Radiation
Application
Intensity
3.0 – 4.0 kW.m-2 Pain would be experienced in bare skin exposed for periods between 15 and
30 seconds. Burns may be anticipated in exposed skin within 1 minute.
Areas of the skin protected by clothing or intermittently exposed by rotating the irradiated area to and away from the heat source may experience pain after approximately 5 minutes. Burns may be anticipated shortly thereafter.
Applies to:
Areas where persons are frequently expected to go in the course of their normal duties and from which there are readily accessible but unshielded means of escape.
4.0 - 6.0 kW.m-2 Pain would be experienced within 10 seconds for exposed skin. Burns may be anticipated in exposed skin after approximately 30 seconds.
Areas of the skin protected by clothing or intermittently exposed by rotating the irradiated area to and away from the heat source may experience pain after about 1 minute with burns following quickly thereafter.
Applies to:
Areas where persons would not normally be expected to work without an appropriate work permit. In these areas overalls should be specified and worn so as to provide some radiant heat protection. Escape routes should be easily accessible, be kept clear and be sufficient to permit simultaneous escape for the number of persons in the area.
If this is not possible a refuge or a shielded means of escape should be provided to give protection from the radiant heat.
6.0 - 10.0 kW.m-2 Pain would be experienced in bare skin within 5 -10 seconds. Burns to exposed skin may be anticipated in 10 – 20 seconds.
Areas of the skin protected by clothing or intermittently exposed by rotating the irradiated area to and away from the heat source may experience pain within 20 – 60 seconds with burns following rapidly thereafter.
Applies to:
Exceptional work circumstances (work permit will normally be required) where persons may not be continuously shielded but from where there is an adjacent shielded means of escape which is readily accessible.
If this is not possible an effective radiant heat refuge should be provided.
Radiation Application
Intensity
Greater than 10.0 kW.m-2
Severe burns may be expected within a very short period of time typically seconds. There is a risk of normal clothing igniting.
Precautionary measures such as special heat reflective protective clothing and/or radiant heat shields are required for entry to areas where a radiant heat flux greater than 10.0 kW.m-2 may be anticipated (Work permit will normally be required).