Flame Resistant & Arc Flash Apparel

The Importance of Flame-Resistant & Arc Flash PPE

Electrical equipment failures (like a short circuit) or human error (such as holding a metal object too close to energized equipment) can cause arc flashes. If two energized points are not contacting each other solidly, the current can jump from one point to the other. This is called an arc flash.

An arc flash can cause severe injuries or even death from the huge amount of heat it generates (15,000 to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit). The heat from electric arcs and blasts can ignite combustible or flammable vapors in the air, causing an explosion. Materials nearby — including workers’ clothing — can catch fire. That’s why it’s critical these workers have proper flame-resistant (FR) and arc-rated (AR) clothing. OSHA’s Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution standard (1910.269), as well as its Welding, Cutting and Brazing standard (1910.252) specify the need to provide FR clothing.

Types of AR/FR PPE workers need

FR clothing has been designed and tested to protect against specified electrical/heat hazards and to self-extinguish and reduce burn injuries, while AR clothing protects against arc flashes. Some common types of apparel are:

• Flame-resistant clothing: This includes shirts, pants, coveralls, and jackets made from flame-resistant fabrics.
• Arc flash suits: These full-body suits provide comprehensive protection against arc flashes. They typically consist of a jacket and pants made from arc-rated materials and are designed to withstand the extreme heat and pressure generated by an arc flash.
• Arc flash hoods: These hoods are worn over the head and neck to protect against arc flashes. They are made from arc-rated materials and often have a face shield or visor to protect the face and eyes.
• Arc flash gloves: These gloves are designed to protect the hands and wrists from arc flashes.
• Arc flash shirts: These shirts are made from arc-rated fabrics and protect the upper body. They are typically long-sleeved and may have features such as high-visibility strips or reflective tape.
• Arc flash pants: Similar to arc flash shirts, arc flash pants are made from arc-rated materials and protect the lower body.

Category/Arc Ratings

The category rating is the number of calories the garment is expected to absorb. A calorie is a unit of measure of the heat energy from a flash fire or an arc flash or blast. Arc rating is defined as the amount of energy a material can withstand before 50% likelihood of the onset of second-degree burn through the fabric. Workers’ FR/AR clothing must have a higher rating than the calorie rating of heat generated.