With temperatures reaching 35,000°F, exposure to the extreme heat of an arc flash can result in life-threatening burns. Most fatalities occur because the clothing continues to burn after the arc exposure.
ARC Flash temperatures reach 35,000°F.
Flame-resistant clothing will self‐extinguish, thus limiting the injury. ARC-rated performance values are assigned to clothing under NFPA 70E, ensuring you know what you’re purchasing. When you’re up against arc flashes and blast hazards, you don’t want to take any chances with unproven PPE. Before we go any further, there are several definitions that need to be explained.
ARC Flash Hazard Symbol
NFPA 70E stresses an Arc-Rated Category (ARC) level of arc flash protective clothing that must be worn to guard against a minimum level of energy (calories) released from an electrical explosion. Below is a table identifying the four ARC Flash PPE Levels:
Hazard Risk Category | Clothing Description | Minimum Arc Rating (cal/cm2) |
---|---|---|
0 | Non-melting flammable materials | N/A |
1 | Arc rated FR Shirt and FR Pants or FR Coverall | 4 |
2 | Arc rated FR Shirt and FR Pants or FR Coverall | 8 |
3 | Arc rated FR Shirt and FR Pants or FR Coverall, and arc flash suit selected so that the system arc rating meets the required minimum | 25 |
4 | Arc rated FR Shirt and FR Pants or FR Coverall, and arc flash suit selected so that the system arc rating meets the required minimum | 40 |
The ARC ratings include five risk levels, which range from 0 to 4. Level 0 means there is no risk of melting materials (N/A), whereas, level 4 is an extreme risk. A Hazard Risk Category Level (HRC) level, now referenced as PPE level, is determined by the minimum amount of calories per square centimeter (ATPV or Cal/cm2).
More on 70E here
It is imperative that an arc flash hazard analysis be performed by safety personnel before selecting PPE styles. This can be accomplished in one of two ways:
Anytime you see a sign like this, proper ARC rated PPE must be worn.
For additional information on 70E, explore more here.
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