If you work in utilities or as a lineman, you already know the importance of safety and protective clothing. However, if you have not explored the range of ARC flash clothing and 70e compliant clothes, you may believe that you need bulky equipment to keep you safe. DRIFIRE has developed a line of clothes that can keep you comfortable and safe. Since we weave safety right into the fabric, rather than simply coating flammable materials in a chemical stew, we are able to offer a line of comfortable and light clothes that wick moisture away from your body and keep you safe and comfortable.
When working with utilities, a major risk is the electric arc flash, which can burn regular work clothes and can burn the skin. ASTM F1506 (Standard Performance Specification for Textile Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use by Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Arc and Related Thermal Hazards) has been developed to offer some basic standards for protective clothes, in order to protect employees from arc flash. To meet . ASTM F1506, protective clothes from flame resistant fabric need to pass a standard vertical flame test to prove that they are flame resistant. These clothes must pass ASTM D6413 (The Vertical Flame Test), and the ASTM F1959, which gives the arc flash protection clothing an arc rating or ATPV, which shows how flame resistant the clothing is.
Clothes that meet ASTM F1506 standards are compliant with NFPA 70 E and OSHA 1910.269. NFPA 70E (Electrical Safety in the Workplace) is the United States standard for employee electrical safety requirements, established by the National Fire Protection Association. Like NFPA 70e, OSHA’s requirement relates to protective clothing. OSHA 1910.269 is an American regulation for safety equipment established by The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This regulation applies to industrial co-generation plants as well as electric utilities.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in the latest edition of the NFPA 70E Standard, requires employees to wear flame resistant clothing or, more specifically, NFPA 70e arc flash clothing that meets ASTM F1506 requirements wherever exposure to an electric arc flash is possible. In addition, the standard indicates that employees much wear the right arc flash suit for their risk level. This means that workers must wear protective clothing that meets NFPA and OSHA requirements and also has the correct arc rating for the specific risk the employee faces. Many employers are now implementing uniform requirements to ensure that all employees comply with safety standards. DRIFIRE flame resistant apparel offers many choices for both independent contractors and for employers wanting to implement the right safety measures in their workplace.
