Clothing and Equipment for Electrical Tasks
This information is to be used only when an arc flash hazard analysis has been performed and
equipment labels indicate the incident energy exposure and arc flash protection boundary.
Note 1
Rubber insulating gloves are gloves rated for the maximum line-to-line voltage upon which work will be done. Workers shall
wear rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors when the worker’s hand(s) crosses the Restricted Approach Boundary.
Note 2 Insulated and insulating hand tools are tools rated and tested for the maximum line-to-line voltage upon which work will be done,
and are manufactured and tested in accordance with ASTM F1505, Standard Specification for Insulated and Insulating Hand
Tools. Workers shall use rubber insulated tools when working inside the Limited Approach Boundary.
Note 3 If rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors are required, additional leather or arc-rated gloves are not required. The
combination of rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors satisfies the arc flash protection requirement.
Required
Incident
Minimum Arc
Energy
Minimum Clothing
PPE
Rating
Exposure
2
2
cal/cm (J/ cm )
2
cal/cm
Notes a, b, c, d, and e
Note d
Notes d, e, and f
2
(J/ cm )
0 – 1.2
(0 – 5)
Non-melting, untreated natural fiber longsleeved shirt and pants with a fabric
2
weight at least 4.5 oz/yd
N/A
Hearing protection
Leather gloves (see Note 3)
Safety glasses or safety goggles
Arc-rated face shield or arc flash suit hood (see Note g)
Hard hat
1.2 – 4
Hearing protection
4 (16.74)
(5 – 16.74)
Leather gloves (see Note 3)
Safety glasses or safety goggles
Arc rated arc flash suit hood (see Note h)
8
(33.47)
Hard hat
Arc rated long-sleeved shirt and pants
Hearing protection
4–8
OR
(16.74 – 33.47)
8
(33.47)
Leather gloves (see Note 3)
Arc rated coverall
Leather work shoes
Safety glasses or goggles
Arc rated arc flash suit hood, minimum arc rating of 25
Arc rated gloves (see Note 3)
Arc rated FR shirt and pants or FR
FR hard hat liner (see Note i)
coverall,
and
arc
flash
suit
selected
so
8 – 25
25 (104.6)
Hard hat
(33.47 – 104.6)
that the system arc rating meets the
Hearing protection
required minimum arc rating
Leather work shoes
Safety glasses or safety goggles
Arc rated arc flash suit hood, minimum arc rating of 40
Arc rated gloves (see Note 3)
Arc rated FR shirt and pants or FR
FR hard hat liner (see Note i)
coverall,
and
arc
flash
suit
selected
so
25 – 40
40
(167.36)
Hard hat
that the system arc rating meets the
(104.6 – 167.36)
Hearing protection
required minimum arc rating
Leather work shoes
Safety glasses or safety goggles
a. Conductive articles of jewelry and clothing (such as watchbands, bracelets, rings, key chains, necklaces, earrings, metalized
aprons, cloth with conductive thread, metal headgear, or metal frame glasses) shall not be worn where they present an electrical
contact hazard with energized electrical conductors or circuit parts.
b. Clothing and other apparel such as hard hat liners and hair nets made from flammable synthetic materials that melt at
temperatures below 600 degrees F (315 degrees C), such as acetate, acrylic, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, spandex, and
polypropylene; either alone or in blends with cotton, shall not be worn for any layer of clothing while performing electrical tasks.
Exception 1: Fiber blends that contain materials that melt shall be permitted if such blends in fabric meet the requirements of
ASTM F1506, and if such blends in fabrics do not exhibit evidence of a melting and sticking hazard during arc testing according to
ASTM F1959. Exception 2: An incidental amount of elastic used in non-melting fabric underwear or socks shall be permitted.
c. Non-melting, untreated natural fiber fabrics include cotton, wool, rayon, or silk, or blends of these materials that have not been
treated to be flame resistant (FR).
d. The arc rating for a particular clothing system can be obtained from the FR clothing manufacturer.
e. Garments worn as outer layers over FR clothing, such as jackets or rainwear, shall also be made from FR material.
f. Hearing protection must not adversely affect other required head, face, and eye protection. Ear canal inserts are recommended.
g. A face shield with a minimum arc rating of 4 with wrap-around guarding to protect not only the face, but also the forehead, ears,
and neck (or alternatively, a flash suit hood with arc rating at least 4), is required.
h. An alternative to an arc rated flash suit hood with a minimum arc rating of 8 is a face shield with minimum arc rating of 8 and a
balaclava (sock hood) with a minimum arc rating of 8 which covers the face, head and neck except for the eye and nose area.
i.
If adequate protection is provided by the flash suit hood, the FR hard hat liner is not required.
Arc-rated long-sleeved shirt and pants
OR
Arc-rated coverall
4 (16.74)
2010