Arc flash PPE: what you need to know

PPE is vital to workers’ safety. It could be the final line of defence, the difference between a close call and a sometimes fatal injury. Arc flash protective clothing is a subcategory of PPE. But what makes it so special? And how does it protect you from fatal injury? Read on to find out.

What is arc flash protective clothing?

Arc flash personal protective equipment keeps the wearer safe from arc flash and shock hazards at work. It is an umbrella term for different types of apparel and equipment, that - together - can offer you protection from head to toe.

Every piece of arc flash PPE is provided with an arc-rating to indicate the level of flash and shock exposure it can withstand. When flash and shock hazards are part of your day-to-day, you need this kind of clothing to protect you from high-risk injuries such as second-degree burns.

Four arc flash categories

The arc-rating is based on an incident energy analysis: the amount of heat energy generated by an arc flash or shock. This incident energy is measured in calories per square centimetre. Laboratory tests determine the amount of incident energy that would result in a 50% chance of second degree burns.

But what does this value mean in practice? Imagine that the heat energy you are exposed to is around 3.7 calories per square centimetre. That means that your arc rating needs to be higher than that to keep you safe from injuries.

Determining the arc-rating

Each type of PPE has its own specific standards to meet. Since we primarily distribute apparel, we need to respect the ASTM F1506 standard for arc-rated apparel. In a lab, the material is submitted to explosions to simulate flash and shock hazards. That determines whether the material is up to par or not. But how do we know?

These tests will push the material to either its Arc Thermal Performance Value or its Breakopen Threshold Energy. ATPV indicates the material’s ability to withstand the incident energy. It’s the amount of incident energy that results in a 50% chance of second-degree burns for the wearer.

The Breakopen Threshold Energy refers to the amount of heat energy that results in a 50% chance of breakage, meaning a break area of 16 square millimetres or an opening of 25 square millimetres.

When is arc-rated protection required?

Determining whether you need to be wearing arc-rated PPE is based on risk assessment. First and foremost, you need to consider the dangers of your job. What are the hazards in your line of work? How dangerous are they really? How likely are these dangers to come across your path?

What do you need to look out for?

If you work in electrical work, for instance, your dangers will be flash and shock. And the likelihood of them occurring is fairly high. It goes without saying that you need arc-rated PPE in this line of work.

Look for clothing that covers your torso, arms and legs. That will keep your body safe from burns as much as possible, increasing your chances of survival. Then, find the arc flash label, and ensure all of your gear is rated high enough to withstand the incident energy you will face.

Want to know more about arc clothing?

Feel free to contact us with your arc-related questions. We’d be happy to help and show you the options that fit your line of work.