9.1 This specification’s test method is used to determine an arc rating for eye or face protective products, including face shields, safety spectacles, goggles, or other applicable portions of the complete product that are required to meet the current version of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. This excludes the textile or parts of the hood assemblies or other rated products that are not testable by ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. This standard does not measure optical and impact properties (see ANSI/ISEA Z87.1) but does specify requirements for optical and impact properties in accordance with that standard.

9.2 The test method is used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to convective and radiant energy generated by an electric arc under controlled laboratory conditions and does not purport to predict damage from light other than the thermal aspects measured.

9.3 The specification’s test method is intended for the determination of the arc rating of a product/design, intended for use as eye or face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs. For whole body protection, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required for parts not covered by this standard.

9.3.1 Because of the variability of the arc exposure, different heat transmission values may be observed at individual sensors. The results of each sensor are evaluated in accordance with Section 16.

9.4 This test method maintains the specimen in a static, vertical position and does not involve movement except that resulting from the exposure.

9.5 Different exposure conditions produce different incident energies and different heat fluxes. This standard exposure is used for comparison of products and hazard assessment methods may use multiplication factors or other means for determining protection.

9.6 The purchaser has the option to perform or have performed any of these tests to verify the performance of the eye or face protective product. Claims for failure to meet the specification are subject to verification by the manufacturer.

9.7 In addition to the standard set of exposure conditions, other conditions representative of the expected hazard may be used and shall be reported should this data be cited.

1.1 This product specification is used to determine the arc rating and specify the requirements for products intended for use as eye or face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs. The arc rating is determined in the test with an arc which has a heat flux value of 2100 kW/m² [50 cal/cm²/s]. Products are tested as sold.

1.2 The products covered by this standard are in the form of faceshields attached to the head by protective helmets (hard hats), headgear, hood assemblies, safety spectacles or goggles. Faceshields, safety spectacles or goggles are tested with or without other face and head protective products, for example, sock hoods, balaclavas, sweat shirt hoods or jacket hoods.

1.2.1 Fabric layers used in the design of face protection products such as in hood, neck guards, balaclava, meet the requirements of Specification F1506. When fabrics are designed into the protection provided for eye or face protective products, the arc rating of fabric system is first determined by Test Method F1959/F1959M.

1.2.2 The arc rating of the eye or face protective product which requires fabric to provide protection to the face or head will not be higher than the lower arc rating of either the fabric system or the shield/visor assembly.

1.3 The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, alternate systems must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the systems described in the text may result in nonconformance with the method.

1.4 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise the effect of the electric arc fragmentation or propulsion of parts of equipment or molten metal splatter, deposited from the pressure wave containing molten metals and possible fragments of other materials except to the extent that heat energy transmission due to these arc explosion phenomena is reduced by test specimens.

1.5 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use.

1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards see Section 11.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.