Arc Flash Kits
Just what are arc flash kits? Simply put, they are a convenient way to achieve arc flash protection.
Shopping for the necessary PPE for employees can be a tedious, confusing affair – so many equipments instead opt for an “all inclusive” kit to meet all of their PPE needs.
Realizing this, manufacturers have since started bundling PPE items into arc flash kits with various styles and fabrics. These kits are listed as compliant to a level or hazard risk category (HRC), as defined by NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (CSA Z462 Standard in Canada).
Such arc flash kits normally include:
- Flame resistant clothing, such as an FR long coat and pants or overalls;
- Arc-flash rated hard hat with face shield or hood, with safety glasses included;
- Rubber insulating gloves (usually up to class “2”); and
- Leather gloves to go over the rubber insulating gloves.
Selecting arc flash kits is a very personal protection decision – so long as it meets the minimum codes and requirements. Arc flash kits come in a variety of styles, and all come with various ratings to provide the proper level of protection.
A flame resistant long coat averages approximately 48-inches in length. This provides full, uninterrupted protection for both the front and back of the garment. Pairing Flame resistant clothing in arc flash kits may include an FR long coat with flame resistant leggings. The FR long coat provides leg protection for the exposed area below the knee.
Flame resistant short coats and bib overalls have been touted as the best protection in the event of an arc flash incident. Because the short coat overlaps the bib overall throughout the midsection, this area naturally develops a higher flame resistance as a result of layering.
FR coveralls provide easy-to-don flame resistant clothing option. Available in single-layer and multi-layer fabric combinations, coveralls are the most widely selected clothing style for arc flash kits, as they ensure complete coverage with the possibility of “gaps” that can occur between coats and leggings.
All styles of clothing offer superior protection, but it is absolutely critical to select the correct hazard rating for the job at hand. For additional information on the NFPA 70E Standard, see www.nfpa.org, or purchase online the CSA Z462 standard from our website: Arc Flash Kits
Arc flash kits ensure that an electrical worker can take their protective clothing from one bag, and not “pick and choose” or go hunting for the proper FR rated clothing for the task at hand.
Arc Flash kits ensure better safety for the employee, and reduce liability and lost man hours for the employer.
Read More Here: Arc Flash and Electrical Safety
- Read More Here: Electrical Safety Training
- Read More Here: Electricity
For more information, see:
Electrical Safety OSHA
Electrical Safety Workplace
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