Protective clothing and system for the accreditation of protective clothing

Abstract

Protective clothing for work on electrical installations with the risk of electric arc discharge, comprising a second scannable data carrier configured to provide access to information on the safety requirements to which the protective clothing meets when scanned.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The invention relates to the certification or accreditation of protective clothing for work on electrical installations where there is a risk of arcing. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The most common methods for verifying the correct use of protective clothing when working on electrical installations are primarily manual and based on work instructions, visual inspection, and supervision. Protective clothing is often checked against labels providing information on the protection class and certification according to relevant standards such as IEC 61482-2 or ASTM F1506. Workers or supervisors manually compare this information with the requirements of the specific task. Additionally, workers receive instructions or checklists in advance that describe the required clothing and are often based on a hazard assessment of the installation. Supervision by safety officers plays a key role, as they check before and during work whether the clothing meets the requirements. While these methods can be effective, they are time-consuming, prone to errors, and dependent on human interpretation.

[0003] The present invention aims to find a solution for at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention provides protective clothing according to claim 1, a system for accrediting protective clothing according to claim 10, and a portable device for accrediting protective clothing according to claim 12.

[0005] The invention eliminates the need for human interpretation and visual inspection, thus significantly reducing the risk of errors. It enables the digital acquisition of information about the electrical system and protective clothing, and its automatic comparison with relevant safety requirements based on specific standards such as IEEE 1584 or ASTM F 1506. The consistent and precise verification of the suitability of protective clothing prevents errors, and the speed and ease of use of the invention increase users' willingness to check the safety of their protective clothing. Both aspects contribute to accident prevention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meanings generally known to those skilled in the art. For a better understanding of the invention description, the following terms are explicitly explained.

[0007] The terms "ein", "eine", and "der / die / das" refer to both the singular and the plural in this document, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, "ein Segment" means one or more segments.

[0008] The terms “comprise”, “comprehensive”, “consisting of”, “consisting of”, “include”, “containing”, “containing”, “containing” are synonyms and inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows and do not exclude or prevent the presence of other components, features, elements, links or steps known or described in the prior art.

[0009] The term "arc discharge" refers to a strong electrical discharge that occurs between two or more conductive surfaces or contacts through an ionized medium such as air and can generate extreme heat and light intensity.

[0010] The term “safety requirements” refers to the specific standards, guidelines or technical specifications that define the protective measures or resources needed to minimize risks when working on an electrical installation.

[0011] The term "security parameter" refers to parameters in which security requirements are expressed.

[0012] The term "safety clothing" refers to protective equipment, including clothing, gloves, footwear and face protection accessories, that is specifically designed to protect the wearer from electric arcs and other hazards such as heat and radiation and meets the specified safety requirements.

[0013] The term "identification" refers to the process of determining specific characteristics of an electrical installation or protective clothing.

[0014] The term "user" refers to the person to whom the information is made available, for example a technician working on an electrical installation.

[0015] The term "scanning" refers to the use of a device, such as a camera or an RFID reader, to digitally read and process information from a scannable data carrier.

[0016] The term "scannable data carrier" refers to a physical or visual label, such as a QR code, a barcode or an RFID tag, that can be scanned to obtain digital information.

[0017] The term "visual data carrier" refers to a special form of scannable data carrier that represents information in a visual pattern, such as a QR code or barcode, which can be easily scanned with a camera.

[0018] The term "limit values" refers to predefined limit values ​​for safety parameters such as energy or heat resistance, which indicate the degree of protection that a piece of protective clothing offers.

[0019] The term “standard or norm” refers to an official guideline or set of specifications, such as IEC 61482 or IEEE1584, which prescribe how to assess electrical risks and what measures are required for safety.

[0020] The term “ELIM value” stands for Incident Energy Limit and is a measure of how much energy a piece of protective clothing can withstand without injuring the wearer.

[0021] The term "ATPV value" stands for Arc. The heat output value is a measure of the amount of energy a garment can absorb before it causes second-degree burns.

[0022] The term "ARC classification" is a classification that, based on test results, indicates the level of protection of a garment against electric arc discharges.

[0023] The term "risk parameter" refers to variables such as the probability of an incident or the severity of possible consequences, which are used to assess the safety of a work situation.

[0024] The term "material composition" refers to the composition of the substances and materials from which protective clothing is manufactured, which determines its protective properties.

