Standardization News

Kinetrics is the category leader in providing lifecycle-management services for the electricity industry. Trusted by clients worldwide, our expertise in engineering, testing, inspection, and certification is backed by our independent laboratory and testing facilities, a diverse fleet of field-inspection equipment, and an award-winning team of over 1,100 engineers and technical experts.

With over 30 state-of-the-art laboratories and 400,000 sq.ft of operational facilities located in six countries around the world to execute efficient and comprehensive projects, Kinectrics relies on ASTM International standards for delivery of top-quality testing services to our clients every day.

In addition to its global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Kinectrics has a permanent testing facility in Hyderabad, India, and its ArcWear PPE Testing division is located in Louisville, Kentucky.

Through all of its testing services, whether for lifecycle management of electric utilities, or for testing all variety of personal protective equipment (PPE), Kinectrics embodies ASTM’s mission to help our world work better. All of Kinectrics’ global testing facilities are ISO 17025 accredited for the various tests it performs. Depending on location, the accreditations come by way of the Standards Council of Canada, American Association of Laboratory Accreditation, or the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. 

Kinectrics’ testing capabilities include mechanical, material, high-current, and high-voltage testing on power-line components in specialized laboratories. Outside of the laboratory, Kinectrics offers state-of-the-art in-situ inspection devices to assess current health of these important assets. These service lines employ over 100 ASTM standards to help electric utilities build strong transmission lines that will provide electric service to homes and businesses for generations to come. The recent focus has been to support President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill to strengthen the national grid in the U.S. by focusing on projects that increase operational transfer capacity, prevent outages, and enhance grid resilience.

Key ASTM standards employed in the lifecycle-management testing sector of Kinectrics’ business include:

• Specifications for temporary protective grounds to be used on de-energized electric power lines and equipment (F855)
• Test method for resistivity of electrical conductor materials (B193)
• Specification for heat resistant aluminum-zirconium alloy wire for electrical purposes (B941)
• Specification for aluminum 1350-H19 wire for electrical purposes (B230)
• Specification for concentric-lay-stranded aluminum-alloy 6201-T81 conductors (B399/B399M)

At its global headquarters, as well as at its Louisville-based ArcWear division, Kinectrics is also a leader in testing various types of PPE. ArcWear has long been the world’s leader in the testing of Arc Flash PPE including clothing, gloves, head and face protection, and fall-protection equipment. This testing ranges from the most basic flame-resistance test to a large-scale catastrophic incident simulation in our world-class High Current Lab in Toronto. This testing service supports PPE Certification Programs offered by various accredited certification organizations, including the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI), an ASTM affiliate.

While Kinectrics’ and ArcWear’s PPE testing is generally focused on worker safety throughout the world, some of the products do have relevance to the general population as well. When early 2020 brought on the global COVID-19 pandemic, Kinectrics was in a position to act swiftly. With facilities and expertise on-hand, Kinectrics quickly added all necessary capabilities to provide much-needed mask testing. It now offers a full line of testing for medical masks, NIOSH respirators, and barrier face coverings. 

Key ASTM standards employed in the ArcWear PPE testing sector of the business include:

• Performance specification for flame resistant and electric arc rated protective clothing worn by workers exposed to flames and electric arcs (F1506)
• Test method for flame resistance of textiles (vertical test) (D6413)
• Test method for determining the arc rating of materials for clothing (F1959)
• Specification for performance of materials used in medical face masks (F2100)
• Specification for barrier face coverings (F3502)

Beyond providing accredited testing services, Kinectrics and ArcWear believe in the importance of participation in the standards-development process. With over 10 active members in ASTM, the company has participants at every level. 

Its members have served as technical contacts for countless new standards and standard revisions. Direct participation in the process allows Kinectrics and ArcWear to quickly adapt to changing testing methodologies, which positions the company to provide top-quality testing and consulting services that help our world work better. ■

Company Snapshot

Kinectrics, Toronto, ON, Canada 

Description: Kinectrics is the category leader in providing lifecycle-management services for the electricity industry. Trusted by clients worldwide, our expertise in engineering, testing, inspection, and certification is backed by our independent laboratory and testing facilities, a diverse fleet of field inspection equipment, and an award-winning team of over 1,100 engineers and technical experts. 

Number of staff: 1,100

Number of staff who are ASTM members: >10

Trading area: Global