IEEE Std 1067-1996

(Revision of IEEE Std 1067-1990)

IEEE Guide for In-Service Use,

Care, Maintenance, and Testing
of Conductive Clothing for Use
on Voltages up to 765 kV ac and
± 750 kV dc

Sponsor
Transmission and Distribution Committee
of the
IEEE Power Engineering Society

Approved 21 March 1996

IEEE Standards Board

Abstract: Recommendations are provided for the in-service use, care, maintenance, and electrical
testing of conductive clothing, including suits, gloves, socks, and boots, for use on voltages up to
765 kV ac and ± 750 kV dc.
Keywords: conductive clothing, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), nondestructive testing

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017-2394, USA

Copyright © 1996 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Published 1996. Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN 1-55937-699-6

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
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Introduction
(This introduction is not part of IEEE Std 1067-1996, IEEE Guide for In-Service Use, Care, Maintenance, and Testing of
Conductive Clothing for Use on Voltages up to 765 kV ac and ± 750 kV dc.)

Conductive clothing provides a shield around the worker’s body that minimizes discomfort due to the
electric field.

The original development and testing of conductive suits dates back to the early 1960s.

The success of these suits in relieving the worker from discomfort while working on lines up through
765 kV ac and ± 750 dc has played an important role in the successful operation, maintenance, and
continuity of service of these extremely high voltage (EHV) lines.

A number of member companies within IEEE’s Subcommittee on Engineering in the Safety, Maintenance,
and Operation of Lines (ESMOL) made it known that an in-service guide was needed to inspect and test
conductive suits before a worker went up to the energized conductor.

Prior to the drafting of this guide, a survey of the user community was conducted to determine if such a
guide was needed, and also to solicit user procedures for the purpose of sharing information. It was evident
that little technical information was available. It was also learned, however, that information was needed.
ESMOL was encouraged to research the subject and to summarize its findings into a guide.

This guide was revised to reflect advancements in the manufacturing and testing of conductive clothing. It is
intended that the contents of this guide will be modified as future needs dictate. Suggestions for improve-
ments and additions are welcome.

At the time this guide was written, the membership of the ESMOL Working Group on Equipment and Tools,
15.07.04, was as follows:

W. T. Croker, Chair

W. G. Arthur M. Eby R. Melzer

D. A. Blakely J. Eckman D. Mitchell
G. K. Brandt H. Fox W. Olive
T. Buonincontri G. Gela J. L. Price
W. H. Cole D. A. Gillies D. Reisinger
E. Davis E. L. Harris G. Stinnett
J. F. Doering E. Jones J. M. Van Name
J. L. Dushaw H. J. Kientz* R. M. Wagner
*Chair of the Conductive Clothing Task Force, 15.07.04.02

The following persons were on the balloting committee:

James G. Applequist Edward J. Goodwin Stig L. Nilsson

J. F. Buch I. S. Grant R. J. Piwko
Kris Buchholz E. L. Harris J. L. Price
Vernon L. Chartier John G. Kappenman Edward W. Reid
W. H. Cole George G. Karady Farouk A. M. Rizk
W. T. Croker Nestor Kolcio B. R. Shperling
G. Gela Keith E. Lindsey James R. Stewart
D. A. Gillies Franklin D. Myers J. M. Van Name†

†Deceased

iii
When the IEEE Standards Board approved this standard on 21 March 1996, it had the following
membership:

Donald C. Loughry, Chair Richard J. Holleman, Vice Chair

Andrew G. Salem, Secretary

Gilles A. Baril Ben C. Johnson Arthur K. Reilly

Clyde R. Camp E. G. “Al” Kiener Ronald H. Reimer
Joseph A. Cannatelli Joseph L. Koepfinger* Gary S. Robinson
Stephen L. Diamond Lawrence V. McCall Ingo Rüsch
Harold E. Epstein L. Bruce McClung John S. Ryan
Donald C. Fleckenstein Marco W. Migliaro Chee Kiow Tan
Jay Forster* Mary Lou Padgett Leonard L. Tripp
Donald N. Heirman John W. Pope Howard L. Wolfman
Jose R. Ramos

*Member Emeritus

Also included are the following nonvoting IEEE Standards Board liaisons:

Satish K. Aggarwal
Alan H. Cookson
Chester C. Taylor

Valerie E. Zelenty
IEEE Standards Project Editor

Nomex is a registered trademark of E. I. Dupont de Nemours and Company.

Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B. V.

iv
Contents
CLAUSE PAGE

1. Overview.............................................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Scope............................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Purpose......................................................................................................................................... 1

2. References............................................................................................................................................ 2

3. Use of conductive clothing .................................................................................................................. 2

3.1 General......................................................................................................................................... 2
3.2 How conductive clothing is worn ................................................................................................ 2
3.3 Bonding strap ............................................................................................................................... 2
3.4 Conductive boots ......................................................................................................................... 3
3.5 Leather gloves.............................................................................................................................. 3

4. Care of conductive clothing ................................................................................................................. 3

4.1 Care.............................................................................................................................................. 3
4.2 Storage ......................................................................................................................................... 3
4.3 Cleaning ....................................................................................................................................... 3

5. Patching and repair of conductive clothing ......................................................................................... 4

6. Inspection before use ........................................................................................................................... 4

6.1 General......................................................................................................................................... 4
6.2 Suits ............................................................................................................................................. 4
6.3 Boots and leg straps ..................................................................................................................... 4
6.4 Socks............................................................................................................................................ 4
6.5 Gloves .......................................................................................................................................... 4
6.6 Continuity check .......................................................................................................................... 5

7. Nondestructive testing ......................................................................................................................... 5

7.1 General......................................................................................................................................... 5
7.2 Apparatus ..................................................................................................................................... 5
7.3 Preparation of specimens ............................................................................................................. 5
7.4 Electrodes..................................................................................................................................... 6
7.5 Test procedures ............................................................................................................................ 6
7.6 Record keeping ............................................................................................................................ 7
7.7 Frequency of tests ........................................................................................................................ 7

iv
IEEE Guide for In-Service Use,
Care, Maintenance, and Testing
of Conductive Clothing for Use
on Voltages up to 765 kV ac and
± 750 kV dc

1. Overview

1.1 Scope

This guide provides recommendations for the in-service use, care, maintenance, and electrical testing of con-
ductive clothing, including suits, gloves, socks, and boots, for use on voltages up to 765 kV ac and ± 750 kV
dc.

Testing pertains only to nondestructive electrical tests that can be performed periodically to check if there is
any reduction in the conductivity of the clothing.

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of this guide is to present, in one document, sufficient details of presently used methods and
techniques to enable the in-service use, care, maintenance, and testing of conductive clothing.

This guide is intended to direct attention to appropriate standards relating to the care or testing of conductive
clothing.

It is not intended that this guide should replace present proven utility standards, or imply that these
recommendations are superior to existing practices and, therefore, should be universally adopted as utility
standards. This compilation of many accepted practices is presented specifically in the form of a guide to be
used by those utilities that are seeking guidance in establishing methods and procedures for the use, care,
maintenance, and testing of conductive clothing.

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IEEE
Std 1067-1996 IEEE GUIDE FOR IN-SERVICE USE, CARE, MAINTENANCE, AND TESTING

2. References

This guide should be used in conjunction with the following publications.

ANSI/SIA A92.2-1990, Vehicle Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices.1

IEC 895 (1987), Specification for Conductive Clothing for Live Working at Nominal Voltage up to
800 kV ac.2

3. Use of conductive clothing

3.1 General

Conductive clothing provides an electrical shield around the worker’s body that minimizes discomfort due to
the electric field. During bare-hand work, it also puts the worker at the same potential as the conductor or
device to which the worker is bonded.

A worker may be assigned a particular suit and be made responsible for its care and cleanliness. Training
should be provided in the inspection and care of conductive clothing.

3.2 How conductive clothing is worn

Conductive suits shall be the outer garment. (See 3.5 for exception for gloves.)

CAUTION
Do not wear other clothing over conductive suits.
Burning can result in serious injury to the worker.

When dressed in the conductive clothing, it is important that all the different pieces of conductive clothing
are well bonded together. Trousers and jackets from different manufacturers may be interchanged so long as
they are of the same generic fabric type. If there is discomfort, clothing of the same manufacturer should be
used. If discomfort persists, the suit shall be inspected and tested. Conductive socks worn with conductive
clothing will properly bond the worker through the soles of the conductive boots. If bootstraps (leg straps)
are supplied with the boots, these should be bonded to the suit for a better connection. This is especially true
if conductive socks are not worn.

When putting on the hood, make sure that it is fitted over the lip of the safety hat so that the face is shielded.
Otherwise, the face can be subject to discomfort.

3.3 Bonding strap

A bonding strap or “tail” is attached to the suit. It shall be connected to the bucket shield when working from
an aerial device, to the conductor when working from an insulated ladder, or to a cart or platform. When two
workers are working from a double bucket, the straps of both suits should be connected to the bucket shields.
(See also ANSI/SIA A92.2-1990.)

1
ANSI publications are available from the Sales Department, American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street, 13th Floor,
New York, NY 10036, USA.
2
IEC publications are available from IEC Sales Department, Case Postale 131, 3, rue de Varembé, CH-1211, Genève 20, Switzerland/
Suisse. IEC publications are also available in the United States from the Sales Department, American National Standards Institute, 11
West 42nd Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10036, USA.