[0025] The term "registration process" refers to a procedure in which information about an electrical installation or protective clothing, including relevant parameters and / or safety requirements, is recorded for later consultation or verification, for example in the identification of electrical installations and / or protective clothing.

[0026] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for certifying protective clothing for work on electrical installations where there is a risk of arc discharge. The method comprises the following steps: - gathering information to identify the electrical installation; - gathering information to identify the protective clothing of the person who will perform the work; - determining whether the identified protective clothing of the person meets the safety requirements of the identified electrical installation; - informing the person, at least as to whether their protective clothing meets the safety requirements.

[0027] This method eliminates reliance on human interpretation and visual inspection, thus significantly reducing the risk of errors. It enables the digital acquisition of information about the electrical system and protective clothing, and its automatic comparison with relevant safety requirements based on specific standards such as IEEE 1584 or ASTM F 1506. This ensures consistent, rapid, and precise verification of the suitability of the protective clothing.

[0028] Conventional methods are often time-consuming, which in practice frequently leads to unnecessary risks being taken by skipping or shortening tests due to time constraints. This method prevents such situations by offering an automated test that is not only precise but also significantly speeds up the process. Direct feedback to the user not only increases safety by immediately confirming or rejecting the suitability of the protective clothing but also saves valuable time by eliminating the need for time-consuming monitoring and repeated tests. The user is immediately informed whether the protective clothing meets the specified requirements, allowing work to be carried out faster and more safely without compromising safety.

[0029] In one embodiment, the information for identifying the electrical installation includes an identification number or an identification signal that serves as a reference for additional information needed to determine the associated safety requirements.

[0030] In one embodiment, the information for identifying the electrical installation includes technical specifications of the electrical installation, on the basis of which corresponding safety requirements are determined.

[0031] In one embodiment, received and provided information is exchanged via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a mobile app. The visual interface enables the intuitive and clear presentation of complex data, such as the suitability of protective clothing and the associated safety requirements, thus minimizing the risk of misinterpreting critical safety information. Simultaneously, the app allows the reception of real-time information, such as data on electrical installations or their modifications. Thanks to the device's portability, the user can easily switch between different electrical installations while receiving and querying information directly on-site. This not only increases the speed and efficiency of the process but also ensures better and more consistent compliance with safety regulations.

[0032] In one embodiment, the information for identifying the electrical installation is captured by scanning a first scannable data carrier, such as a QR code or an NFC tag. Scanning such a data carrier eliminates the need for manual data entry, which not only saves time but also reduces the risk of human error. Furthermore, the use of scannable data carriers enables a standardized and uniform procedure for registering and identifying electrical installations.

[0033] In another embodiment, the first scannable data carrier is a visual data carrier, such as a QR code or barcode. The method includes the step of generating this first visual data carrier based on the received information for identifying the electrical installation. The information provided includes the generated visual data carrier. This allows users to easily create visual data carriers themselves and eliminates the need to manually enter the information for identifying the electrical installation each time.

[0034] In another embodiment, the first visual data carrier is located in the electrical installation room or on the electrical installation itself. This allows users to quickly and accurately retrieve relevant information about an installation, which is particularly advantageous in environments with multiple installations in the same room or production site. This method contributes to a more efficient and safer workflow, as the required data is available immediately and without errors.

[0035] In one embodiment, information for identifying a person's protective clothing is captured by scanning a second scannable data carrier. This eliminates manual data entry for the protective clothing, saving time and reducing the risk of human error. Furthermore, the use of a visual data carrier enables standardized and uniform identification of the protective clothing, allowing technicians to easily and reliably verify whether the clothing meets the specified safety requirements for a particular electrical installation.

[0036] In another embodiment, the scannable data carrier is attached to the protective clothing. This prevents accidental scanning of the wrong data carrier and thus significantly reduces the risk of errors. Attaching the data carrier to the clothing also ensures that it is always within the wearer's reach, which simplifies and speeds up the verification process. This increases the wearer's willingness to regularly check whether their protective clothing meets the requirements of the respective electrical installation. By making the certification of protective clothing as simple as possible in this way, the risk of accidents is further reduced and a safe working environment is promoted.

[0037] In one embodiment, the safety requirements are pre-calculated as limit values ​​during the registration process. When checking whether the identified protective clothing meets the safety requirements, its safety rating is compared with these pre-calculated limit values. The advantage of pre-calculating the limit values ​​lies in their immediate availability, which significantly speeds up the process. This is particularly important for the system's acceptance, as quick and easy verification lowers the barrier to regularly checking the protective clothing's compliance with the requirements. This not only increases efficiency but also ensures safety by preventing delays or omitted checks.

