ATPV VS EBT – Which is Better?

Introduction

ATPV and EBT are special ratings (Tests) given to Fireproof/Fire-Resistant Fabric/Clothing designed to provide protection against fire flames and its heat. This flame-resistant clothing is required especially in the electrical industry or wherever welding and drilling are essential for conducting jobs on a regular basis. This workwear fabric is tested through two ratings i.e. ATPV & EBT known as arc ratings. During work in process, unintentionally or naturally unwanted incidents happen that are usually called arc flash hazards. To provide protection against such accidents, one needs to wear proper Fireproof fabric (That is tested through one of the tests mentioned above) along with safety gear to stay safe from severe injuries or even from losing a life. That’s where ATPV or EBT steps in to let the labors proceed with proper security and to minimize the risk of injuries if the arc flash incident is experienced.

Reasons for Arc Flash Hazards

Other than the natural disaster, arc flash incidents happen due to a few reasons. First of all, the careless attitude of the workers leads them to such bad experiences. Secondly, if the wires are naked or broken and somebody accidentally exposed to them. Loose wires, switches, and broken circuits add up the risk. The panels that are obstructed with lost connection and also if water or any other liquid comes in contact with the electrical wires. Unnecessary fluctuation of electricity or damaged tools and equipment makes easier for arc flash incident to happen any instant. If we look closely at the reasons, we come to know that all these cases happen because of one main thing and that is carelessness. That’s why check and balance are very necessary and still, all of this maintenance of security check requires another element and that is purely ATPV and EBT ratings. Let’s go through the explanation of the ATPV and EBT ratings on simpler terms.

ATPV

It stands for Arc Thermal Performance/Protective Value. It comes in the line of FR Clothing only for more extreme work conditions to provide high-quality protection against fire or electric hazards in such industries. In professional terms, ATPV is defined as the arc incident energy that is required to cause the onset of second-degree burns. The more the rating of ATPV the more protective fabric it becomes. Basically, it protects the body and skin from heat. What ratings of ATPV are required in a fabric is totally dependent on the nature of the job and its requirements. In short, ATPV ratings provides the particular FR Fabric a rating to protect from second-degree burns to a level of 50% if the accident occurs during the task while using them.

EBT

EBT stands for Energy Break-open Threshold. Belongs to the same line of FR Clothing. On a simpler note, it can be understood as the maximum amount of electrical/heat energy any fabric material can withstand or hold. The case is similar to ATPV as EBT provides the exact 50% level of protection from second-degree burns. For more clarity, if a material is broken up to 1.6cm square or 0.5 in the square then the worker in contact will experience an injury of a second-degree burn. The more the rating of EBT the more sound the Fire-Resistant Cloth will be.

Difference Between ATPV & EBT

The difference between both the protective ratings can be easily understood by their performances. While conducting EBT ratings, the fabric is break-open and the skin comes in contact to face a second-degree burn. Whereas, ATPV does not let the fabric to break-open but it has a limit to stand the heat in those conditions and finally the boiling heat intact with the skin to cause a second-degree burn.

Which One is Better?

Both are equally good and neither is better than the other. As ATPV does not let the fabric to break-open so it was considered better in performance and everything. The truth is both provides the same level of safety and protection through their performances. Both ratings’ approvals enable to wear FR Clothing over risky hazardous tasks or with the one any worker feels more comfortable with.

Earlier, standard tests were taken to check the performance level of either rating. During those tests and experiments, ATPV got the marking of a better evaluation. The reason I have mentioned earlier that ATPV does not let the cloth or fabric burn whereas EBT let the fabric break-open in extreme environments. Later on, it was determined that different fabrics have different capacities to bear the fire heat and other shocks.

What should be kept in Mind While Considering Both Ratings?

When we use EBT for a job, it had been noted after the task that the clothing or fabric did not get to record a burn even if its torn apart. On the other hand, when we use ATPV, there’s a 50% probability that a burn will cause even without tearing apart the fabric when the task is completed successfully. If the body or more appropriately the hands in use to conduct the task are naked then the injury will happen on a 100% surety. If something goes wrong and the kits are used still then, the protective uniform will provide the time to survive and escape the area on fire. Furthermore, ATPV and EBT both have a positive record. The results have always been greater in terms of protection and safety. Still, if we search with more fine details, only a little or not capable of being called burn injuries have been experienced. And that is quite good. Accidents recorded were those where there were barb wires and non-functional set-up generally over ejecting arcs, tracking arcs and oil-filled equipment; the explosive heat energy there is usually very higher than usual. For that, double the fabric or wear two uniforms altogether is advised to undergo the situation but that never helped because the worker starts sweating with so much clothing and eventually suffocates and gets dehydrated; under such circumstances, one naturally could not proceed to execute the task.

Both ATPV and EBT are considered approved and reliable ratings. If the burn is caused under second degree or till that limit without breaking open the fabric, it comes in the ATPV rating and if the fabric is broken apart and the skin gets injured under the respected limit then the rating lies in EBT. Again, neither is superior to the other. In fact, both ratings ensure the protective materials are equally good at their performances. One needs to make sure which one to choose and to proceed with. Stay safe and work along.