What is the difference between dielectric galoshes and boots, where are they used and how are they verified?

Good afternoon, dear readers of the site “vse-elektrichestvo.ru”. We have already talked about dielectric gloves and now it’s time to talk about dielectric boots for electricians.

Dielectric boots for an electrician

Dielectric shoes today include:

• dielectric boots;
• dielectric galoshes.

Dielectric galoshes 1000 Volt

Typically, dielectric overshoes are used to protect a person from step voltage or step voltage.

It is important to know! Step voltage is the voltage between two points on the surface of the earth, which is taken to be equal to the length of a person’s step.

Dielectric boots and galoshes are only additional insulating means in open and closed electrical installations. Today, in electrical installations it is allowed to use only safety shoes that meet all GOST requirements. Dielectric bots are allowed to be used in all voltage classes. Dielectric galoshes, in turn, can only be used in electrical installations up to 1000 Volts. Designation for protective properties:

1. Bots – Ev.
2. Galoshes - En.

All dielectric bots have a lapel

The color of dielectric boots and galoshes usually differs from the color of other shoes that are made of rubber. On dielectric boots you will notice a flap. The height of the bot must be at least 16 cm.

Why and in what electrical installations are dielectric boots and galoshes used?

The classification of the energy technical group of equipment includes design features, power, type of use, current frequency, and features of the premises being used.

Design features allow the installations to be divided into:

• open, that is, located outside the premises;
• closed, located in the room itself;
• sheltered from snow or rain by a canopy.

According to the power value, they are divided into existing electrical installations up to 1000 V and over 1000 V.

Regardless of the type of power equipment, the use of special clothing and safety shoes is extremely necessary. Their use allows you to protect a person from step voltage (voltage between two points on the surface of the earth, equal to the length of a person’s step).

Important: dielectric galoshes are used when working in electrical installations up to 1000 volts; they are marked with the symbol En , indicating the protective properties of the item and the manufacturing method. Dielectric boots are used in any closed electrical installations (in dry weather it is also permissible in open ones), regardless of the voltage class; they are designated by the letters Ev .

The production of elastic products is subject to the requirements of GOST 13385-78 “Special dielectric footwear made of polymer materials. Technical conditions".

Features of dielectric shoes

Typically, in production where work with high voltages of 1000 W or more is required, protective equipment is provided along with tools; boots are also included in this list. Their peculiarity is that they must differ in color and markings from other protective equipment and other special shoes. All parts of dielectric boots must consist of thick rubber laid in several layers.

The sole of the boots should not be corrugated and should not slip on any surface. To improve the protective properties, additional rubberized reinforcing parts are installed inside the boot. Some types of such shoes are available without lining, but it can be ordered separately. Another feature is comfort when walking; for this, the height of the edge of the boots should not be higher than 160 mm.

Types of special rubber shoes

Dielectric shoes include:

• bots;
• galoshes;
• boots.

Glued rubber galoshes

Glued overshoes are multilayer ring-shaped products. They consist of:

• rubber upper;
• similar grooved sole;
• backdrop made of paper or twill;
• thick knitted lining;
• internal elements that create additional strength.

Rubber color is beige or light gray.

Important: when working in regions with a tropical climate, textile material must be impregnated with an antiseptic.

Glued rubber boots

Dielectric boots differ from galoshes by the presence of a flap at the top. The flap is necessary to protect against liquid penetration.

The following requirements apply to the production of a bot:

• the height of the product must be at least 16 centimeters (including the folded collar);
• the thickness of the plantar part is at least 0.6 centimeters;
• The lining must be made of dielectric material.

Molded rubber boots

The production of molded models involves the production of blanks from a certain rubber composition, their further assembly, molding and vulcanization. At the final stage, burrs, press-outs and other deviations from the norm are removed. The entire product is cleaned.

According to GOST 13385-78, molded boots do not have internal reinforcing parts and a textile lining. Lapels are present, as in adhesive products.

PVC molded rubber boots

The design of the boots consists of:

• boot, narrower at the bottom and widened at the top;
• corrugated sole with a heel made of polymer material (rubber or PVC);
• internal textile lining.

Important : regardless of the type of shoes, the material used should not contain any hard or soft foreign bodies or bubbles (with the exception of the toe part), peeled elements, protrusion of rubber or PVC through the lining fabric, delamination of individual internal parts and other errors.

Price overview

You can buy dielectric boots at any electrical appliance store; their price depends on the brand and level of protection provided (for example, Rostov special store). Sales are also carried out in factories where protective measures are produced.

Before purchasing, always check the certificate of conformity of the bots, their fire rating and the voltage at which they provide maximum protection.

