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Arc Flash Resistant Clothing Ranges | New ProGARM Lightweight Arc Flash Protection Garments
October 22nd, 2019
ProGARM delivers ultimate arc flash resistant clothing and protection, including coveralls, conforming with the relevant industry and EN standards ensuring protection from Arc Flash incidents.
Specialists in Arc Flash Protection
THE SPECIALIST CHOICE
FOR ARC FLASH PROTECTION
ProGARM is the leading UK manufacturer of high-quality Flame Resistant arc flash coveralls, garments and workwear – they work successfully with their UK Distributor Thorne & Derrick to save lives and reduce accidents.
The dangers of Arc Flash incidents and the importance of protection from these hazards has never been as significant as it is today. This prominence will continue to increase over the next few years.
Continuous research, development and user testing ensures that ProGARM garments are comfortable to wear. They offer the ultimate protection in hazardous industries such as utilities, power generation, renewables, petrochemicals and industrial electrical. Every garment is designed with exceptional quality and inherent properties to provide the ultimate wearer experience.
New Lightweight Arc Flash Resistant Clothing Range
Arc Flash Standards
New garments are half the weight and more durable than existing products.
ProGARM, the UK’s leading Arc Flash resistant clothing & protection specialists, has announced an innovative new range with waterproof trousers, jackets and coveralls set for launch.
The new products are designed with the purpose of providing comfort and durability to the wearer, utilising an advanced composition technique that has been found to last longer than its previous iteration. With fire extinguishing properties, the new lightweight range also offers ultimate protection against Flame and Arc Flash Hazards.
All of the new products meet EN regulations and have been tested to 100,000 abrasion cycles – providing an ideal alternative to ProGARM’s existing range, with the key differences being that the new garments weigh half as much, have a seamless shoulder to offer more comfort when in a harness whilst crucially, still providing the same levels of protection against an Arc Flash.
Lightweight, waterproof and removable hoods mean these new products combine durability with comfort, ensuring workers can do their job with maximum protection and efficiency.
Managing Director of ProGARM, Tony Arnett said of the new products, “This new range shows just how committed ProGARM is to giving workers the best protection against Arc Flashes, whilst providing the ultimate comfort in fit.
“We are constantly innovating and trying to produce quality PPE that gives workers at risk the best possible protection as well as allowing them to do their jobs without their garments hindering movements.”
These new garments are the latest addition in ProGARM’s growing collection of PPE and will be used in many different industries that are at risk such as power generation, petrochemical, rail and utilities to prevent serious harm or death. The coverall is the lightest ever produced and features inherent VXS+ fabric, providing the same strength, tear and tensile as ProGARM’s 6458. The fabric is also highly durable, with less than 3% washing shrinkage; as well as breathable and soft to wear.
6460 ARC FLASH PROTECTION Coverall
The latest Arc Flash resistant clothing release from ProGARM is the 6460 lightweight coverall.
The 6460 premium lightweight Arc Flash coverall in VXS+ is super light with 160gms fabric. It is designed specifically for workers in the utility and energy markets requiring a lighter weight solution. The coverall features abrasion resistance up to 100,000 cycles and the same tensile & tear strength of the heavier 6458 coveralls.
ProGARM 6460 Lightweight Arc Flash Coverall
Arc flash coveralls compared
| NEW 6460 Coverall | OLD 6458 Coverall | |
| Weight | 160gms | 240gms |
| Industries | utility, energy | utility, energy |
| Body Harness | can be worn with a harness | can be worn with a harness |
| Fabric | VXS+ | VXS+ |
NEW Lightweight 6460 Arc Flash Coverall
PREVIOUS 6458 Arc Flash Coverall
WHAT IS AN ARC FLASH?
Put simply: An arc flash is the light and heat produced from an electrical arc supplied with sufficient energy to cause significant damage, fire or injury.
An electric arc occurs whenever a circuit breaker, switch or isolator (Device) is opened and when there is current flowing in the circuit. However, most devices under normal operating conditions are designed to control the arc when opening or closing.
An arc flash may occur when the arc is uncontrolled and there is sufficient energy released to cause harm or damage.
