What is arc flash PPE? Understanding arc rated clothing, standards and protection
- Communications
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
Arc flash PPE is protective equipment designed to help protect workers from the thermal hazards created during an electrical arc flash incident.
An arc flash occurs when electrical current leaves its intended path and travels through the air between conductors or to ground. This can release extreme heat, flames, molten metal, pressure waves, and intense light within milliseconds.
Temperatures during an arc flash can exceed 19,000°C, creating severe burn risks even without direct contact with live electrical equipment.
Arc flash PPE uses arc rated and flame resistant materials designed to help reduce burn injury severity during electrical arc exposure.
What causes an arc flash?
Arc flashes are caused by electrical faults within energised systems.
Common causes include:
Equipment failure
Damaged insulation
Loose electrical connections
Human error
Short circuits
Dust or contamination inside equipment
Incorrect maintenance procedures
Arc flashes can occur during:
Electrical maintenance
Switching operations
Testing activities
Installation work
Fault conditions
Even brief exposure can cause serious injury.
What hazards are created during an arc-flash?
An arc flash can generate:
Extreme thermal energy
Flames
Molten metal
Flying debris
Pressure waves
Intense light
High sound levels
These hazards can cause:
Severe burns
Eye injuries
Hearing damage
Respiratory injuries
Clothing ignition
Fatal injuries
Workers do not need direct contact with live electrical equipment to be affected.
Why arc flash PPE is required?
Standard workwear is not designed for electrical arc exposure.
Garments containing untreated synthetic fibres may:
Ignite
Melt onto the skin
Continue burning after exposure
Arc flash PPE is designed to:
Resist ignition
Reduce heat transfer
Self extinguish after exposure
Maintain garment integrity during exposure
The objective of arc flash PPE is to help reduce injury severity during an electrical incident.
What does arc rated mean?
Arc rated PPE has been laboratory tested to determine how much incident thermal energy a fabric or garment can withstand during electrical arc exposure.
Arc ratings are measured in cal/cm² (calories per square centimetre).
Higher arc ratings generally indicate greater resistance to thermal energy transfer during electrical arc exposure.
In European industrial markets, arc flash PPE selection is commonly based on:
Incident energy analysis
Risk assessment
Working environment
Layering systems
Applicable safety standards
Understanding ATPV, ELIM and EBT
Arc flash PPE performance is commonly expressed using ATPV, ELIM, and EBT values.
These measurements define how fabrics behave during arc flash exposure.
ATPV
ATPV stands for Arc Thermal Performance Value. It measures the incident energy level at which there is a 50% probability of a second degree burn occurring through the fabric.
ELIM
ELIM stands for Incident Energy Limit. It measures the incident energy level at which there is a 0% probability of a second degree burn occurring through the fabric. ELIM is increasingly used across European PPE markets as a more conservative measurement of protection.
EBT
EBT stands for Energy Breakopen Threshold. It measures the point at which the fabric physically breaks open during arc exposure. In some materials, the fabric may break open before enough heat transfer occurs to reach the ATPV threshold. In these cases, the EBT value becomes the reported arc rating.
Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
ATPV | 50% probability of second degree burn. |
ELIM | 0% probability of second degree burn. |
EBT | Point where the fabric breaks open. |
European arc flash PPE standards
Arc flash PPE used across Europe is commonly tested against:
IEC 61482-1-1
IEC 61482-1-2
These standards assess garment performance during electrical arc exposure.
IEC 61482-1-1
IEC 61482-1-1 is the open arc test method.
This test measures:
ATPV
ELIM
EBT
Results are expressed in cal/cm².
The open arc test is widely used across European industrial PPE markets to evaluate thermal protection performance.
IEC 61482-1-2
IEC 61482-1-2 is commonly referred to as the box test.
Garments are tested under controlled arc conditions and classified as:
APC 1
APC 2
APC 2 provides a higher protection level than APC 1.
The box test evaluates different exposure conditions compared to open arc testing. Both methods are commonly used within European arc flash PPE specifications.
Multi-norm arc flash clothing
Many industrial arc flash garments combine multiple protective standards within a single garment system.
These may include:
Arc flash protection
Heat and flame protection
Anti static protection
High visibility protection
Limited chemical splash protection
Welding protection
Rain protection
Harsh weather protection
Common supporting standards include:
EN ISO 11612
EN 1149-5
EN ISO 11611
EN 13034
EN ISO 20471
RIS-3279-TOM
EN 343
This is commonly referred to as multi norm protective clothing.
Types of arc flash PPE
Arc flash PPE typically includes:
Arc rated coveralls
Jackets and trousers
Arc rated shirts and polos
Base layers
Arc flash hoods
Face shields
Balaclavas
Voltage rated gloves
Safety helmets
Hearing protection
Protective footwear
The required protection level depends on the incident energy assessment and working environment.
Inherently flame resistant vs treated flame resistant fabrics
Arc flash PPE is commonly produced using either inherently flame resistant fabrics or treated flame resistant fabrics.
Inherently flame resistant fabrics
Inherently flame resistant fabrics use fibres with built in flame resistant properties.
Common fibres include:
Aramid
Modacrylic
FR viscose blends
The flame resistance is permanent throughout the life of the garment.
Treated flame resistant fabrics
Treated flame resistant fabrics use chemical treatments to provide flame resistance.
Both categories of FR workwear are widely used across industrial PPE markets depending on:
Risk level
Comfort requirements
Durability expectations
Laundering conditions
Cost considerations
Typical applications of arc flash PPE
Arc flash PPE is commonly used during:
Electrical maintenance
Switchgear operation
Utility infrastructure work
Renewable energy maintenance
Live testing activities
High voltage installation work
Industrial shutdowns
Manufacturing maintenance operations
Industries using arc flash PPE include:
Utilities
Power generation
Rail infrastructure
Oil and gas
Manufacturing
Renewable energy
Heavy engineering
Data centres
Selecting arc-flash PPE
Arc flash PPE selection should be based on:
Incident energy analysis
Working environment
Arc exposure risk
Layering systems
Garment compatibility
Comfort and wearability
Applicable standards
Laundering durability
Higher arc ratings alone do not automatically mean better protection. PPE should match the identified hazard level and working conditions.
Arc flash PPE is specialised protective equipment designed to help reduce burn injuries caused by electrical arc exposure.
By combining arc rated materials, flame resistant garment systems, and tested protective equipment, arc flash PPE plays an important role in protecting workers operating in hazardous electrical environments across industrial and infrastructure sectors.
Correctly selected arc flash PPE forms a critical part of modern electrical safety programmes across industrial and infrastructure environments.
For further questions on arc flash clothing, designing bespoke arc flash uniform programmes, or reducing the carbon footprint of your protective clothing systems, contact the Dobtho team on WhatsApp here.