[0038] In one embodiment, the safety requirements are based on a norm or standard. The process further includes the step of obtaining information about the selection of a norm or standard, whereby the safety requirements correspond to the selected norm or standard. The advantage of this flexibility is that the user can work with standards with which they are familiar and trusted, such as IEC, IEEE, or NFPA standards. This not only increases ease of use but also promotes the user's willingness to integrate the system into their workflow, as it aligns with existing knowledge and preferences. This facilitates system acceptance, while the safety requirements are precisely tailored to the user's specific needs.

[0039] In one embodiment, the information provided includes specific parameters of an electrical system. This allows users to gain a detailed insight into the system and ensures that any errors in the information can be easily identified.

[0040] In one embodiment, the information provided includes the characteristics of an electric arc. This helps users to accurately assess the risks of an arc flashover.

[0041] In one embodiment, the information provided includes risk parameters. This enables users to perform risk analyses and prioritize work planning.

[0042] In one embodiment, the information provided includes data relating to a standard or norm. This ensures that the user is informed about certain assumptions made when defining the safety requirements.

[0043] In one embodiment, the provided information includes guidance on maintaining a safe distance from the electrical system during work. This helps users maintain a safe working distance and significantly reduce the risk of injury.

[0044] In one embodiment, the information provided includes the ARC classification of the protective clothing. This makes it easier for users to verify the suitability of the clothing for specific risk levels.

[0045] In one embodiment, the information provided includes the ELIM (Incident Energy Limit) value of the protective clothing. This helps determine whether the clothing offers sufficient protection against a specific arc flash energy.

[0046] In one embodiment, the information provided includes the ATPV value (Arc). The thermal performance value (TPV) of the protective clothing allows the user to assess the clothing's thermal protection performance and adapt it to the specific circumstances.

[0047] In one embodiment, the information provided includes the material composition of various components of the protective clothing.

[0048] In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of determining a safety distance between the electrical installation and a person without protective clothing, based on applicable safety requirements. The determined safety distance is displayed during the information provision. When working on electrical installations, several people are often present who perform support tasks or supervise the work, but do not work directly on the installation themselves and therefore do not wear protective clothing. It is essential that these people are clearly informed about the required safety distance from the installation so that they remain outside the danger zone. By explicitly providing this information, the method contributes to a safe working environment for all involved, not just those wearing protective clothing.

[0049] In one embodiment, the method, in the information provision step, includes one or more suggestions for protective clothing that meets the specified safety requirements, preferably specifying the conditions under which these requirements are met. A user may not have the appropriate or safest protective clothing for a particular task. By providing a clear and concise list of garments that meet the safety requirements, it is made easier for the user to make informed decisions and acquire the appropriate protective clothing.

[0050] In one implementation, the app offers a function for comparing different protective clothing items in a single overview. This function allows users to clearly view the properties of various garments, such as ELIM values, ARC classifications, ATPV values, and material composition, side by side. This helps technicians quickly and accurately select the optimal protective clothing, tailored to the specific requirements of the electrical installation. This clear comparison not only speeds up the selection of protective equipment but also minimizes the risk of errors and incorrect decisions, thus contributing to a safer and more efficient working environment.

[0051] Identifying an electrical installation and a person's protective clothing involves retrieving information from one or more databases. These databases contain data on various types of protective clothing and their corresponding safety requirements, as well as on various electrical installations and their associated safety requirements. The retrieved information includes references to data in these databases. This method enables the quick and efficient retrieval of relevant information because the databases contain pre-calculated and readily accessible safety requirements. Furthermore, using references instead of complete data prevents information from becoming outdated, as current safety requirements and specifications are automatically updated in the database. This reduces the risk of errors and ensures that the user is always working with current data.

[0052] In a second aspect, the invention relates to protective clothing for work on electrical installations with the risk of arcing, which includes a scannable data carrier configured to allow access to information about the safety requirements met by the protective clothing after scanning.

[0053] The invention is described below by means of examples that illustrate the invention and are not intended or should be interpreted as limiting the scope of protection of the invention. EXAMPLES

[0054] A user arrives at a work site where work is to be carried out on an electrical installation with a risk of arc flash. They have brought the necessary protective clothing. Upon arrival, they open a mobile app on a smartphone or tablet to identify the electrical installation. Identification can be done by scanning a QR code located in the room. This QR code could be, for example, on the wall at the entrance to the room or directly on the electrical installation's housing.

