with high current) welding are all class 2 welding activities. It is important that you are aware of the differences, in order to determine which standard your protective clothing needs to comply with. A risk assessment is crucial in order to familiarize yourself with the risks in your unique work environment.
In order to achieve a class 2-rating, you need to meet the class 2 test results of radiant heat and molten metal tests. To meet the standard, the fabric is tested on:
When you are in the process of improving your worker’s protective clothing, you most likely encounter multiple challenges, such as assessing relevant risks in your work environment, determining which rules and regulations to comply with, and prioritizing your protective clothing specifications. This FR Fabrics Guide educates you on all relevant aspects of protective clothing and helps you prioritize:
This complete and comprehensive FR Fabrics Guide helps you by educating all relevant aspects of protective clothing and helps you prioritize during your selection process:
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