Arc flashes occur both at high voltage and low voltage. There is little discrimination: low voltage arc flashes injuries are just as damaging as high voltage injuries.
An Arc Flash can cause minor injuries, third-degree burns and potential death as well as other injuries including blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage and cardiac arrest. Fatal burns can occur when the victim is several feet from the arc. Serious burns are common at a distance of 10 feet – arc flash can generate heat 4 times greater than the surface of the sun.
The Need For Arc Flash Resistant Clothing & Protection
Arc Flash Learning & Resources
Thorne and Derrick are proud to be distributors of ProGARM arc flash coveralls and protection.
We can help – should you require arc flash calculators or advice on the type of clothing and protection available please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thorne & Derrick
Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage power systems:
- Slip-on Cable Terminations
- Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
- Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
- Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
- Separable Connectors (Euromold)
- Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings
Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV
Arc Flash | Risk Reduction by Using Arc Flash Gloves
October 22nd, 2019
TraffiGlove – Arc Flash Gloves Specialists
The following article has been produced by TraffiGlove – Arc Flash Gloves Specialists. Special thanks for the permission to re-publish your article.
UNDERSTANDING ARC FLASH
The most common cause of all electrical injuries is arc flash – an incident which can change an employee’s life in the blink of an eye.
An arc flash is an electrical current that jumps from the intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another. When an arc fault occurs, it causes the release of massive amounts of energy into the air, resulting in explosions which can reach up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit in an instant.
Such high temperatures can also vaporise metals, such as copper, which sustains the arc and amplifies its power.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS?
Arc flashes only last for several milliseconds, but this is more than enough time for the superheated air and vapourised solids to cause significant injury to nearby workers. The intense light from an arc flash can also cause damage to the retina.
Not only this, but arc flashes are accompanied by a pressure wave and sound blast loud enough to damage hearing or even brain function. This so-called ‘arc blast’ also sends any loose debris, tools or equipment flying out from the fault at supersonic speeds causing further injuries.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
An arc flash is a potentially fatal incident for any personnel in the vicinity.
Workers can suffer:
- First, second and/or third-degree burns, not only on the front but also the back
- Internal damage to vital organs from high amounts of voltage travelling through the body
- Blunt force trauma from the blast
- Shrapnel damage to the skin
- Damage to their sight
- Health effects from breathing toxic fumes
- Hearing loss
The consequences of arc flash incidents are often life-changing for the individuals involved, with treatment for burns, in particular, involving years of skin grafts and surgery.
REDUCING THE RISKS WITH ARC FLASH GLOVES
When an arc flash occurs, hands are usually the first body part to catch fire due to their close proximity to the fault. As such, workers should not wear gloves which may easily burn, ignite or do not provide any protection from heat.
Rubber insulating gloves have long since been the norm for tasks that carry an arc flash risk.
However, rubber gloves can be incredibly bulky and limit dexterity, making them difficult to work in. Due to this, many non-rubber, lightweight arc flash gloves are now entering the market.
Such gloves are made from material which is innately flame-resistant (leather, aramid, coated nylon, and glass) or treated.
These types of arc flash gloves are far more comfortable than their rubber counterparts and often provide more protection. These seamless knit solutions can also increase the level of cut protection of the EN 388 standard. However, you should always discuss your requirements with a safety specialist to ensure you wear the correct safety glove for the job.
TraffiGlove September best seller
September’s best-seller was announced as TraffiGlove’s TG5140. The glove is a close-fitting and flexible Cut C glove with a high tech MicroDex Nitrile Foam coating that provides excellent grip in wet, dry and oily conditions. The durability and glove life is also excellent.
Thorne & Derrick are Specialist Distributors of Arc Flash protective clothing, garments and accessories – should you require advice on the type of clothing and protection available please do not hesitate to contact us.