[0055] The electrical installation has already been registered, and its technical specifications have been recorded. Based on this information, the safety requirements for the installation can be defined. This can be done either during registration or when the user identifies the installation.

[0056] Based on the identified electrical installation, it is determined which safety requirements the user's protective clothing must meet.

[0057] The user then scans one or more scannable data carriers, such as a QR code or barcode, attached to their protective clothing. These data carriers contain information for identifying the protective clothing. This identification determines which safety requirements the protective clothing meets and whether these requirements at least meet the specified safety requirements of the electrical installation. The mobile application makes this information directly available to the user, allowing them to verify they are wearing the correct protective clothing before starting work.

[0058] The scannable data carrier can be integrated into safety clothing in various ways. For example, depending on accessibility and the type of information to be scanned, a QR code, an NFC tag, or an RFID tag can be applied to or embedded in the clothing. The data carrier can either be permanently attached during the production process or added later via a label.

[0059] Users can register their protective clothing themselves by manually entering technical specifications in the mobile application or by selecting the desired clothing from a drop-down menu. This selection can then be saved in the user's account to quickly find their protective clothing in the future. Optionally, based on this registration, the mobile application can provide the user with a visual data carrier, which they can, for example, attach to their protective clothing.

[0060] Another option is the use of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi beacons that continuously emit a signal which can be detected by the mobile application. This offers a hands-free alternative where electrical equipment and / or protective clothing are automatically detected without any user intervention.

[0061] The application may include an offline mode that can be activated when the most up-to-date data of the required information is available offline.

[0062] Identification can also be location-based using GPS technology. In this embodiment, the mobile application uses the user's geographic coordinates to determine which electrical equipment and / or protective clothing is in the immediate vicinity. This method is particularly suitable for outdoor applications or for geographically dispersed installations.

[0063] If such technologies are unavailable, the user can manually enter the identification data into the mobile application. This could be, for example, a unique installation ID. This method provides a workaround for situations where modern identification technologies are unavailable or malfunctioning.

[0064] The information used to identify the electrical installation and the user's protective clothing can simply contain an ID linked to corresponding information in one or more external databases. For example, an external database might contain the safety requirements of an electrical installation and the standard on which those requirements are based. Once a specific ID for an electrical installation is available, the relevant safety requirements can be retrieved directly from the external database. The same applies to protective clothing: an external database can store the safety requirements that different types of protective clothing meet and link them to a corresponding ID.

[0065] The information in the external database can be automatically updated as soon as safety standards change or the technical specifications of the electrical installation or protective clothing are adjusted. This ensures that the safety requirements are always up-to-date and that the user works with the latest and most accurate information.

[0066] The safety requirements may have been determined at the time of registration based on the characteristics of the electrical installation and a specific standard, such as IEEE 1584, IEC 61482, or NFPA 70E. The mobile application may ask the user which standard should be used to determine the safety requirements.

[0067] Safety requirements may include an ELIM (Excess Energy Limit) value. This involves comparing the ELIM value of the protective clothing used with the ELIM limit required for the specific electrical installation. The clothing's ELIM value indicates how much energy it can withstand before causing injury. Comparing the clothing's ELIM value with the required value for the installation determines whether the protective clothing provides sufficient protection. Alternatively, parameters such as the ATPV (Arc Resistance to Thermal Impedance) value can be used. The Thermal Performance Value indicates how much energy the garment can absorb before causing second-degree burns. The Thermal Attenuation Factor (HAF) indicates the degree of protection against radiant heat.

[0068] Once the electrical installation has been identified, technical information about it can be provided in the mobile application. Optionally, a function is offered within the application to edit this information. Based on the modified information, the safety requirements of the electrical installation are calculated and, if necessary, updated in the relevant external database.

[0069] After identifying the electrical installation and the user's protective clothing, information about the safe working distance to be maintained when performing work in the identified protective clothing can be provided via the mobile application.

[0070] Furthermore, the mobile application can display the arc characteristics of the respective electrical installation based on a selected standard or calculation method for arc characteristics. The user can select the applicable standard, such as IEEE 1584, IEC 61482, or another relevant standard. This information includes the intensity, duration, and energy of a potential arc. By displaying these arc characteristics, the user gains a better understanding of the risks associated with working on the respective installation.

