Considerations on the Behaviour of Protective Clothing Against the Thermal Hazards Caused by an Electric Arc

This paper presents an overview over the experimental research on the behavior of the protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc. It studies the behavior of the garments (new or prewashed, intended for use in electrotechnical networks where risks of electric arc exist) at a directed and constrained electric arc. A practical scenario has been selected with constructive, electrical and test parameters setup. The test results were studied and were made observations over the impact of the test arc regarding the effects produced by gas cloud and plasma by radiation and convection or by direct contact and hot molten metal particles and splash. The setup and experimental test box were designed to meet the typical arc fault conditions and to cover actual arc exposure conditions in electrical equipment and installations were the electric arc is directed to the front of the worker at the height of his breastbone.