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Working near energized currents increases your risk for electrical shock, arc flash explosions, and other health and safety hazards. This means wearing AR and FR clothing and PPE is crucial to help you stay safe on the job.
The danger of arc flashes stems from a phenomenon known as electrical arcing, where two points form a connection through electrical discharge. In areas with high voltage currents, electrical arcing can release a large amount of energy, resulting in a powerful explosion that creates blinding light and temperatures between 5,000 and 35,000⁰ F. This release of energy can easily ignite flammable clothing and cause third-degree burns to exposed skin.
Different articles of clothing can have different protection ratings that might make them unsuitable for your application or jobsite hazards. While clothing with an arc rating also has flame resistant properties (so it resists burning when exposed to flames), not all FR garments are rated for arc flash protection. AR clothing anticipates arc flashes, arc fault electrical explosions, and similar incidents to prevent energy and heat from causing second- and third-degree burns. AR clothing also:
An NFPA rating on articles of arc flash protective clothing must match or exceed the arc incident energy level of the jobsite hazard. The NFPA 70E guidelines for PPE and clothing categories are based on the following amounts of energy that can be produced by an arc flash:
Gone are the days of arc flash gear that was too hot, wouldn’t fit well, and could be heavy and uncomfortable to wear. New styles and designs of arc flash gear give you lighter, more comfortable clothing that still provides the level of protection you need. Browse Magid’s collection of AR, FR, and electrician clothing like work pants, shirts, coveralls, jackets, and other gear to ensure you’re protected against potential hazards.