[0071] When registering a new electrical installation, all relevant technical specifications can be manually entered via the mobile application and synchronized with a database. After data entry, the user selects the norms or standards on which the calculations for determining safety requirements should be based. Following registration, the safety requirements are stored in a database and assigned an identification number for the electrical installation. This identifier facilitates subsequent identification of the installation and retrieval of the associated safety requirements. Based on the identification number or the entered technical specifications of the electrical installation, a visual data carrier can be provided in the mobile application.This visual data carrier can be printed by the user and attached to the location of the electrical installation for easy later identification.

[0072] Furthermore, the mobile application can suggest various protective clothing options that meet the safety requirements of the specific electrical installation. The application displays a list of available protective clothing suitable for working on the particular electrical installation and provides relevant details such as the ELIM (Incident Energy Limit), arc class, and ATPV (Arc) value. The mobile application can also include a feature that allows users to compare different pieces of protective clothing in a single overview.

[0073] The mobile application can also display a safety distance for people without protective clothing near the electrical installation. This distance is preferably determined when the electrical installation is registered in the application. The calculation is performed using a selected standard, such as IEEE or IEC, and the installation's technical specifications. The calculated safety distance is preferably stored in a database and linked to the identifier of the associated electrical installation.

[0074] The mobile application warns users of potential risks and safety deficiencies when working on electrical systems. For example, the app warns if scanned protective clothing does not meet the specified safety requirements, providing specific information such as: "The ELIM value of the clothing is lower than required for this system." Furthermore, the app warns if the system's technical parameters, such as current or voltage, do not match the data stored in the database, which may indicate a misconfiguration. Other warnings include alerts about insufficient working distances from the system, such as: "You are in the danger zone without protective clothing," or notifications that the selected standard (e.g., IEEE) is not fully applicable to the system in question. These warnings are displayed in real time via pop-up or notification, allowing users to take immediate safety precautions.

Claims

[1] Protective clothing for work on electrical installations where there is a risk of electric arc discharge, comprising a second scannable data carrier configured to provide access to information on the safety requirements to which the protective clothing meets when scanned. [2] Protective clothing according to claim 1, wherein the second scannable data carrier is provided on or in the protective clothing. [3] Protective clothing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second scannable data carrier is a QR code or a barcode. [4] Protective clothing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second scannable data carrier comprises a reference to data in a database of safety requirements to which the safety clothing complies. [5] Protective clothing according to claim 4, wherein the reference comprises a unique identification code linked to registered technical specifications of the protective clothing. [6] Protective clothing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second scannable data carrier is designed as a permanently attached element which is incorporated into or applied to the fabric during the manufacturing process of the protective clothing. [7] Protective clothing according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second scannable data carrier provides access to information representing an ELIM value, an ATPV value and / or an HAF value of the protective clothing. [8] Protective clothing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second scannable data carrier provides access to limit values ​​that indicate the maximum energy to which the protective clothing can be exposed. [9] Protective clothing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second scannable data carrier provides access to information about a standard or norm used to establish safety requirements. [10] System for the accreditation of protective clothing, comprising: - Databases containing information for identifying an electrical installation and a person's protective clothing, wherein the information includes data on different types of protective clothing and the corresponding safety requirements they meet, as well as data on various - Safety requirements they meet, as well as data on various electrical installations and the associated safety requirements; - a first scannable data carrier comprising references to data in databases for the identification of an electrical installation; - a second scannable data carrier containing references to data in the databases for the identification of protective clothing; - a portable device, comprising a mobile application configured to identify protective clothing and electrical equipment by scanning the first and second scannable data carriers based on references to the data in the databases. [11] The system according to claim 10, further comprising protective clothing to be accredited, wherein the second scannable data carrier is attached to the protective clothing. [12] A portable device for the accreditation of protective clothing, comprising means for scanning a first and a second scannable data carrier, which includes references to a database containing information for identifying an electrical installation and a person's protective clothing, wherein the information includes data on different types of protective clothing and the corresponding safety requirements that they meet, as well as data on different electrical installations and the associated safety requirements; the portable device further comprising a mobile application for identifying the protective clothing and the electrical installation based on the references to the database. [13] The portable device according to claim 12, wherein the mobile application is suitable for providing information about a safe working distance to be maintained when working with the identified protective clothing. [14] The portable device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the mobile application is suitable for providing information about the identified electrical installation. [15] The portable device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, which is configured to change information about the identified electrical installation via the mobile application, wherein the safety requirements of the electrical installation are calculated on the basis of the changed information.