PetroWear
PetroWear
PetroWear
NASCO’s PetroWear™ line of rainwear is designed to provide multi-hazard protection for workers in the Oil & Gas, Pulp and Paper and Petrochemical industries. Workers who are faced with hazards such as flash fire, electric arc flash and chemical splash need to have a product that will protect them for all potential hazards they may face during the work day. PetroWear products arm them with the right protection for the job.
Left: Brand-X rainwear commonly labeled as flame resistant (FR), however demonstrated significant melting, dripping, shrinkage, break open, and ignition in a flash fire test.
Right: NASCO PetroLite™ – ASTM F2733 compliant, no melting, no dripping, no ignition.
For workers needing flame resistant (FR) rainwear, there is often uncertainty about the proper type of rainwear to select for their application. There are specific types of flame resistant rainwear which are designed for specific flame hazards.
Since not all FR rainwear is necessarily the same, it is important to clarify what the “FR” claim in rainwear means. There is a lot of confusion around what is being sold in the market place – some FR claims even can be decieving. To clarify and determine what your needs are, the first step is to determine the type of flame hazard you are trying to protect against.
To help clarify the standards for FR rainwear, it is pretty simple; there are only two.
Electric Arc Protective Rainwear ASTM F1891: Standard and Specification for Arc and Flame Resistant Rainwear
Flash Fire Protective Rainwear ASTM F2733: Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Rainwear for Protection Against Flame Hazards.
FR rainwear meeting one or both of these standards will be identified on the product label. These are the only FR standards that have been developed specifically for rainwear. Therefore, it is important to select the rainwear which has been appropriately tested to the standard which best meets your hazard.
Purchase a copy of the standards from ASTM: ASTM F903, ASTM F1891 and ASTM F2733
This specification covers the minimum performance criteria for flame resistance and other requirements for rainwear used by workers with the potential to be simultaneously exposed to wet weather conditions and either hydrocarbon or petrochemical industrial fires.
The purchaser has the option to perform or have performed any of the tests required by this specification in order to verify the performance of the rainwear.
This specification for rainwear shall not be construed as a requirement for the use of any particular rainwear material.
Scope 1.1 This specification establishes applicable test methods, minimum physical and thermal performance criteria, a suggested sizing guide, and suggested purchasing information for rainwear for use by workers who are potentially exposed to industrial hydrocarbon fires or other petrochemical fire hazards.
1.1.1 This specification does not apply to rainwear used for thermal electric arc flash hazards. Specification of rainwear for these electric arc flash hazards are addressed in Specification F 1891.
1.2 The objective of this specification is to prescribe function and performance criteria for rainwear that meets a minimum level of thermal and physical performance when exposed to a laboratory-simulated fire exposure.
1.3 This specification is not intended to serve as a detailed manufacturing or purchasing specification, but can be referenced in purchase contracts to ensure that minimum performance requirements are met.
1.4 Controlled laboratory tests used to determine compliance with the performance requirements of this specification shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations to which wearers of this protective clothing are potentially exposed.
1.5 This specification does not attempt to establish in-service care and use of this flame-resistant rainwear.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in brackets are mathematical conversions to inch-pound or other units that are commonly used for thermal testing.
1.7 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to Sections 7 and 9 of this specification. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.