The Origin of Antistatic Clothing Standards
Experts analyze that most fires in workplaces involving explosives, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum are caused by static electricity generated by human activity exceeding safety limits, leading to accidental discharge sparks. Statistics show that from 1960 to 1973 in the United States, there were 166 oil spills alone that were caused by static electricity in fires and explosions; in Japan, approximately 100 static electricity fires occur annually, with fires caused by charged human bodies accounting for about 20%.
The generation of static electricity is closely related to the material of clothing worn, the intensity of activity, the type of tools used, the conductivity of the ground, and the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment. For a long time, people have used grounding, shielding, and neutralization to eliminate the hazards of static electricity. Antistatic work clothes provide static electricity shielding for the human body, eliminating or mitigating the hazards of static electricity. Antistatic clothing is made of antistatic fabric and is suitable for use in places where there is a risk of electric shock, fire, or explosion. The manufacturing process of antistatic fabrics mainly involves incorporating antistatic fibers or antistatic synthetic fibers, made entirely or partially of conductive materials (metals or organic substances), during the weaving process, either at roughly equal intervals or uniformly. This, or a mixture of both, prevents the accumulation of static electricity on clothing, thereby preventing accidents.
To standardize and improve the quality of antistatic clothing, various countries have established relevant standards. my country's national standard GB12014-2009, "Antistatic Clothing," came into effect on December 1, 2009, significantly revising the original GB12014-1989, "Antistatic Work Clothes." The main technical indicators are compared and analyzed below.