Storage and operating conditions

Storing safety shoes is a responsible process. The following conditions must be met:

• the presence of a dark closed room;
• the ambient temperature must be above 0 degrees Celsius (exceeding the 20-degree mark will negatively affect the quality of rubber products);
• availability of racks or wooden shelves in the warehouse;
• relative humidity requirements – 50-70%;
• The presence of special clothing and safety footwear in the immediate vicinity of heating units is unacceptable. It is allowed to keep items to be worn in relation to heating systems at a distance of one meter or more;
• close proximity to chemically aggressive environments: acids, alkalis, some liquids, technical oils can cause substances to enter the surface of products with subsequent damage.

Important: electrically resistant shoes are used in accordance with the rules for using protective equipment used in power plants. It is necessary to ensure that it does not receive mechanical damage due to exposure to hard, cutting objects, or chemically aggressive substances.

In a simplified version, it should be borne in mind that boots or galoshes are worn over existing clean and dry shoes. After completion of the work, the rubber products are removed and left on the territory of the electrical installation. If necessary, they are cleaned of dirt and dried.

How to use bots

Boots, dielectric gloves and socks are used in high-risk areas. At the same time, the building should not be wet or dusty, otherwise the effectiveness of the boots is significantly reduced. Step-by-step instructions on how to use electrician shoes:

1. They are worn only over regular shoes. Make sure your boots are clean first. If it is not possible to wear the usual sneakers or galoshes, then use rubberized socks;
2. If the room is under step voltage, then before walking on the floor, you need to spread special mats or rubber plates on it - this will protect against high current;
3. The manufacturer indicates on the sole not only the expiration date, but also the operating conditions. All boots and galoshes are divided into two groups: those that are used at temperatures from -15 to 40 degrees, and -50 to +80;
4. It is advisable to use all possible insulating devices together: gloves, socks and shoes.

The process of checking dielectric galoshes and bot

Electrical protective equipment is tested according to operational test standards to avoid accidents. During the production process, safety shoes are subjected to regular and extraordinary tests. Extraordinary checks are carried out; inspection of safety shoes reveals any damage. Tests are carried out according to approved regulatory documents by specially trained and certified personnel.

Test periods and frequency

The frequency of checking polymer bots is at least 3 times every 12 months. In some cases, the period is increased to 6 months. Ideally, footwear testing should be carried out before any work in an electrical installation.

The time allocated for testing protective equipment is one minute.

Is there a need to test new bots?

Electrical protective equipment received for use from manufacturers or warehouses, that is, new, must be tested in accordance with performance test standards.

Dielectric gloves: requirements, types, timing and how the test is carried out

1. Electrically insulating dielectric gloves are placed in a metal container with warm or slightly cool (not lower than 20 C) water. In this case, the gloves are not completely immersed - the top should look 45-55 mm above the surface. This is necessary so that electrodes can be placed inside the mittens. The material above the water (as well as the walls of the tank that are not filled with liquid) must be dry.
2. One of the transformer contacts is connected to the container, the other is grounded. An electrode grounded using a milliammeter is immersed in the gloves. Thanks to this method, it is possible not only to assess the integrity of the material, but also to test whether electric current flows through the product.
3. The load comes from transformer equipment, which is connected by one wire to the tank, and by the second to a two-position switch. The first test method: transformer-gas-discharge lamp-electrode chain; second method: transformer-milliammeter-electrode chain.

Material requirements

Dielectric shoes differ from ordinary rubber shoes in their strict requirements for materials.

1. Textile lining. According to GOST 13385-78, it is recommended to use simple lined fabric for galoshes. For boots, the lining can be made on all sides from harsh twill, corresponding to article 7122. Also, in both cases, smooth weave fabric can be used. But for galoshes you can use filling material 3, 4 or 5, and for boots - 1, 2 or 6 (GOST 1443).
2. Insole. It is made from gray twill, which is a plain-dyed cotton-polyester shoe fabric. It is possible to use paper-cord insoles, the production of which complies with GOST 19196.
3. Backdrop. Provided only for galoshes. It can be made of gray twill or paper-cord with combing, corresponding to GOST 19196.

Leakage current is a characteristic by which the dielectric properties of protective equipment can be assessed. The maximum permissible value for galoshes is 2.5 mA, for boots - 10 mA. In addition, there are quite strict requirements for the quality of shoe manufacturing. The following is not allowed:

• hard inclusions;
• peeling of internal parts;
• folds on a textile lining;
• deformed heel;
• discrepancies between the edges of the lining;
• gaps between the lining and the insole.

How to store gloves?

Of course, dielectric gloves must not only be used correctly, but also stored according to the instructions. This will lead to an increase in their service life. In addition, proper storage is a necessary safety measure, which should not be forgotten when working with current. The following conditions exist for storing gloves:

• The room in which gloves are stored must be dry and well ventilated. The temperature should not exceed 25°C, but also not be below zero.

• Air humidity also matters. It should not be more than 75%.

• Under no circumstances should gloves be allowed to come into direct contact with the sun's rays.

• Gloves must be kept at a distance of more than 1 meter from heating devices, all kinds of oils, acids and alkalis. These substances can damage the material from which the gloves are made.

Expert opinion

It-Technology, Electrical power and electronics specialist

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