Arc-rated jackets, parkas, and rainwear are important PPE ensemble pieces for performing work in inclement weather, etc. Jackets must be closed at the neck and any adjustable wrist fastenings must be secured. Rainwear must also comply with visibility standards.
Important Notes
Be sure to select clothing/ pieces that meet the incident energy or category requirements for your PPE ensemble.
Loose-fitting clothing provides extra thermal insulation (because of air spaces), but it should not be so loose as to interfere with the work. Tight-fitting clothing should be avoided.
Just as with any PPE, it’s important to keep in mind that overly protective PPE can introduce other risks unnecessarily. When choosing arc-rated clothing, be sure to choose PPE in a reasonable way to help increase mobility and decrease risk of fatigue and heat exhaustion.
Note that all arc-rated (AR) clothing is flame-resistant (FR), but not all FR clothing is arc-rated. Arc-rating measures insulation of fabrics to arc flash and is based on laboratory testing. The arc-rating can be reported as ATPV (Arc Thermal Performance Value) or Ebt (Energy of Breakopen Threshold).