Standard Performance Specification for Conductive Clothing for Industry Applications
1.1 This performance specification covers minimum requirements to determine the electric performance of conductive clothing.
1.1.1 Type 1 conductive clothing is intended to be used by workers as protection from electric field strength for applications in ac systems up to 800 kV, rms, at 50/60 Hz (for example, hot stick work, barehand work).
1.1.1.1 Examples of equipment that is used in conjunction with Type 1 clothing include bonding leads and their connection clamps for barehand work, insulating aerial platforms, insulating scaffolds, and helicopters. Another use for Type 1 clothing could be in areas with presence of high electric field strength (for example, hot stick work, substation work).
1.1.2 Type 2 conductive clothing is intended to be used by workers as protection from ac induced current and voltage produced by electric and magnetic field induction (for example, vicinity work). Type 2 clothing must be used along with equipment and work methods that are intended to reduce electrical and magnetic field induction hazards.
1.1.2.1 Examples of equipment used for controls include temporary protective grounds (TPG), shunt bonding jumpers, equipotential matting, and aerial platform bonding. Another use for Type 2 clothing could be for protection against electric shock hazards due to hotstick flashover.
1.1.3 Type 1 plus 2 conductive clothing is intended to be used by workers as Type 1 and Type 2 protection.
1.1.3.1 An example of use of this combined Type 1 plus 2 clothing is protection from electric field strength and from ac induced current.
1.2 The requirements for conductive clothing provide end users with adequate information to select clothing with the appropriate ratings for Type 1, Type 2, and Type 1 plus 2 applications.
1.3 End users are required to perform a risk assessment to determine the electrical hazards and to select the required ratings of the protective conductive clothing for the specific hazards.
1.4 This performance specification shall be used to evaluate and describe the properties of materials, products, and assemblies needed to mitigate possible effects of electric field strength and flow of electric current under controlled laboratory conditions. It shall not be used to describe or appraise the hazards or risks of materials, products, or assemblies under use conditions.
1.4.1 The results of this evaluation may be used as elements of a risk assessment that considers all the factors that are pertinent to an assessment of the hazards of end-use.
1.4.2 This performance specification does not address how the clothing shall be used during live work and during work on de-energized circuits with ac electric and magnetic field induction. The application of clothing relies on the use of advanced work methods, specialized tools, and other protective equipment. Consult IEEE 516, IEEE 1048, IEEE 1067, IEEE 1246, and end user standard procedures.
1.4.3 End users shall define how to meet local regulations and company policies when using conductive clothing. Field use may include meeting requirements for wearer comfort, mechanical characteristics, electrical resistance characteristics, screening efficiency of electric field strength, flammability (flame retardancy) or limited flame spread, tolerable body current, and tolerable voltage under a certain occupational limit.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 The care, maintenance, and requirements for field laundering of conductive clothing are outside the scope of this standard. Refer to manufacturer instructions, ISO 15797 and ISO 6330 standards, and manufacturer recommendations.
1.7 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.
1.8 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.
5.1 This performance specification identifies electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance characteristics for conductive clothing and its components.
5.1.1 The measured data provides information that the buyer can use when selecting conductive clothing used in Type 1 (for example, barehand work, hot stick live work), Type 2 (for example, ac induction) and Type 1 plus 2 (for example, barehand and hot stick live work, and ac induction) applications.
5.1.2 Type 1 clothing consists of a conductive garment (coverall, jacket and pants, or jacket and bib), and other mandatory and optional components. Mandatory components include conductive gloves, socks, or footwear, headcover and bonding lead. Optional components may be required to meet this performance specification which may include a face cover or face mesh or face screen.
5.1.3 Type 2 clothing consists of a conductive garment (coverall, jacket and pants, or jacket and bib), and other mandatory components. Mandatory components include conductive gloves, socks or footwear, and headcover.
5.1.4 Type 1 plus 2 clothing consists of a conductive garment that meets both Type 1 and Type 2 requirements.
5.1.5 The users of this standard can incorporate the information in this specification for purchase contracts to ensure that the quality controls used for the manufacturing of the conductive clothing will meet the performance requirements identified in this standard.
5.2 The selection and use of any conductive clothing requires an assessment by the worker and supervisory personnel of hazards in the work site. Ongoing risk assessment and work methods performed by workers shall mitigate the hazards.
5.2.1 Type 1 clothing shall be used on systems with a nominal voltage that is equal or lower than the maximum allowable voltage reported on the clothing label.
5.2.2 Type 2 clothing shall be used on systems where the estimated ac induction current magnitude (in amperes) and duration (in seconds) do not exceed the label rating.
5.2.2.1 Type 2 clothing is recommended for systems where the ac induction current magnitude exceeds 50 A. Although the clothing does not guarantee full protection, it can still significantly reduce the physiological effects.
5.2.3 The end user purchasing conductive clothing is responsible to prepare complete and detailed instructions and policies regarding the use of the conductive clothing. This includes risk assessment of hazards, work practices, controls, and use of equipment.
5.3 This specification applies to all the components in a conductive clothing kit (for example, hood, face screen, jacket, bib, coverall, bonding accessories, gloves, socks, footwear).
5.3.1 See examples of Type 1 clothing in Fig. 1.
| SDO | ASTM: ASTM International |
| Document Number | F3732 |
| Publication Date | Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Language | en - English |
| Page Count | 38 |
| Revision Level | 25 |
| Supercedes | |
| Committee | F18.65 |