Archive for the ‘Protective Apparel’ Category
Protective Apparel
July 18th, 2009 | 
Author: Safety Supplies Michigan
Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Protective Apparel
There are a number of types of outer clothing including non-hazardous apparel (for use in oil, dirt and grime where the wearer does not want to get clothes soiled), and hazardous apparel, including toxic waste, fire retardant and chemical apparel.
The non-hazardous apparel is usually called “Limited Use and/or Disposable.” This type of clothing comes in a variety of styles. The wearer can have items by the piece; pants, jacket, sleeves, boots, apron, hood and full face hood and shield or he can wear One-Piece Coveralls that can come with elastic wrist/ankle bands for a tighter fit. The coveralls can come with boots, hoods and complete hood w/face shield.
Lakeland makes their disposable garments from two types of material, MicroMAX, which is general purpose protective material that can be used in any non-hazardous environment. MicroMAX is comprised of a microporous film with a nylon scrim between the film and the sub-strate, this gives the material added strength. The other material is “Tyvek”.
There are different types of MicroMAX clothing signified by the type of use, seam joints and composition. They are HBF, NS and NS Cool Suit.
HBF utilizes the fabric structure to limit challenge material penetration through the fabric. The same fabric structure, when combined with the physical properties of the melt-blown layer, promotes the exchange of air and moisture between the inside of the fabric and the exterior. The result is outstanding barrier and comfort. NS features high MVTR’s and is breathable for worker comfort. MicroMAX® NS is strong, wet or dry. NS Cool Suit is made with the same material with an added spunbond polypropylene back panel. This give the suit added breathability.
The different types of stitching used in the clothing are Serged Seams, Sewn and Bound Seams and Heat Sealed Seams. A serged seam joins two pieces of material with a thread that interlocks. This is an economical stitching method for general applications. It is more commonly found on limited use clothing where dry particles are of a concern.
A sewn and bound seam joins two pieces of material with an overlay of similar material and is chain stitched through all of the layers for a clean finished edge. This provides increased holdout of liquids and dry particulates.
A heat sealed seam is sewn and then sealed with a heat activated tape. This method provides liquid proof seams, and is especially useful for Level A and B chemical protective clothing.
The basic OSHA Standard calls for 4 levels of protection, A – D and it also specifies in detail the equipment and clothing required to protect the wearer. Lakeland makes Level A and Level B apparel.
Level A represents the greatest danger to respiratory, eye and/or skin damage from hazardous vapors, gases, particulates, sudden splash, immersion or contact with haz-mat. It calls for total Encapsulation in a vapor tight chemical suit with self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or supplied air.
Level B situations calls for the highest degree of respiratory protection but a lesser degree of skin protection. It calls for SCBA or positive pressure supplied air with escape SCBA. Level B suits can be fully encapsulated or pieced together in various garments.
Lakeland Industries is a licensed manufacturer of quality Tyvek® Protective Wear™ products. Lakeland is a registered company manufacturing to ISO 9001 specifications. Additionally, our Tyvek® Protective Wear™ meets or exceeds ANSI 101-1996 sizing requirements, and are required to pass dynamic fit tests to minimize rips and tears. All Tyvek® Protective Wear™ garments are clearly marked with a blue label to distinguish them from others which may have not been manufactured from Tyvek® or under the entire quality system. It’s your assurance of quality manufacturing that strengthens your safety combination.
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Protective Apparel Training
Safety Products Michigan
Protective Apparel Training
There are 4 main types material of poly protective apparel
SBP Fabric
- Spunbond Polypropylene
- Most Comfortable
- Least Protection
- Keeps large particulates out
SMMMS Fabric
- Spunbond, Meltblown, Spunbond
- Increased barrier protection vs. SMS. Dry particulate holdout. .25 micrometers
- Durable and abrasion resistant
- Breathable and comfortable for all day wear
- Antistatic NFPA 99
Microporous Fabric
- Spunbond with film laminate
- Splash Resistant.
- Durable and abrasion resistant
- Lightweight, breathable and comfortable Antistatic NFPA 99
- Low Lint
- Blood Barrier (ASTM F1670)
Barrier Fabric
- 2 layer construction using Spunbond and laminates
- High barrier protection. Spray, Splash and Chemical Resistant.
- Durable and abrasion resistant
- Antistatic NFPA 99
- Low Lint
- Blood Barrier (ASTM F1670 and 1671)
BASIC SEAMS CONSTRUCTION
- SERGED: A Serged seam is generally used in light protection disposable garments and consist of using an interlock stitch where the two ends of the fabric meet producing a hardy and durable garment. POSIWEAR, Tyvek®, Kleenguard® A20,30,40, all SMS, SPS
- BOUND: A bound seam builds upon the construction of the Serged seam then reinforces the surged seam with an additional piece of like material sewn on top, resulting in increase particulate holdout and increased strength. TyChem® QC, KGA70, A80
- TAPED: Used in chemical barrier application, the taped seam is sewn then taped melted together by heat sealing. TyChem® SL, TyChem BR, LV, CPF 4, TK, KGA80
- ULTRASONIC: Thermally welded seams
STYLES
- Coveralls
- Lab coats & Shirts
- Bouffants
- Hoods
- Shoe & Boot Covers
- Pants
- Sleeves
- Aprons
Questions to get to the right product for the job!
- What are you trying to keep off ?
- Dry particulates, light spray, liquid splash, chemicals, hazardous chemical
- What is the concentration level?
- Describe the size of the particulate/liquid.
- Bigger or smaller than a grain of sand
- If chemical, what chemical?
- Environmental conditions
- What size do you need?
- Select one size larger than actual size
Once you have identified the use, potential hazards and the consequences of exposure, select a fabric based on the innate characteristics of the fabric
Dry Particulate/Liquid Spray
- Use SBPP, SMS, SMMS,SMMMS, Coated SB Laminates
- Applications/Industries
- Asbestos removal
- Dry/Hazardous Chemicals
- Cleanroom
- General clean up
- Food industry
- Maintenance
- Laboratories
- Nuclear/Radioactive Equipment
- Paint and Paint Spray
- Waste Recycling/Collection
- Hazardous material remediation
- Foundries Metalworking
- Construction/Building
- Utilities
- Mining
Liquid Splash
- Use Coated, SB Laminates
- Applications/Industries
- Acid Handling
- Bio-Hazard Exposure
- Chemical Mid Range Light Splash
- Chemical Increased Hazard/splash
- Construction/Building
- Flammable Materials
- Foundries/Metalworking/Mining
- Hazmat Response
- Hazardous Material Remediation
- Laboratories
- Maintenance
- PCB Remediation
- Refineries – Petro Chemical
- Warfare Agents/Chemical Materials
- Tank Cleaning/Maintenance
