IEC 61482-1-1-2019 PDF

Full title and description

Live working - Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc - Part 1-1: Test methods - Method 1: Determination of the arc rating (ELIM, ATPV and/or EBT) of clothing materials and of protective clothing using an open arc. This second edition updates the method for open-arc testing and introduces ELIM alongside ATPV and EBT as arc-performance metrics.

Abstract

IEC 61482-1-1:2019 specifies laboratory procedures using an open electric arc to determine arc-rating values (ELIM, ATPV and/or EBT) for flame‑resistant materials, assemblies and garments intended to protect workers from the thermal effects of an electric arc. The standard clarifies test apparatus and sensor positioning, describes Procedures A and B for flat specimens and garment testing, and notes limits of the method (it does not address non‑thermal arc effects or garments for intentionally creating arcs).

General information

• Status: Current (second edition; replaces the 2009 edition).
• Publication date: 3 July 2019 (publication listed July 2019 / circulated mid‑2019).
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), TC 78 (Live working).
• ICS / categories: 13.220.40 (Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products); 29.260.99 (Other electrical equipment for working in special conditions).
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2019).
• Number of pages: 135 pages (bilingual English/French publication).

Scope

Specifies the open‑arc (Method 1) test procedures used to determine arc rating values (ELIM, ATPV and/or EBT) of materials, material assemblies and garments intended for use where an electric arc hazard exists. The document covers test apparatus, monitor sensors, data acquisition, sample preconditioning and test criteria for Procedures A (flat specimen) and B (garment/mannequin), and it explicitly excludes assessment of non‑thermal arc effects and protection for work intentionally using an arc.

Key topics and requirements

• Open‑arc test method (Method 1) to determine ELIM, ATPV and/or EBT values for fabrics, assemblies and garments.
• Introduction of Incident Energy Limit (ELIM) as an arc‑rating metric in the 2019 edition.
• Two procedures: Procedure A (flat specimen testing) and Procedure B (garment testing on a mannequin), with detailed sequences, test parameters and pass/fail criteria.
• Requirements and guidance on monitor sensor types, positioning relative to the arc, and data acquisition system specifications.
• Preconditioning of samples, requirements for calibration and verification (including use of bare shots), and clarification of the Stoll curve concept for burn injury assessment.
• Clarification that the method does not classify garments into APC1/APC2 classes (those classes are determined using the constrained/box arc method in IEC 61482‑1‑2).
• Statement that the method is not intended to determine flame‑resistance per se (IEC 61482‑2 covers garment/material requirements and related tests).

Typical use and users

Used by standards laboratories, PPE manufacturers, test houses, certification bodies and corporate safety teams to quantify arc thermal performance (ATPV/EBT/ELIM) of fabrics, assemblies and finished garments. The results inform PPE selection, product development and compliance documentation for electrical workers exposed to potential arc flash incidents. Test houses often choose between the open‑arc method (this standard) and the constrained‑arc/box test method in IEC 61482‑1‑2 depending on regional practice and application.

Related standards

IEC 61482‑1‑2 (directed/constrained arc, box test — used to determine arc protection classes APC1/APC2) and IEC 61482‑2 (requirements for protective clothing including material and garment performance) are the main complementary parts of the IEC 61482 series. Other relevant documents include national/adopted EN versions and PPE regulatory standards that reference arc‑rating test results for compliance.

Keywords

Electric arc, arc rating, ATPV, EBT, ELIM, open arc test, arc flash, protective clothing, flame‑resistant fabrics, arc thermal performance.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61482‑1‑1:2019 is the international test‑method standard for open‑arc assessment of arc thermal performance (ELIM, ATPV and/or EBT) of clothing materials and garments intended to protect workers from the thermal effects of an electric arc.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers laboratory procedures, apparatus and test criteria for determining arc‑rating values using an open arc (Procedures A and B), sensor positioning, data acquisition, sample preconditioning and verification methods; it does not address non‑thermal arc effects or protective clothing for work intentionally using an arc.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Accredited test laboratories, PPE manufacturers and R&D teams, certification bodies, safety engineers and procurement groups use the standard to generate arc‑rating data that support PPE selection, product claims and regulatory compliance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2019 edition (Edition 2.0) is the current edition and it cancels and replaces the 2009 edition; the IEC publication indicates the 2019 revision as the active version.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1‑1 of the IEC 61482 series. Complementary parts include IEC 61482‑1‑2 (constrained/directed arc box test for APC classes) and IEC 61482‑2 (requirements for protective clothing). Together they form the primary IEC guidance for arc‑protective clothing testing and requirements.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: ATPV, EBT, ELIM, open arc, arc flash, arc rating, protective clothing, flame‑resistant fabric.