The Importance of Arc-Rated Clothing in Electrical Safety
February 9, 2023
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February 10, 2023
Arc-rated clothing has only been used in the electrical field for a short time, but it has quickly become an important part of electrical safety. The electrical industry began seeing the need for better protection against electrical hazards in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This is when arc-rated clothing was first made.
At the time, workers in the electrical industry often wore clothes that could protect them from flash fires. But it didn’t offer much protection against electrical arcs, which can cause serious burns. In response, companies started making new types of clothing to protect people from electrical arcs. “Arc-rated” clothing was the name for this new kind of clothing.
Arc-rated clothing was made to put a barrier between the worker and the electrical hazard. This makes it less likely that the worker will get burned if there is an electrical arc flash. The clothes were made of flame-resistant and self-extinguishing materials and were rated based on how much protection they offered. The arc thermal performance value (ATPV), which measures how much energy clothing can take in before it starts to break down and puts the wearer at risk of burns, was used to figure out the rating.
In 2000, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E, which is a standard for electrical safety at work, added requirements for clothing that can withstand fire. But in 2009, the NFPA 70E changed its requirements. Instead of fire-resistant clothing, the new requirements were for arc-resistant clothing. This update took into account the latest improvements in personal protective equipment (PPE) technology and gave workers more protection from electrical hazards.
Since arc-rated clothing was made available, it has become an important part of electrical safety at work. Arc-rated clothing has helped reduce the risk of burn injuries and fires in the electrical industry and has become an important part of a complete electrical safety program.
Arc-rated clothing has only been used in the electrical industry for a short time, but it has quickly become an important part of electrical safety. The need for better protection against electrical hazards led to the creation of arc-rated clothing. The NFPA 70E standard for electrical safety in the workplace includes requirements for arc-rated clothing, which has helped to spread its use.
