| it comes to arc flash protection clothing, you will | | | | the actual weight of the material or garment in |
| find that you need a certain appropriate risk | | | | question. This is measures in two possible ways |
| category, ATPV rating, and/or NFPA rating. When | | | | (1) grams per square meter or (2) ounces per |
| you go shopping for your garments, you will find | | | | square yard. This will vary from one country to |
| that getting the rating is easy simply by looking at | | | | the other according to the measurement system |
| the label. However, sometimes it is important to | | | | in place. For instance, a coverall with a fabric |
| know a few other terms involved with this | | | | weight of 7 ounces will be lighter than bib overalls |
| specialty safety apparel that will get you home at | | | | with a weight of 15 ounces. |
| the end of a hazardous day. | | | | > Flame resistant or FR is used to define any |
| > Arc flash protection clothing is used when | | | | fabric that is inherently resistant to the heat or |
| describing safety apparel and/or equipment to | | | | burning. This may also be used when defining |
| protect individuals usually used by individuals. There | | | | specially treated fabrics. You should insure you |
| are many types of protections protected against | | | | know which type of flame resistance your |
| including energy flashes, tight spaces, protection | | | | garment. |
| from falls, and much more. These garments can | | | | > HAF or Heat Attenuation Factor is the value |
| be pants, shirts, coveralls, hoods, gloves, or other | | | | of heat blocked when things get hot. This is the |
| types of safety gear. | | | | fabrics ability to stay cool in hot situations. For |
| > ATPV stands for Arc Thermal Performance | | | | instance, if you have a flame resistant shirt that |
| Value. You will find when you need a calories per | | | | 100% flame resistant, you will find it does not |
| square cm value representing the maximum | | | | necessarily block all the heat in an exposure. |
| protection offered by that garment. When it | | | | However, if that garment has rating of HAF 90%, |
| comes to arcing energy, you can depend on the | | | | you know that 90% of the heat is going to be |
| ATPV. This number is carefully figured out using | | | | blocked in any situation. |
| many concepts. However, Calories per cm | | | | > HRC or Hazard Rick Category is set forth |
| squared is one deciding factor. | | | | by NFPA 2004 70E. The categories have stronger |
| > Calories per cm squared identify the quantity | | | | calories per square cm at category four than |
| of the energy protected against when it comes | | | | category one. There are four categories: |
| to distance between the material and the arcing | | | | Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, and |
| flash. This is important when it comes to defining | | | | Category 4. |
| the ATPV. Some types of arc protection clothing | | | | When it comes to getting the best protection, |
| will protect close up while others will only protect | | | | you will find that understanding popular terms |
| from a distance. You will need this number if you | | | | when it comes to arc flash protection clothing is |
| are working around energy either live or stored. | | | | going to serve you well. |
| > Fabric weight is a term used when describing | | | | |