What Are the 4 Different Arc Flash PPE Categories in NFPA 70E? about:reader?url=https://enesproppe.com/blogs/electrical-safety-storie...
enesproppe.com
What Are the 4 Different Arc Flash
PPE Categories in NFPA 70E?
7-9 minutos
By: Rich Gojdics
No matter the industry or activity, personal protective equipment
(PPE) has long been considered the last line of defense for
workers, and often draw the line between a “near miss” and a
life changing injury or fatality. Whether it’s in the form of fall
protection equipment, respiratory protection or flame resistant &
arc rated clothing, employers are required to provide workers
with adequate PPE for the job that is being completed.
Following our last blog looking at the hierarchy of risk controls in
NFPA 70E (2018), we would today like to turn our attention to
the 4 different Arc Flash PPE Categories in the standard, the
clothing required for each category, as well as provide
information on determining which PPE you need to use.
Please note, this blog is only intended to address the 4 PPE
categories for those who elect to use tables 130.7 in lieu of
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completing an arc flash risk analysis.
Four Categories of Arc Flash PPE
The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E changed the way measurement
is completed and PPE is selected. This most recent edition
removed the concept of Hazard/Risk Categories and the option
wear Non-FR/AR natural fiber garments in HRC 0 was
eliminated. The standard now uses PPE categories which are
based on an incident energy analysis.
NFPA 70E (2018) now gives four categories of PPE, with each
category including the minimum Arc Rating value for the
required PPE. The PPE manufacturer is required to obtain and
identify these arc ratings in their products which, simply put,
represents the amount of incident energy (in cal/cm2) on a
material or a multilayered system of materials that results in a
50% probability to cause the onset of a second degree skin
burn injury.
A brief overview of each of these 4 PPE Categories is listed
below:
PPE Category 1: Minimum Arc Rating 4 cal/cm2
PPE CAT 1 represents the lowest level in which Arc Rated PPE
s required. Requiring a single layer of arc-rated PPE, workers
need the following clothing:
Required Clothing: Long Sleeve Shirt (or Jacket) and Pants or
AR Coverall with minimum arc rating of 4 cal/cm2
Required Face and Head Protection: Face Shield (with “wrap
around” guarding…i.e balaclava) or Arc Flash Suit Hood
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner
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In addition to AR clothing, the following products are required or
to be used as needed:
Required Hand Protection: Heavy-Duty Leather Gloves
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles),
Hearing Protection
Footwear: Leather Footwear (as needed)
PPE Category 2: Minimum Arc Rating 8 cal/cm2
PPE CAT 2 can likely be met with a single layer of Arc Rated
PPE. In fact, the majority of companies with exposures requiring
CAT 1 typically opt for CAT 2 clothing to cover both categories.
Today, the comfort of PPE CAT 1 and 2 is comparable so it
makes more sense to choose CAT 2 clothing.
In PPE CAT 2, workers need the following clothing:
Required Clothing: Arc Rated Long Sleeve Shirt and Pants or
Arc Rated Coverall with minimum arc rating of 8 cal/cm2
Required AR Face and Head Protection: Arc Rated Arc Flash
Suit Hood or AR Face Shield, Sock Hood/Balaclava with
minimum arc rating of 8 cal/cm2
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner
In addition to AR clothing, the following products are required or
to be used as needed:
Required Hand Protection: Heavy-Duty Leather Gloves
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles),
Hearing Protection
Footwear: Leather Footwear (as needed)
Enespro PPE 8 CAL, 12 CAL, and 20 CAL Arc Flash Kits meet
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NFPA 70E-2018 PPE Cat 1 & 2 and they also offer breathable
comfort, flexibility and durability.
PPE Category 3: Minimum Arc Rating 25 cal/cm2
PPE Category 3 and 4 require additional layers of PPE. Arc
flash suit hoods are required and rubber insulating gloves &
leather protectors or arc rated gloves are required. For PPE
Category 3; workers need the following clothing:
Required Clothing: Arc Rated Flash Suit Jacket and AR pant
or AR coverall with minimum arc rating of 25 cal/cm2
Required AR Face and Head Protection: Arc Rated Flash Suit
Hood with minimum arc rating of 25 cal/cm2
Required AR Hand Protection: Rubber insulating gloves &
leather protectors or arc rated gloves
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner
In addition to AR clothing, the following PPE is required:
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles),
Hearing Protection (inserts), Leather Footwear
PPE Category 4: Minimum Arc Rating 40 cal/cm2
The final PPE Category requires AR clothing with a minimum
rating of 40 cal/cm2.
Required Clothing: Arc Rated Flash Suit Jacket and AR pant
or AR coverall with minimum arc rating of 40 cal/cm2
Required AR Face and Head Protection: Arc Rated Flash Suit
Hood with minimum arc rating of 40 cal/cm2
Required AR Hand Protection: Rubber insulating gloves &
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leather protectors or arc rated gloves
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner
In addition to AR clothing, the following PPE is required:
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles),
Hearing Protection (inserts), Leather Footwear
To meet the PPE requirements for CAT 4 work, we have two
suits designed with an Arc Rating of 40+ cal/cm2. The 40 CAL
Enespro Arc Flash Kit uses a dual layer of 9 oz Westex
UltraSoft to offer a 45 cal/cm2 Arc Rating. Featuring ActiveCool
Venting for breathability, this suit provides workers expected
safety with unexpected comfort for a CAT 4 suit.
If you’re looking for the protection needed for PPE CAT 4, but
the comfort comparable to a CAT 2 suit, our 40 CAL AirLite™
suits are 45% lighter than our standard 40 CAL suit and even
20% lighter than our 20 CAL suits. This super-lightweight suit
has an Arc Rating of 43 Cal/cm2. Our full 40 CAL AirLite™ kits
come with all of the arc rated PPE required for working in these
environments (excluding gloves and boots).
See our entire line of Enespro PPE 40 CAL suits here.
Steps to Safety: Developing a Culture of
Electrical Safety
NFPA 70E is a complicated document filled with many different
practices and procedures, but even this document only does so
much. While the document introduces and requires a safety
program, programs are just that: Policies employees feel like
they have to follow. However, there is a way to go beyond the
basics, instilling a set of values, beliefs, and behaviors for
workers that prioritize safety, and we discussed just that in our
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recent guide to developing a safety culture.
Developing a Culture of Electrical Safety explores the
differences between a compliant program and a true culture of
safety while offering tips that can make your people safer.
Preview this guide below and download it here.
Learn More
Enespro PPE was founded with the goal of transforming
electrical safety PPE by providing USA-made products with
multiple improvements that are truly meaningful to workers
wearing the gear. Whether you are looking for voltage rated
gloves, are in need of a hood & shield with better visibility and
color recognition, or need a complete arc flash or glove kit, we
have products available in-stock to handle your needs. Learn
more about our company, sign up for our email list above, and
view our complete line of products here.
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