FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Following are questions often asked by our
customers about Ampco Safety Hand Tools. If you do not find the information you
are looking for, please contact us directly
Are Ampco Safety Tools really
"non-sparking"?
Ampco Safety Tools will not create a spark with a
high enough heat level to ignite Carbon Disulfide, which has the lowest ignition
point of any substance known to man. The most exact description of the sparking
characteristics of Ampco Safety Tools as per Factory Mutual Research Corporation
is "spark reduced". The only spark that can be emitted by an Ampco
Safety Tool is one known as a "cold spark". A "cold spark"
produced by an Ampco Safety Tool has a low enough heat level that it will not
even ignite Carbon Disulfide as mentioned above.
How can I be certain that
Ampco tools are safe for use where flammable vapors or combustible residues are
present?
The Factory Mutual Research Corporation has
approved Ampco Safety Tools for use in these types of environments. Factory
Mutual conducted extensive testing on the Ampco alloys used to produce Ampco
Safety Tools and concluded that they were safe for use even in the most volatile
atmospheres.
Who should be using Ampco
Safety Tools?
There are many standards and recommendations that
have been published by organizations such as OSHA (Occupational Health &
Safety Administration), MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration) and NFPA
(National Fire Protection Agency) that require the use of non-sparking tools in
various environments. (Please see the "Standards" section of this
web-site for more information.) Increasingly, many companies are using
non-sparking tools even when there is no mandatory requirement for such a
product. Basically anyone who is concerned about sparks igniting flammable
vapors, liquids, dusts or residues should be using Ampco Safety Tools.
Are Ampco Safety Tools as
durable as steel tools?
Ampco tools are made from alloys that are softer
than steel. However, the Ampco product line is specifically designed to allow
the tools to perform their critical functions (non-sparking or non-magnetic)
with minimal failures. When our tools are used properly for the intended task,
normal service wear will occur. Ampco Safety Tools have a lifetime warranty. If
a tool breaks or fails to perform under normal use or service, it will be
repaired or replaced at no charge. Exceptions are defects resulting from
miss-use or abuse or normal service wear. Please see our web page, "Tool
Selection & Use" for information on the proper use of specific hand
tools.
To what degree are Ampco tools
nonmagnetic?
Ampco Safety Tools manufactured in the United
States and are tested to achieve the requirements set forth by the United States
government for nonmagnetic tools. This requirement states that when tested with
a magnetic permeability indicator conforming to Military Specification
MIL-I-17214, the magnetic permeability shall not be above 1.2 on the indicator
scale.
Where can I obtain Ampco
Safety Tools?
Ampco Safety Tools are available through many
industrial safety & supply distributors throughout the world. Please contact
us directly to locate the Ampco distributor closest to you.
I have heard that non-sparking
tools are made from dangerous materials. Is this true?
Ampco Safety Tools manufacture approximately 98%
of their products from alloys that pose no threat to the user’s health. The
remaining 2% of the product line is currently made from beryllium-copper alloys.
Individuals with a hypersensitivity to beryllium can develop serious adverse
health conditions due to inhalation of the metal in the form of dust. Beryllium
is a known carcinogen and the U.S. Government is taking the appropriate steps to
reduce the exposure limits to people working around or with the material. (Link
to Department of Energy 10CFR Part 850, "Chronic Beryllium Disease
Prevention Program.") Research and development projects are currently under
way to replace our few items currently produced with beryllium copper. Please
contact Ampco Safety Tools directly for more information regarding beryllium and
it’s potential health effects.
Why should I use Ampco Safety
Tools instead of some other non-sparking tool manufacture?
Ampco Safety Tools has been producing
non-sparking hand tools since 1922. Our extensive knowledge of non-sparking
materials coupled with our vast engineering knowledge is unmatched among safety
hand tools. We offer the world’s largest selection of non-sparking hand tools
and have the capacity to produce items to your specifications. Ampco is
continuously striving to improve the quality of our products as well as our
service levels. We appreciate any input that you can provide to assist us in
this endeavor.
