PPE Overview

NFPA 70E states, “Employees shall wear arc-rated clothing wherever there is possible exposure to an electric arc flash above the threshold incident energy level for a second degree burn (1.2 cal/cm2 or 5.0 J/cm2).”

Arc flash PPE ensembles are determined using either:

1. PPE Category Method (Tables Method), or
2. Incident Energy Analysis Method

Both methods use the equipment specifications to determine the PPE required. NFPA does not recommend one method over the other. Both may be used in the same workplace. However, only one method may be used for each particular piece of equipment and the results should be recorded on the equipment’s arc flash hazard label.