REPORTS AND STUDIES intensity of the arc and its time duration. An arc can be caused by various factors such as falling tools, accidental contact with energized components or the accumulation of conductive dust (metal waste, chips ...), dirt, corrosion, and other particle build-up. An electrical arc can also be caused by improper use or inadequate design of electrical equipment, including wiring errors and improper work procedures. Serious Consequences The direct consequences that an operator may suffer in an accident of this type are: - Serious burns (2nd and 3rd degree) due to the large amount of energy emitted as heat in small amounts of time. - Impacts of residual molten metal particles that are violently expelled by the blast which can reach temperatures of 1000 oC and impact at high speeds. - High level of radiation consisting of very bright visible radiation, UV and IR. Its heat energy is 50 cal/cm2 with a temperature of 1000 ° C - Noise levels of 165 db traveling at 1200 km/h exerting high pressure. Given such dangerous effects, and features as the high temperature rise in just milliseconds, personal protective equipment (PPE) must be carefully chosen. AITEX aims with this novel project, to open new lines of research into new materials for this field. These new facilities enable AITEX to quantify a certain material or set of materials protection against an electric arc, giving a value known as Arc Rathing which is usually expressed as ATPV (Arc Test Performance Value) or EBT50 (breakopen threshold energy) depending on whether there is fabric breakage or not. Test Methods Several international reference standards are followed, as the UNE- EN 61482-1-1 which develops the test method for assessing the protection of materials used in the garments fabrication. To perform the tests an electric power supply is required sufficient to allow the discharge of an electric arc initiated by a fusible thread with a distance of 305 mm between the tips of the electrodes with an alternating current of 8000 amperes and a duration between 0.05 s and 1.5 s and a voltage sufficient to sustain the arc during the whole test of approximately 3000 volts. What makes these installations require a direct feed from transformer substations. This standard uses two test methods, Method A and Method B, depending on whether to assess a material or a garment respectively. In both methods samples are placed at a distance of 300 mm from the axis of the electrodes with its surface parallel to this axis. Three panels or test dummies are placed separated at least 120° around the axis of generation of the electric arc. In Method A intended for the evaluation of materials, the energy transmitted through the material is measured, typically a fabric or a set of these. Two calorimeters are arranged at the back of the material to be evaluated, measuring the amount of energy transmitted after exposure to the electrical arc. The material’s behavior is determined from the amount of heat transferred by the samples, using these data being to predict possible second degree burns according to the Stoll curve. To determine the material’s Arc Rating the results of at least 20 specimens are needed at different incident energies, which are achieved by varying the time of exposure to the arc, since the current and intensity values do not vary. Method B used for garments, evaluates the design and performance of protective equipment once made with pockets, seams, zippers, and others, as it will be used by an operator. Prior to performing the evaluation by Method B, it is required to determine the material’s Arc Rating with which the garment is manufactured. The material’s Arc Rating from which the garment is manufactured is the minimum energy the garment will be exposed to. In addition to these standards, there are others such as ASTM F1959 and ASTM 2126 which now have the same requirements of the above described tests. In addition, some countries such as Canada, South Africa and Australia have adopted these same test methods to evaluate the security of their clothes and materials. Technological Innovation The technological challenge with which we have came accross, necessary to evaluate these materials, is to generate a pilot-scale "explosion" in a controlled manner with defined characteristics. To this end, El Instituto Tecnológico Textil (AITEX) in collaboration with el Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (ITE) have joined forces in order to become world pioneers in the research of this phenomenon. The uniqueness of this facility has made necessary the custom design of most of the elements of the power circuit, as the maximum working current and the derived electrodynamic stresses, are beyond the scope of the usual design of such facilities. This has required joint work of engineering and research from both IITT. PPE: MATERIALS, MACHINERY AND TECHNIQUES FOR THEIR PRODUCTION 100