Performing a flame weld in complete safety

Flame welding involves risks that should be prevented by appropriate gestures, as well as by appropriate equipment. Here are the precautions to take to avoid burns, gas fumes and eye irradiation, when welding with a flame.

Clothing to protect the welder

The welder’s clothing must comply with the EN-ISO 11611 standard which has replaced the EN 470-1 standard. It s way to protect the welder from sparks, UV radiation, splashes, and accidental contact with flame. This standard groups two classes of clothing for flame welding:

1. Class 1 is sufficient for welds that produce few spatters and droplets;
2. Class 2, which is much more protective, will be preferred for welds involving a greater risk of splashing molten metal.

Protective clothing should cover the entire body and should not leave exposed areas such as wrists and forearms. They can be reinforced with leather pieces on the arms and shoulders. The welder’s apron that comes on top ensures better safety. Choose well-fitting clothing to ensure freedom of movement.

Eye protection for flame welding

You will be provided with goggles, masks and helmets to protect your eyes from projections and radiation. Equipment displays must comply with the following three standards:

1. EN 175: a standard for welding helmets and shields, that includes eye and face protection norms during welding operations and related techniques.
2. EN 169: standard for welding filters and related techniques, including welding glasses;
3. EN 379: Standard regulating automatic filtering glasses.

Welder’s gloves

The welder’s gloves must be adapted to his size. If not, it loses agility and increases the risk of accidents. The gloves use Kevlar as a raw material or equivalent to resist heat. Long cuffed gloves are best to bridge the gap between gloves and sleeves and never expose the wrists. Some models are equipped with a reinforced thumb.

The welder’s shoes

Conventional work shoes are not suitable for flame welding. You must choose specific materials, resistant to heat. The upper part of the shoe, like the sole, must withstand very high temperatures. If you get a spark or step on a glowing piece of metal while welding, you don’t notice it immediately, so the shoe must be resistant for a relatively long time. Furthermore, the welder’s shoes should not have laces, but self-gripping fasteners (Velcro type).

The welder’s environment

If you are welding in a noisy environment, it is advisable to wear hearing protection. In addition, bring a professional mask to filter the polluted air, especially if you work indoors. The fumes caused by welding are irritating and can, in the medium or long term, have harmful consequences on your health. You are exposing yourself to chronic respiratory illnesses of varying severity. The level of protection should naturally be raised if you work with toxic materials.