Understanding Arc Flash Personal Protection (PPE) Categories
Whether to wear arc-rated personal protection equipment (PPE) is not a personal decision. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) directs employers to supply PPE and for employees to wear the supplied PPE if hazards exist. An arc flash risk assessment can indicate whether such PPE is needed. The analysis also needs to be documented.
PPE is a combination of protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment to protect eyes, head, breathing, and the full body from splashes, vapors, loose objects, and chemical penetration through personal clothing. The level of protection depends on the level of exposure in the working environment.
Personal Protective Equipment categories
Always abide by the limits of use and minimum working distance. The following PPE categories are described by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 70E. The greater the electrical hazard, the higher the personal protective equipment arc rating must be to withstand an arc-flash incident. Please note that the following chart is a summary only. For a complete list of NFPA standards see NFPA 70E Table 130.7( C)(16)
Arc Flash Personal Protection (PPE) Categories
|
Arc-Rated Clothing
Protective Equipment
|
MINIMUM ARC RATING 4 CAL/CM2 |
|
||
|
Arc-Rated Clothing
Protective Equipment
|
MINIMUM ARC RATING 8 CAL/CM2 |
|
||
|
Arc-Rated Clothing
Protective Equipment
|
MINIMUM ARC RATING 25 CAL/CM2 |
|
||
|
Arc-Rated Clothing
Protective Equipment
|
MINIMUM ARC RATING 40 CAL/CM2 |
|
||
|
Arc-Rated Clothing
Protective Equipment
*Energized electrical work over 40 cal/cm2 requires an incident energy analysis to be performed. Once the analysis has been done the appropriate PPE can be selected from the chart above by matching the calculated incident energy level with the corresponding PPE. |
MINIMUM ARC RATING 65 CAL/CM2 |
|
||
MINIMUM ARC RATING 100 CAL/CM2 |
||
|
||
MINIMUM ARC RATING 140 CAL/CM2 |