2
 IEEE
OF CONDUCTIVE CLOTHING FOR USE ON VOLTAGES UP TO 765 kV ac AND ± 750 kV dc Std 1067-1996

If, at any time, two “tails” are to be connected to a conductor, it is essential to personal safety that they be
connected to the same side of such items as splicing sleeves, etc., where a difference of potential could exist.

Multiple workers shall always be at the same potential where they can come into contact with each other.

3.4 Conductive boots

If conductive boots are used, the soles of the boots should be clean before stepping onto the bucket shield,
platform, or conductor cart.

Conductive boots will mitigate electric field effects (annoying spark discharges) to workers working from
structures.

3.5 Leather gloves

Leather gloves may be worn over the conductive gloves to protect them from rapid wear.

Leather gloves should be clean and free of pin holes.

4. Care of conductive clothing

4.1 Care

The integrity of the conductive clothing is essential. It is therefore the responsibility of the worker to
exercise extra care while wearing and otherwise handling the clothing. Tears, holes, or other deformities of
the material should be repaired according to accepted practice (see 5.1).

The boots, especially the soles, should be kept reasonably clean and in good repair.

Conductive clothing and/or conductive footwear should not be used for any purpose other than that for
which they were designed.

4.2 Storage

Suits, gloves, and socks should be stored in a dustproof breathable container, such as a canvas or vinyl bag or
briefcase. The container should be breathable in order to allow any moisture in the conductive clothing to
dry, rather than cause molding. The storage container should be distinctive, and should be stored in a
location safe from heat, moisture, and damage by other stored items. Care should be taken in transport.
Conductive clothing should not be stored while damp from perspiration or other moisture.

4.3 Cleaning

The conductive suit may be washed by hand or in an automatic washer with a detergent and no other
additives (such as chlorine bleach, etc.), and may be dried in an automatic dryer on low heat or air dried.

CAUTION
The suit may be uncomfortably hot to the touch when removed from the dryer.

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IEEE
Std 1067-1996 IEEE GUIDE FOR IN-SERVICE USE, CARE, MAINTENANCE, AND TESTING

The life of the suit may be prolonged by hand washing with a mild detergent and air drying. Suits that are
heavily soiled with grease or oil should be dry-cleaned.

5. Patching and repair of conductive clothing

Snags and rips can be sewed with flame-retardant thread (e.g., Nomex® or equivalent). Holes can be
repaired without negative effects by using a patch of the same type of fabric, and stitching a 24.5 mm (1 in)
overlap with flame-retardant thread.

NOTE—When a suit is beyond repair and must be retired from service, it is recommended that the suit be returned to the
manufacturer, along with a history of its use, to provide a data base for future review.

Socks and gloves are not repairable.

6. Inspection before use

6.1 General

A visual inspection should be made of the complete clothing to ensure that all component parts fit together.

Zip fasteners, metal press studs, and metal hooks and eyes (gallows straps on suspenders) should be checked
to ensure that they are correctly inserted and that nothing prevents them from making good electrical
contact. The stitching should be examined to ensure that it is continuous, and that the two or more pieces
being joined are in good electrical contact.

Adjustable Velcro® may be used to eliminate the need for metal fasteners.

6.2 Suits

The suit should be inspected to make sure that it is not damaged, and that the tail connection is secure.

6.3 Boots and leg straps

The straps between the boots to the calf should be inspected for breaks that would disrupt electrical
continuity. They should be replaced if they are judged inadequate (see 3.2). The soles of the boots should be
checked for dirt or contaminants. The soles should be kept clean.

Continuity between the leg strap and the sole of the boot should be ensured.

6.4 Socks

Socks should be inspected for damage.

6.5 Gloves

Gloves should be inspected for damage.

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 IEEE
OF CONDUCTIVE CLOTHING FOR USE ON VOLTAGES UP TO 765 kV ac AND ± 750 kV dc Std 1067-1996

6.6 Continuity check

Conductive clothing and boots may be tested for continuity using an ohmmeter.

7. Nondestructive testing

7.1 General

Conductive suits, as the name implies, must be conductive. If an ohmmeter is connected between any two
extremities of the material on a suited person, it should register continuity. (The degree of continuity, or
specifically, the ohmic value that must not be exceeded, is currently under review.)

The test procedure in this clause may be followed in order to ensure that resistance values can be uniformly
measured and reported. Such standardized test results may lead to a specified resistance limit in this guide at
the next revision.

The purpose of this testing is to obtain data on resistance values of jackets and trousers.

