Use and Care Manual
FIBERGLASS LADDER TECHNICAL MANUAL
7
INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL LABORATORY TESTS
FIBERGLASS BUTT LADDER Before Immersion After Immersion
Voltage Applied Between 45% R.H. 63% R.H. 52% R.H.
Rung 1 to Ground 6.0 KV 6.0 KV 5.5 KV
Rung 1 to Rung 2 94.0 KV 94.0 KV 64.0 KV
Rung 2 to Rung 3 95.0 KV 94.0 KV 66.0 KV
Rung 7 to Rung 8 95.0 KV 93.0 KV 81.0 KV
Rung 10 to Rung 11 83.0 KV 91.0 KV 84.0 KV
Rung 11 to Top 50.0 KV 53.0 KV 42.0 KV
(End cap to chain)
PRIOR FLASHOVER VOLTAGE TESTS
Before Immersion After Immersion
FIBERGLASS EXTENSION LADDER
Rung to Rung (No R.H. Control) 90 KV 34.0 KV
WOOD EXTENSION LADDER
Rung to Rung (No R.H. Control) 100 KV Material Breakdown
Fiberglass Stepladder
Voltage Applied Between Before Immersion After Immersion
Step 1 to Ground 29.5 KV 28.5 KV
Step 1 to 2 81.0 KV 75.0 KV
Step 4 to 5 82.0 KV 25.0 KV
(
Affected by Presence of label)
Step 5 to Top 100.4 KV 79.0 KV
The above products were immersed for 14 days, removed and permitted to air dry for two
days, then tested.
Electrical Testing Laboratories tested Werner Co. FRP ladders. Results from
the test series are as follows:
7
ELECTRICAL TESTS
FLASHOVER VOLTAGE
PRIOR FLASHOVER VOLTAGE TESTS
FLASHOVER VOLTAGE
1. Electrical tests for DC leakage current requirements resulted in no more than 90 microamperes at
90 KV on a 10" electrode spacing. This test was run after 72 hours conditioning at 22°C and 80%
relative humidity. For routine testing, conditioning at 60% Relative Humidity and 72°F, is now utilized.
Test Voltage DC Leakage Current Test Voltage DC Leakage Current
20 KV 2.5 Microamperes (µA) 80 KV 8.2 µA
40 KV 3.2 µA 90 KV ---
60 KV 4.6 µA 100 KV 11.6 µA
Routine tests at 90 KV after conditioning at 72°F average 2 microamperes. The DC leakage
current runs from less than 1 to as much as 8 microamperes with 60% of tests below 1 microampere.
2. AC Dielectric strength is measured parallel to the rail. The requirement is that a 1 inch
length of ladder rail sustain 25 KV without electrical breakdown. Wer ner Ladder Co.
fiberglass ladders averaged 65 to 70 KV on tests.
3. It is claimed that 1 milliampere (1000 microamperes) creates no sensation with 60 cycle AC
while 5 milliamperes causes painful shock.
4. ANSI A14.5-1992 r
equires not over 90 microamperes at
90 KV DC with electrodes
spaced 10 inches apart.
5. (Reference) —
Electrical tests on other products used in electrical environments:
a. Lineman’s rubber gloves are available in five classes to meet ASTM F696 Specifications:
Ansi Class Proof Test Voltage Ansi Class Proof Test Voltage
Class 0 5 KV Class II 20 KV
(750 volt maximum use)
Class III 30 KV
Class I 10 KV Class IV 40 KV
b. Insulated buckets and booms must meet ANSI C92.2 using a portable current intensity
detector. Test is run for 3 minutes and the leakage current can’t increase 10% over
initial value or exceed 1,000 microamperes at 69 KV (line-to-line AC) or 40 KV (line-to-ground AC).
TEST RESULTS AT 80% RELATIVE HUMIDITY