Arc-Flash PPE Research Update

Author

Hoagland, Hugh

Author_Institution

ArcWear/e-Hazard/ArcStore, Louisville, KY, USA

Volume

49

Issue

3

fYear

2013

fDate

May-June 2013

Firstpage

1177

Lastpage

1187

Abstract

Personal protective equipment (PPE) exposed to arc flash is not always designed for arc-flash exposures. This paper discusses the critical PPE rated for arc-flash exposures for electrical workers and the test methods employed for those ratings. It also further explores another PPE, which is frequently exposed to arc flash but is not arc rated. The purpose of the this paper is to provide some guidelines on the proper use and the dangers posed by using the improper materials in arc-flash exposures until standards have caught up with the state-of-the-art research.

Keywords

arcs (electric); arc-flash PPE research update; arc-flash exposures; personal protective equipment; Arc discharges; Clothing; Fires; Materials; Occupational safety; Resistance; Standards; ASTM; ATPV; Arc blast; IEEE; ISO; International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC); NESC; NFPA 70E; arc flash; arc thermal performance value; arc-flash hood; arc-flash suit; arc-flash training; arc-rated bras; arc-rated rainwear; arc-rated underwear; balaclava; beardnets; electrical safety; energy breakopen threshold; hairnets; incident energy; open the fabric (EBT); personal protective equipment (PPE); sock hood;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-9994

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TIA.2013.2238492

Filename

6408031