Insulated Tools

Insulated Tools which include insulated digging tools and insulated track tools are tools for live working in safety critical environments.

These are classified as insulating hand tools for work on or near conductor rail systems operating at voltages up to 1000 V a.c. or 1500 V d.c.

Insulated tools of this nature are generally used for London Underground, Network Rail, Councils, Forestry Work & Contractors when working around live - potential electrically hazardous environments.

Contractors insulated tools and Track insulated tools for the railway consist of a solid orange fibreglass shaft / handle.

- The fibreglass handle component of insulated tools is

  > Up to 10 times stronger than hickory
  > Highly resistant to damage through overstrike
  > Securely fixed to tool heads
  > Safe, hardwearing grips
  > Low vibration
  > Unaffected by weather when stored, immersion in water etc
  > Highly resistant to most industrial oils, greases and chemicals.

- Additional benefits include

  > Excellent electrical insulation
  > Self extinguishing
  > Tools certified for live line working supplied with orange handles.



Current Descriptors for insulated tools are:
Hand tools, Live working, Electrical protection equipment, Electrical insulation, Electrical insulation devices, Electrical safety, Railway track, Rail safety, Rated voltage, Direct current, Alternating current, Conductor rails Railway applications.

A standard has been established to ensure manufacturers of insulated tools build and test each tool to a certain specification (BS 8020:2002). The sole purpose of this standard is to maintain consistency of safety through the quality - standard conforming manufacture of each tool that is distributed as a product that is certified to the BS 8020 Standard.

To conform to the BS8020:2002 standard and sell the product as such, the manufacturer must not only electrically test each product, but also mechanically test to the standard also. Both tests must be carried out otherwise the product is not classified as BS8020:2002 compliant.

BS8020 covers the following categories of tools:
Striking tools
Tools struck by a hammer
Rail manipulating tools
Spanners
Ballast tools
Miscellaneous tools

The Key Features of tools conforming to BS8020 are :-
Electrical:
- Test to 10,000V ac.
  >tool type tests, material type tests (10,000V for 3 minutes)
  (Both pre-conditioned by immersion in water for 24 hours prior to test)
  >Every finished tool (10,000V for 1 minute)

Mechanical:
- Conformance with:
  >relevant British Standards for tools
  >Rail industry Specifications
- Additional strength / deflection requirements:
  >handle--grip pull-apart
  >handle--head pull-apart
  >deflection according to length of tool

Certification
  >Rated working voltage of 1,000V marked on all materials / tools
  >Marked for traceability

Week on week the demand for insulated tools that carry BS8020 certification is growing due to the increasing implementation of health and safety policies within the working environment.