Understanding Arc Flash Personal Protection (PPE) Categories

Arc Flash 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


PPE
Category
1

 Arc-Rated Clothing

  • AR long-sleeve shirt and pants or arc-related coverall
  • AR face shield or arc flash suit hood
  • AR jacket, parka, rainwear or hard hat liner

Protective Equipment

  • Hard hat
  • Safety glasses or safety goggles
  • Hearing protection
  • Heavy-duty leather gloves
  • Leather footwear
 MINIMUM ARC RATING
4
CAL/CM2


PPE
Category
2

 Arc-Rated Clothing

  • AR long-sleeve shirt and pants or arc-related coverall
  • AR rated suit hood or arc-rated face shield & balaclava
  • AR rated jacket, parka, rainwear, or hard hat liner

Protective Equipment

  • Hard hat
  • Safety glasses or safety goggles
  • Hearing protection
  • Heavy-duty leather gloves
  • Leather footwear
 MINIMUM ARC RATING
8
CAL/CM2


PPE
Category
3

 Arc-Rated Clothing

  • AR long-sleeve shirt, pants, and hood or arc-rated coverall and hood
  • AR suit consisting of hood, coat, bib overalls, or hood & coveralls
  • AR Gloves
  • AR jacket, parka, rainwear or hard hat liner

Protective Equipment

  • Hard hat
  • Safety glasses or safety goggles
  • Hearing protection
  • Heavy-duty leather gloves
  • Leather footwear
 MINIMUM ARC RATING
25
CAL/CM2


PPE
Category
4

 Arc-Rated Clothing

  • AR long-sleeve shirt, pants, and hood or arc-rated coverall and hood
  • AR suit consisting of hood, coat, bib overalls, or hood & coveralls
  • AR Gloves
  • AR jacket, parka, rainwear or hard hat liner

Protective Equipment

  • Hard hat
  • Safety glasses or safety goggles
  • Hearing protection
  • Heavy-duty leather gloves
  • Leather footwear
 MINIMUM ARC RATING
40
CAL/CM2


PPE
Category
4+

 Arc-Rated Clothing

  • AR long-sleeve shirt, pants, and hood or arc-rated coverall and hood
  • AR suite consisting of hood, coat bib overalls, or hood & coveralls
  • AR Gloves
  • AR jacket, parka, rainwear or hard hat liner

Protective Equipment

  • Hard hat
  • Safety glasses or safety goggles
  • Hearing protection
  • Heavy-duty leather gloves
  • Leather footwear

*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