Arc Flash Protective Wear and Equipment

Every day, electricians are killed or receive serious burn injuries as a result of an Electrical Arc explosion. Yet these injuries can be avoided with training, proper work practices and using protective face shields, hoods and clothing that are NFPA 70E-2004 compliant.

Boddingtons Electrical are the authorised European distributor for Oberon - the pioneer and leader in arc flash personal protection market. The Flashguard™ line of head and body protective products incorporate the latest in fabric and material technologies to help protect the user from the thermal energy of an arc incident. Oberon has made significant R&D and product design investments to provide you with the highest levels of protection available in the market today.

One size does not fit all, nor does one level of protection. The flashguard™ line is the most extensive line of arc flash protection, including products with 15 cal/cm², 25 cal/cm², 40 cal/cm², 65 cal/cm², 100 cal/cm², and an incredible 140 cal/cm² ratings. The Flashguard™ line is the only line on the market today to reach 140 cal/cm² and be fully tested and comply with ASTM F1506 and NFPA 70E.

FACT: Only Oberon's 140 cal hood includes a window with 140 cal of protection. This is required by NFPA 70E 3-3.9.5. Other companies use windows in their hoods that offer less protection. The result; likely burn injuries to your face. Additionally, all Flashguard™ hood windows are manufactured with proprietary Arc-X™ energy absorbing polycarbonate, which provides excellent visibility and arc protection. The inner surface is coated with a permanent antifog coating for clearer vision, and the other surface is anti-scratch coated for improved durability.

FACT: Oberon conservatively rates its arc flash products. Higher confidence intervals are used when test data are analysed. This tends to increase your margin of safety when using Flashguard™ products. Other companies tend not to use any confidence interval, which will increase the likelihood you will be burned in an accident using their product.

FACT: Clear windows provide no protection against the energy of an arc flash. ZERO. This is true whether it is a faceshield™ or a window in a hood. Your face will be burned. The Arc-X windows in the Flashguard™ line are designed and are arc rated to provide protection against the thermal energy of an arc flash.

FACT: Oberon's hoods and windows are tested as complete units. We know how the hood will perform in the event of an arc accident.

Arc Flash Protective Wear

Additional Information about Arc Flash Protective Equipment

Flashbarrier™ Arc Suppression Blanket

Protection for the industrial and utility electrician from arc blasts peripheral to the work area. The new Flashbarrier™ arc suppression blanket is built with proprietary fabric technologies to provide a passive barrier from peripheral arc blasts. Ideal for confined spaces such as underground vaults, the blanket will reduce the effects of an arc blast occurring beyond the primary work area. The blanket has been tested under arc conditions and is rated at 15 KV or 25 KV depending on model. An ideal compliment to the Flashguard™ line of Arc Flash suits, the Flashbarrier™ blanket, when properly used, will reduce the extent of the worker's exposure during an open arc event.

Constructed with a multi layer design, the blanket is designed to deflect the energy of the arc blast. The blanket is fitted with strong Kevlar straps with carabineers, especially developed for this application. The blanket can be installed and removed even while wearing gloves. The Flashbarrier™ Arc Suppression Blanket offers five significant advantages over many of it's competitors' blankets:

Cost - The Flashbarrier™ blanket often costs significantly less than other blankets

Weight - The Flashbarrier™ blanket is lightweight, but rugged for everyday use and strong against the force of an arc explosion

Resists Degradation - The Flashbarrier™ blanket is manufactured with a Carateen™ construction, which will not degrade due to exposure to the sun's UV energy. Most competitor blankets are made with Nomex® or Kevlar® which must be protected from exposure to the sun's UV

Smoke and Flame - The Flashbarrier™ blanket will not smoke and flame when exposed to the arc's thermal energy, unlike other blankets constructed from Nomex and Kevlar. Smoke and flames created in an enclosed space, like an underground vault could make it very difficult to rescue a worker with injuries resulting from an arc explosion

Oberon Name - over 60 years experience manufacturing industrial safety products

Boddingtons Electrical recommends that you always perform a hazardous site assessment of your workplace to ensure that you are using the correct protective devices and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for your application. The Flashbarrier™ Blanket is available in two sizes. Custom sizes also available.

Blankets are designed to provide a passive barrier between the worker and associated equipment such as cables, splices and switches. They are not intended as a substitution for appropriate PPE or insulation from shock.

ArcShield

The arc rated faceshield for the electrical worker. Electrical work is dangerous work. Yet not every electrical worker is required by the hazards of the job to wear a full hood. For these applications, where the potential arc thermal energy is quite low, the ArcShield is ideally suited.

The ArcShield incorporates a unique Face-Fit® faceshield. The faceshield, manufactured from molds that are optically polished, offers excellent distortion free vision.

