ASTM F955-07

Workers may be exposed to contact with molten substances. The clothing used should provide some protection. Whether personal injury results from such contact depends on the resistance of the material from which the clothing is made to molten substance contact and the amount of heat transferred through the material to the wearer.

This test method rates materials, that are intended for protective clothing against potential molten substance contact, for their thermal insulating properties and their reaction to the test exposure.

The protective performance, as determined by this test method, will relate to the actual end-use performance only to the degree that the end-use exposure is identical to the exposure used in the test method.

Visual inspection of the specimen subjectively notes the material’resistance to molten substance contact.

1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of materials' thermal resistance to molten substance pour by describing means of measuring heat transfer. Note 1As used in this test method, the term molten substance refers to the three compositions (aluminum, brass, and iron) for which the procedure was validated. The test design may be adapted for use with other substances not validated as part of the test method.

1.2 This test method is applicable to materials from which finished protective apparel articles are made.

1.3 This test method does not measure the flammability of materials, nor is it intended for use in evaluating materials exposed to any other thermal exposure exclusive of the molten substance itself (see ).

1.4 This test method should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to molten substance pour under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the thermal hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a thermal risk assessment which takes into account all the factors that are pertinent to an assessment of the thermal hazard of a particular end use.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section .