OSHA rules and NFPA standards make the use of rubber insulating products mandatory when even the smallest probability of contact with 50 volts AC or higher exists. These rules affect nearly all industrial workplaces, as every single facility (including utility contractors and general contractors) has a need for electrical safety and arc flash protection, and failure to comply can result in heavy fines, serious injury and even death. Moreover, OSHA and ASTM standards also require regular inspection and testing of in-service electrical protective equipment in order to maintain compliance and ensure the products’ safety and integrity when exposed to a wide range of voltages.
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After a visual inspection is completed, rubber goods should be electrically tested, either at AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) voltages depending on the application, using specialized equipment designed to gradually increase the voltage to the desired test level. The dielectric test is two-fold: Pass/fail on the ability to withstand the rated test voltage and, for gloves, quantitative on the ability to prevent electric current from passing through the rubber goods above the maximum contained in the specifications. Products passing the inspection and test procedures can then be returned to service.
Electrical testing also helps to increase savings. Rubber insulating products are costly, and many times these costs are unnecessarily increased by purchasing replacements for products that could have remained in service with the proper in-service care, testing and recertification.
At a minimum, ASTM standards require that the inspection and testing process include the following steps:
- Check-in
- Removing previous testing marking
- Washing using cleaning agents that will not degrade the insulating properties
- Visual inspection of all surfaces (inside and out)
- Electrical testing
- Final inspection
- Recordkeeping
- Marking
- Packing in appropriate containers (“appropriate containers” means boxes, or similar sturdy packaging materials to prevent folding, creasing or similar loose storage that can cause stress on the rubber) for storage or shipment
The interval between the date of issue and electrical testing should be based on work practices and test experience. For gloves, the interval shall not exceed 6 months except for industries such as telecommunications that utilize insulating gloves as precautionary protection, in which case the maximum interval may be increased to 9 months. For sleeves and blankets, the interval shall not exceed 12 months. For line hose and covers, no minimal maximum interval is specified; Electrical testing shall be performed if the periodic cleaning and visual inspection identifies conditions that might adversely affect performance and safety.
Keep in mind that all electrical protective rubber insulating products are tested by the manufacturer prior to the first shipment. End users (or an end users’ designee) may perform acceptance testing within the first 2 months after receipt. However, do not place rubber insulating products into service unless they have been tested electrically within the previous 12 months.
Saf-T-Gard’s Voltgard® Test Lab can manage all of this for you by providing full dielectric testing and recertification services for users of rubber insulating products in every industry, including electric utilities, contractors, telecom, municipalities, first responders, and industrial facilities. Fully accredited by NAIL4PET (North American Independent Laboratories for Protective Equipment Testing) which helps develop uniformity in testing and works in close association with the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM International), the Voltgard Test Lab is equipped to clean, inspect, and perform dielectric testing of rubber gloves, sleeves, blankets, line hose, covers, dielectric footwear, jumper cables, grounding sets, plastic guards, hot sticks, matting, hoods and hand tools. Replacements are available for any failed products to ensure that your workers have the protective equipment that they need. Inventory management and scheduled change-out programs are also available.
All inspection and testing conducted by the Voltgard Test Lab are performed in strict accordance with applicable ASTM specifications. The Voltgard Test Lab is accredited by NAIL4PET to test the products below to the applicable ASTM standards:
- Insulating Gloves ASTM D120, F496, F1236
- Insulating Sleeves ASTM D1051, F496, F1236
- Insulating Blankets ASTM D1048, F479, F1236
- Insulating Line Hose ASTM D1050, F478, F1236
- Insulating Covers ASTM D1049, F478, F1236
- Dielectric Overshoe Footwear ASTM F1116, F1117
- Insulating By-Pass Jumpers ASTM F2321, F2249
- Portable Grounding Jumpers ASTM F2249, F855
- Hot Sticks and Live Line Tools ASTM F711, IEEE 978, F1825, F1826
- Insulating Plastic Guards ASTM F712
- Insulating Hand Tools ASTM F1505
- Rubber Insulating Matting ASTM D178
Click here to access the Voltgard® Rubber Insulating Products Testing Order Forms to get started. If you are uncertain which type of testing applies to your rubber insulating products, click here to learn more about Voltgard's DC testing services.
check out this video to learn even more about how our voltgard® test lab can help with your electrical testing!