Viewing area is a large 8" X 14", for excellent unobstructed visibility of your job.

The ArcShield is manufactured with proprietary Arc-X™ thermal protecting energy absorbing polycarbonate. This material is especially designed to trap the thermal energy of the arc explosion, and not transmit it through the faceshield to the worker.

The ArcShield is available with a permanent anti-fog coating on the inner surface and a second scratch-resistant coating on the outer surface for those who need these extra features.

The ArcShield has been tested under actual arc conditions to provide up to 12 cal/cm² protection. It is imPORT 67,107,169,130,132,236 or a lightweight, comfortable, breathable feel. The use of FR fabric is important for compliance with electrical safety standards.

Arc Flash Cooling Vest

The vest is dielectric with no metal parts.

The Arc Flash Cooling Vest and cooling packs have been arc tested under arc conditions in a laboratory and have been determined to comply with OSHA 29CFR 1910.269 I,6,iii

The cooling packs are designed to provide approximately 2 hours of cooling to the user depending upon the ambient temperatures and the exertion level of the worker wearing the vest. The cooling packs are easily recharged by placing them in ice water before use. A spare set can be kept in a cooler and rotated with those in the vest for continuous use.

The Arc Flash Cooling Vest is available in two sizes: regular and tall

WARNING: Arc Flash Cooling Vests should be used in conjunction with and under proper arc rated garments. Vest is not intended as a primary arc flash protection. Vest has been arc tested, but is not arc rated (due to the limited surface area covered by the vest)

Electric Arc Flash Protection Guidelines

If the label does not say it, do not use it!!!

F1506 details the specifications of a textile to be used by an electrical worker as a means of electrical protection. A garment must include a label, which states ALL six of these items to qualify as an ARC protective garment:

1. Tracking Identification Code
2. Meets F1506
3. Manufacturer's Name
4. Care Instructions & Fibre Content
5. Size and other associated standard labelling
6. "Arc Rating" - ATPV or E_BT

"When garments are made with a different number of fabric layers in different areas of the garment, the arc rating for each area shall be designated. Pockets, trim, closures, seams, labels and heraldry shall not be considered as extra layers"

All Arc Flash garments are not created equal!

F1959 details the standardized test method, which must be employed to determine the thermal protective value of a textile material in an Electrical Arc application.

Stoll Curve - curve used to predict the onset of a second degree burn

Requires a minimum of 20 test data points

Arc Rating:

ATPV: defined as the minimum incident thermal energy that causes the onset of a second degree burn when Stoll is reached without breakopen occurring

E_BT: defined as the average of five or more highest incident exposure energy values (without breakopen) below Stoll when breakopen occurs before reaching Stoll

We DO NOT recommend using E_BTAS because you will not be in compliance with F-1506 nor NFPA 70E and a second or third degree burn could result using this value. E_BTAS by definition is a rating above Stoll (occurrence of second degree burn). E_BTAS is used primarily in the Rainwear standard (ASTM F1891).

Flame retardant clothing is a requirement!

"The employer shall ensure that each employee who is exposed to the hazards of flames or electric arcs does not wear clothing that, when exposed to flames or electric arcs, could increase the extent of injury that would be sustained by the employee." Note: Employee shall not wear clothing made from the following types of fabrics, either alone or in blends: acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon.

Clarifications - June 1994 - Employers must make a determination of whether or not 100% cotton or wool clothing worn by a worker is acceptable under the conditions to which the worker could be exposed. Clothing made from flame retardant or flame resistant materials, in accordance with ASTM F1506, is acceptable under the rule.

Clothing used must prevent second degree burn!

The protective clothing selected for a partsicular application shall have an arc protective rating (E_BT or ATPV) higher than the hazard to prevent the onset of a second degree burn.

Flash hazard analysis shall be done before a person approaches a hazard

Employees working in areas where there is an electrical hazard shall be provided with, and shall use, appropriate protective equipment

The entire flash suit, including the window, shall have energy absorbing characteristics that are suitable for the arc-flash exposure.

Voltage does not determine Hazard Category levels. Knowing the voltage is only one piece for determining the Arc Flash protective clothing. The available fault current, the clearing time, the working distance and the type of equipment are also needed to determine the potential Arc Flash exposure level and the required PPE.

Before you can assess the arc flash protection needed for a task, you must first determine the potential arc flash exposure level by conducting a hazard analysis. It is the arc flash exposure level that will dictate the arc flash protection needed.

Resources for conducting hazard analysis:

Electrical Engineering Studies
IEEE P1584 Standard
Software Programs
NFPA 70E Annex D
NFPA 70E Table 130.7(C)(9)(a)
Oberon's STEP 1-2-3 Program

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