Other nondestructive test methods, such as screening efficiency tests, are available, but are beyond the scope
of this document. See IEC 895 (1987).

7.2 Apparatus

The following apparatus is needed for the test:

a) An ac or dc power supply that can be regulated to give an injection current of 1–5 mA [see IEC 895
(1987)]
b) One milliammeter
c) One voltmeter
d) Ohmmeter, if required (see the note in 7.5.1)
e) Two electrodes (see 7.4)
f) Optional: self-contained, commercially available 5 mA constant-current ohmmeter

7.3 Preparation of specimens

Resistance values for the jacket and trousers should be measured separately to avoid the variable resistance
introduced when tying the two garments together or mixing garments from different manufacturers. Where a
total suit resistance reading is desired, see the third paragraph below.

The apparel should be laid unstretched on a flat insulating surface. Weights should not be placed on top of
the fabric.

Electrodes should be placed approximately 50 mm (2 in) back from the extremity of the material. Each
electrode should contact the top and bottom layer of cloth. The electrodes should be placed to measure the
resistance from arm to arm, leg to leg, each bonding strap to the suit, and the top of the hood to both the lapel
and the back. If a total suit reading is desired, test from the right arm cuff to the left leg cuff via the ties.

Moisture content of the fabric and/or high relative humidity can affect the resistance values obtained by the
test.

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IEEE
Std 1067-1996 IEEE GUIDE FOR IN-SERVICE USE, CARE, MAINTENANCE, AND TESTING

7.4 Electrodes

Suggested electrodes may be made from clothespins of the type used for clamping rubber insulating blankets
around insulators and crossarms. The inside surfaces of the clamp may be lined with bright stainless steel
foil that has adhesive on one side. See figure 1.

The tips of these electrodes (jaws in contact with the material) shall be used to make contact with the cloth.

Figure 1—Suggested electrodes for taking resistance measurements

7.5 Test procedures

7.5.1 Procedures for power-supply voltmeter-milliammeter tests

a) Connect the electrodes to the power supply having a milliammeter in the output circuit.
b) Connect a voltmeter across the electrodes.
c) Adjust the power source for a preferred current injection of 5 mA. If the suit resistance is too high to
permit 5 mA at 30 V ac or 60 V dc, a current as low as 1 mA may be used.

NOTE—Suit resistance varies with current. The preferred injection current is 5 mA. Values less than 5 mA should be
denoted on the data sheet. If the resistance of the suit is extremely high, and precludes the use of the injection current
method, then measuring resistance values using an ohmmeter is permissible, and the values should be recorded. The
injection current method is preferred over the ohmmeter method since the former gives more reproducible results.

d) A minimum of two consecutive current readings and resulting voltage readings should be made for
each test.

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 IEEE
OF CONDUCTIVE CLOTHING FOR USE ON VOLTAGES UP TO 765 kV ac AND ± 750 kV dc Std 1067-1996

7.5.2 Procedures for 5 mA constant-current ohmmeter resistance tests

a) Clamp each electrode to its designated test spot on the fabric.

b) Turn on the input power to the constant-current ohmmeter. Take a resistance reading as soon as a
stable reading is reached. This allows the internal capacitors in the meter to charge up.
c) An alternate procedure is to turn on the input power to the constant-current ohmmeter prior to
connecting the electrodes to the fabric. After 15 s, connect the electrodes to the fabric and record the
readings.

7.6 Record keeping

The essential minimum information to be retained is as follows:

a) Identification of the jacket and trousers by the manufacturer’s company identification name or
number, and resistance values supplied by the manufacturer.

NOTE—The purchaser can specify that the manufacturer will provide a durable label with a suit number on the jacket
and trousers. A document, identified by the manufacturer’s number will be provided with the clothing to indicate the date
of the test and the resistance value according to the details of this guide.

b) Date
c) Voltage
d) Injection current
e) Resistance calculation or ohmmeter reading
f) Name and model of ohmmeter, if used
g) Condition of apparel (i.e., new, used, soiled, worn, torn, etc.)
h) Number of washings
i) Worker’s reported comfort or discomfort and at what operating voltage

A sample of a suggested data sheet is shown in figure 2. The test data should be forwarded to the Chair of the
IEEE ESMOL Subcommittee, c/o IEEE Standards Department, 445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway,
NJ 08855-1331, USA.

7.7 Frequency of tests

The manufacturer shall perform an initial resistance test on all jackets and trousers produced (see the note in
7.6). Initial acceptance tests may also be performed by the user.

In-service tests should be performed by the user on an annual basis, as a minimum.

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IEEE
Std 1067-1996 IEEE GUIDE FOR IN-SERVICE USE, CARE, MAINTENANCE, AND TESTING

Figure 2—Suggested test form