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The Evident Need for Testing Personal Protective Equipment
Applied Technical Services performs several disciplines of PPE testing to ensure these products are safe for end users and standard-compliant. Certain jobsites and working conditions feature innate hazards. Construction sites, for instance, often see tools falling from heights that could severely injure anyone below. Hospitals, on the other hand, can see wide varieties of bacteria and viruses pass through their halls, each capable of spreading and causing illness. While each of these settings answers their individual workplace hazards differently — industry-specific safety standards mandating the use of hard hats and surgical gloves, respectively — the similarity between these responses is that they both require PPE for their employees.
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as PPE, represents a category of products designed to keep people safe in the work environment. Whether hats, gloves, masks, goggles, or suits, PPE can only protect if it reliably performs as required in its intended usage conditions. The broad range of hazards, and the PPE designed to guard against them, means that most testing providers cannot offer an extensive enough portfolio to answer all the needs associated with testing a product. ATS does not suffer from that limitation. Our vast array of testing capabilities and depth of expertise make ATS an obvious choice for manufacturers who need to validate their PPE for production.
PPE Testing Capabilities
We offer a wide range of testing capabilities to ensure clients’ PPE products meet requirements. The variety of ways we can help in this application includes:
- Compound Detection
- Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy — ASTM D4526; EPA 24*, 5021, 8260C; GMW 15634*; PV 3341*; VDA 278*
- Triple Quadrupole/Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS-MS) — ATS 367 Rev 0*
- Material Identification
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) — ASTM E1252*
- Inductively Coupled Plasma/Atomic Emission (ICP-AES) — ASTM E1479*, E1613*, E1645*, F963-17 § 4.3.5.2 and 8.3*
- Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES/Spark Arc) — ASTM E415*, E1086*, E1251*, E1507, E3047*
- Thermal Properties
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) — ASTM D3418*, E793*, E794*, E1356*
- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) — ASTM E1131*, E1641*, E1868*; ISO 11358
- Conductivity — ASTM B193
- Contact Resistance — MIL-STD-1344A Method 3004.1*
- Dielectric Strength — MIL-STD-202G Method 301*
- Insulation Resistance — MIL-STD-202G Method 302*
- Surface Resistivity — ASTM D257; IEC 60093
- Abrasion — ASTM D4060
- Adhesion — ASTM D2197, D3359*, D4541; ISO 4624
- Chemical Resistivity — ASTM D543, D1308; MA-0015; STD 1026.8177; PPS 1002; BMW GS 95003-5
- Flammability — 16 CFR 1610*; ASTM D1230*; UL 94*
- Heat Aging — IEC 68–2–30*
- Ingress Protection — IEC 60529*
- Fatigue — ASTM E399*, E466, E606*, E1290*, E1820*
- Leak Testing — ASTM E493, E498, E499, E1603–11
- Tensile Strength — ASTM D412*, D638*, D882, D3039/D3909M, D5766, D6742/D6742M, E8/E8M*, E21; ISO 37, 527-1*, 6892*
- Elmendorf Tear Resistance — ASTM D1922
- Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) — ASTM B748*, E1508*
*Bolded text indicates test standard for which we are ISO 17025 accredited
Besides the capabilities listed above, ATS can also perform full dimensional analysis, reverse engineering, and failure analysis services to help clients ensure their PPE meets design specifications and quality assurance requirements.
About ATS
Applied Technical Services delivers testing, inspection, and consulting engineering capabilities to clients operating around the world. Since our founding in 1967, we have enjoyed good fortune and immense growth. The intervening five decades have seen us expand from a team of three engineers into a multidisciplinary firm employing over 1,000 specialists in a variety of fields. Our PPE testing services primarily benefit manufacturers, helping them achieve compliance and quality management goals. Ensuring the quality of PPE through rigorous testing benefits a variety of industries, however, including the following:
- Pulp and Paper
- Chemical
- Power Generation
- Commercial Properties
- Oil / Gas
- Communications
- Nuclear
- Construction
- Healthcare / Medical
- Defense / Military
- Consumer Products
Our Commitment to Quality
We perform all PPE testing services according to our ISO 9001-registered quality management system. ATS initially achieved this certification in 1998 by undergoing a stringent auditing process conducted by ISO-approved inspectors. They determined that our business procedures comply with the internationally recognized standard for quality management practices. Our Marietta Lab has maintained certified status without interruption by periodically renewing registration by submitting to subsequent audits. We participate in this exacting process because it helps us become better; abiding by these principles helped us build a foundation from which we have continually improved the quality and scope of our services.
ATS upholds several policies to promote a positive customer experience when working with our labs, including the following:
- Our testing personnel return clear, accurate, detailed reporting within a quick turnaround window
- Our customer service agents answer clients reaching out with questions and facilitate contact with the most relevant staff member
- Our lab specialists remain accessible to customers reaching out for clarification on either the status or results of their testing, responsive to their needs, and engaged in helping them solve their problem
If your company needs comprehensive PPE testing, contact ATS for a free quote today — We take a closer look!