Further Reading
Electrical Safety – Arc Flash Accidents & Electrocution In LV-HV Installations
Arc Flash Calculation – Selecting Clothing & PPE To Protect Lives Against Arc Hazard
Arc Flash Clothing | Polo Shirts | Jackets | Coveralls | Trousers | Sweatshirts | Helmets
Thorne & Derrick
Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage power systems:
- Slip-on Cable Terminations
- Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
- Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
- Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
- Separable Connectors (Euromold)
- Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings
Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV
Arc Flash Learning & Resources
Thorne and Derrick are proud to be distributors of ProGARM arc flash coveralls and protection.
We can help – should you require arc flash calculators or advice on the type of clothing and protection available please do not hesitate to contact us.
Voltage Testers | What Are Your Options for Verifying Absence of Voltage?
October 22nd, 2019
Voltage Testers: An Article by Panduit
What are your options for VERIFYING Absence of Voltage?
Safety is everything.
Workers MUST comply with safety regulations that require a voltage verification test when servicing electrical equipment
But how can you be safe and be sure the circuit is de-energized?
What if the only method is complex and exposes you to the very danger you’re trying to avoid?
Find out how a team of engineers with fresh thinking and years in the lab resulted in an entirely new product – the absence of voltage testers (AVTs) – and positive proof the power is off.
Voltage Testers – Your Options
- Portable Test Instruments – Portable voltage testers are usually a hand-held device used to detect the presence and absence of voltage. They require a manual and time-consuming process, increasing the risk of human error. They are susceptible to user misinterpretation and process failures, which may expose workers to electrical hazards.
- Voltage Indicators – These are typically installed devices. When functioning properly, voltage indicators warn of the presence of voltage but do not guarantee its absence. When your voltage indicator is not illuminated, the system is de-energized. However, how can we be sure? There could be something wrong with the installation. There’s no way to know for sure that your equipment is de-energized with just a voltage indicator.
- VeriSafe AVT – Verisafe AVT uses active indications to tell you when your equipment is de-energized, so you know that the absence of voltage has been verified. The push of a button activates VeriSafe AVT’s automatic absence of voltage test. Here’s what the colour indicators mean when using the VeriSafe Absence of Voltage Tester…
- Red – There is a voltage present in your equipment
- Yellow – The absence of voltage could not be confirmed, be careful
- Green – Absence of voltage has been verified
For the task of verifying the absence of voltage, VeriSafe AVT is both a voltage tester + voltage indicator. Be sure the light is green with VeriSafe AVT.
Panduit VeriSafe – Absence of Voltage Tester
Verisafe is UNIQUE and safety is Important.
Panduit’s fully automated, permanently mounted and first-of-its-kind industry compliant tool, VeriSafe AVT – both indicates the presence and absence of voltage.
The VeriSafe absence of voltage tester minimizes risk by verifying the absence of voltage before equipment is accessed. VeriSafe’s automated process and single-step activation are standardized to avoid missteps in execution and sequence. It is further constructed to resist factors that could affect its accuracy and functionality – such as mechanical or electrical failures from wear, mechanical shock and environmental extremes.
Through years of development and collaboration with industry groups, the team was able to reach proof of concept and eventually create an absence of voltage tester that performed exactly as they hoped. All that was left was for the new AVT (absence of voltage tester) product category to be defined in an industry-standard and for the safety requirements to be published.
In 2016, UL published the first-ever AVT safety and listing requirements in UL 1436.
In 2017, the VeriSafe AVT was released and now offers workers an easy, safer way to get positive proof the system is de-energized before accessing or working on electrical equipment.
Now, all it takes is a press of the test button, and a moment to wait for the green light. And, as everybody knows, green means go.
With over 60 years of infrastructure experience, our team recognized the need for a safer – and easier – way to verify a circuit is de-energized. The change our engineers had in mind was to eliminate exposure to live circuits – either by accident or during an absence of voltage test. That would mean no more hand-held meters, and no need to interact with known-live circuits as part of the test.
Thorne & Derrick International, Specialist Distributors of Electrical Safety Equipment, are Panduit Partners.
Request your VeriSafe demo from Thorne & Derrick today.
Thorne & Derrick
T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.
Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.
Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV HV
➡ More: VIDEO How To Verify Total Absence of Voltage By The Push Of a Button
Sudkabel 132kV GIS Cable Terminations (Plug In Connectors)
October 15th, 2019
Thone & Derrick | Sudkabel Approved Distributor | Joints, Terminations & Connectors | Specification & Supply
- Application: Terminating 132kV Cables Into GIS Gas Insulated Switchgear
- Cable Type: 132kV Cable XLPE Insulated Polymeric High Voltage Cables
- Cable Jointer: Dave Boyd (EHV Cable Jointer. Director of HV Cablepower Pty Ltd)
- Featured Manufacturer: Sudkabel
About Dave Boyd
Dave has worked as a Cable Jointer for over 20 years starting his career with YEB (Yorkshire Electricity Board) in Huddersfield, England – this included developing a skill-set and competency to work and joint on numerous cables ranging from paper lead street lighting cables to 33kV oil filled medium voltage power cables.
With this background and experience Dave emigrated to Perth, Western Australia where he commenced employment with Western Power – Dave subsequently managed the transmission underground system having gained 132kV manufacturer certifications and accreditations with ABB and LG.
Dave left Western Power and established a new company, Complete Cable Jointing Australia (CCJA), of which he was a co-owner. After five 
successful years CCJA voluntarily disbanded and ceased trading.
Today, Dave is Managing Director of HV Cablepower Pty Ltd.
Their team of HV EHV Jointers are factory trained with ABB (up to 420kV), LG, Tyco, Pfisterer, Prysmian, Sudkabel (up to 245kV) and Brugg Cables (up to 500kV).
Sudkabel 132kV
JOINTERS BLOG
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Includes access to our popular JOINTERS BLOG with contributions from utility professionals, linesmen and cable jointers working on MV HV EHV cables and overhead lines typically at 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and up to 132kV.
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11kV Triplex Cables | Underground Trench Installation
October 15th, 2019- Application: 11kV Cable Installation | Underground Cable Trench | Triplex 11kV
- Cable Type: DNO Approved WPD Specification 11kV
- Cable Jointer: Dean Page (Managing Director at DP Cable Jointing Ltd)
About Dean Page
Dean Page is a LV 11kV and 33kV Jointer – with extensive knowledge and work experience on all aspects of LV-HV cables such as XLPE-SWA, PILC, Consac and Triplex. Daily work tasks include LV connections and service work, installation of 11kV substations and associated LV mains infrastructure. Dean is Certificated for the installation of Pfisterer CONNEX and Nexans Euromold type inner and outer cone separable connectors for terminating 33kV cables into gas insulated switchgear.
Cable protection covers, tapetiles and underground warning tapes are installed over LV, MV and HV power cables in trench and ducted cable installations with high visibility colour providing a visual warning of danger when excavating cables. 11kV and 33kV cable protection tapes (Tapetile and Stokbord covers) are manufactured from heavy duty plastic for reliable protection.
T&D distribute the most extensive range of LV, MV & HV Cable Jointing, Terminating, Installation & Cable Pulling Equipment – we service UK and international clients working on underground cables, overhead lines, substations and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV transmission and distribution voltages.
- Key Products: MV-HV Cable Joints & Terminations, Cable Cleats, Sealing Cable Ducts, Cable Transits, Underground Cable Protection, Cable Jointing Tools, Feeder Pillars, Cable Ducting, Earthing & Lightning Protection, Electrical Safety, Cable Glands, Arc Flash Protection & Fusegear.
- Distributors for: 3M, ABB, Alroc, Band-It, Catu, Cembre, Centriforce, CMP, Elastimold, Ellis Patents, Emtelle, Furse, Lucy Zodion, Nexans Euromold, Pfisterer, Polypipe, Prysmian, Roxtec.
LV – Low Voltage Cable Joints, Glands, Cleats, Lugs & Accessories (1000 Volts)
MV HV – Medium & High Voltage Cable Joints, Terminations & Connectors (11kV 33kV EHV)
Cable Laying – Underground Cable Covers, Ducting, Seals & Cable Pulling Equipment
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T&D’s Power Blog covers: LV MV HV & EHV Transmission & Distribution, Substations, Switchgear, Cable Jointing & Termination, Cable Fault & Repair, Underground Cables.
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