EN 702 Protective Clothing - Protection Against Heat and Flame - Test Method: Determination of Heat Conduction by Contact through Protective Clothing or Materials

A European standard "EN 702 Protective clothing - Protection against heat and flame - Test method: Determination of contact heat conduction through protective clothing or materials" describes a test method for determining contact heat conduction. This test method applies to protective clothing (including hand guards) or its constituent materials that protect against high contact temperatures. Application of this standard is limited to contact temperatures between 100 degrees and 500 degrees.

Protective clothing against heat and flame (thermal protective clothing) is designed to provide protection from hazardous thermal environments. In these garments, the combination of textile layers and the air gap between them prevents the transfer of thermal energy to the skin. However, overheated protective clothing can store large amounts of thermal energy when exposed to thermal hazards and then transmit the stored thermal energy to human skin during the cooling period, which may cause skin burns.

Heat exposure in a fire occurs primarily from radiation, but convective and conductive heat may also be encountered (for example, if molten metal or hot paint falls on a clothing). Under these conditions, clothing must not catch fire, remain intact and be able to withstand high temperatures. If the fibers of the fabric melt and break and the fabric tears, the thermal resistance is low.

Protective clothing and materials must prevent heat conduction by contact. Clothing should delay heat transfer to allow time for wearers to take evasive action, meaning they should not release tar or other conductive liquids during combustion. This type of protective clothing helps reduce injuries from external flame and intense heat threats and provides adequate protection. The level of protection provided can be evaluated by the EN 702 test method.

Meanwhile, the standard "ISO 12127-1 Clothing providing protection against heat and flame - Determination of contact heat conduction through protective clothing or component materials - Part 1: Contact heat produced by the heating cylinder" describes a test method used to determine contact heat conduction. This standard applies to protective clothing (including hand protectors) and its constituent materials that protect against high contact temperatures. The ISO 12127-1 standard is also limited to contact temperatures between 100 degrees and 500 degrees.

In the tests carried out within the framework of both standards, a protective clothing heat conduction test device is used. This device determines the threshold duration of a 10-degree temperature increase in the calorimeter. In the test, a heating cylinder is heated to a certain temperature and the sample is placed in the calorimeter. During measurement, the calorimeter is moved towards the heating cylinder with a defined skipping speed of 5 mm/s and a load of 49N is applied upon contact. The temperature of the heating cylinder can be adjusted from room temperature to 500 degrees.

The protective clothing heat conduction tester can be used to test all types of protective clothing or the materials that make it up, including hand protectors that protect against high contact temperatures.

In short, it is used to detect contact heat transfer when protective clothing materials come into contact with molten metal and similar materials flying during welding operations and similar processes.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies our organization provides for businesses in various sectors, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, "EN 702 Protective clothing - Protection against heat and flame - Test method: Contact through protective clothing or materials." It also provides testing services within the framework of the "determination of heat conduction" standard.