Workplaces where thermal hazards cannot be avoided, and with risks of exposure to open flame and extreme heat, flame resistant safety apparel is required.

Heat and flame protective apparel can consist of one separate garment or multiple garments, which needs to be worn together. The garments shall cover the wearer up to the neck and down to the wrists and ankles.  Additional personal protective equipment is required for full body protection, for example helmet, face protection, gloves and boots. 

Flame and heat resistant clothing will not provide 100% protection against thermal exposures, but will limit the consequences in case of an incident.

NFPA 2112 / CAN/CGSB-155.20 - Flame-Resistant Clothing for Protection to Flash Fire

NFPA 2112, the USA standard on flame-resistant clothing for protection of industrial personnel against short-duration thermal exposures from fire, is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA is a non-profit agency that develops, publishes and disseminates consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and the effects of fire.

The purpose of the standard is to “provide minimum requirements for the design, construction, evaluation, and certification of flame-resistant garments for use by industrial personnel, with the intent of not contributing to the burn injury of the wearer, providing a degree of protection to the wearer and reducing the severity of burn injuries resulting during egress from or accidental exposure to short duration thermal exposure from fire.”

The standard specifies the minimum performance requirements and test methods for flame resistant fabrics and components such as zippers, buttons and tread. There are design and certification requirements for the garments. The production of both components and garments are monitored by inspections. Each step is verified by a 3^rd party certifier. Blåkläder NFPA 2112 collection is certified by Underwriters Laboratories, UL, which is shown on a label inside each garment.

It is the responsibility of the employer to perform a flash-fire hazard assessment of the work environment to determine if there is a risk of a flash fire. If there is a risk, the employer shall carefully select the PPE based upon the results and train the employees on the use, limitations, and care of the PPE. Where the potential for a flash fire exists, the employees will have to wear flame resistant clothing complying with NFPA 2112.

CAN/CGSB-155.20- Workwear for protection against hydrocarbon flash fire and optionally steam and hot fluids

CAN/CSGB 155.20, is the Canadian standard that states the minimum requirements and test methods for performance of protective workwear worn for protection against unplanned exposure to hydrocarbon flash fire and optionally steam and hot fluids.

NFPA 2112 serve as the base also for CAN/CSGB 155.20, but with a few differences. The most significant being that CAN/CSGB 155.20 does not require a third party certification.

NFPA 70E / CSA Z462 - Electrical Safety in the Workplace

NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

NFPA 70E, the USA standard for electrical safety in the workplace, is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The purpose of the standard is to provide a “practical safe working area for employees relative to the hazards arising from the use of electricity.”  The standard describes safe working practices and safety related maintenance requirements relative to the hazards associated with electrical energy during electrical construction and maintenance.

The standard requires employers to perform an arc flash risk assessment to estimate the potential arc flash exposure for employees who work on or near energized equipment. This assessment forms the arc rating requirement for the workers’ protective clothing.

The worker shall wear arc rated protective clothing wherever there is a possible exposure to an electric arc flash above the threshold incident energy level for a second-degree burn (1,2 cal/cm² 5J/cm²). The protective clothing shall cover the whole body.

The protective clothing shall be tested for open arc exposure. The level of arc exposure is referred to as the ATPV-value. The higher the value the greater the protection.

ATPV-Value (Arc Thermal Performance Value) indicates the amount of energy (cal/cm²) to which the material/garment can be exposed and still provide a 50% protection against the second degree’s burn injury.

NFPA 70E illustrates the risk assessment and compliance process by creating Arc Flash PPE Categories. The requirement is that employees shall wear flame-resistant clothing with an Arc Flash PPE category rating, equal to or greater than the determined arc hazard.

Blåkläder’s FR-garments are marked externally with the Arc Flash PPE Category and the ATPV value.

The protective clothing needs to be compliant to the standard ASTM F1506 or ASTM 1891 to be used in NFPA 70E work environment. These standards most importantly identifies the minimum performance requirements and tests methods to determine flame resistance of fabrics and components as well as the arc rating of fabrics.

NFPA 70E is not a base for apparel certification, as it specifies the prerequisites for the workplace.

ASTM F1506 – Standard Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs

ASTM F1506, the USA standard for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing. This standard sets the minimum performance specifications for Arc Flash protective clothing as well as minimum requirement ofFlame Resistance and mechanical durability of fabrics and subassemblies used in the garments.

Flame Resistant material might ignite but will not continue to burn after the ignition source is removed. The fabric must not melt, drip or have more than 2 second after-flame or show to large charring.

The major requirement of this standard is that the fabric used must be Arc Rated, tested for an Electric Open Arc to receive an ATPV-value. This is done by testing according to ASTM F1959.

The protection lies in the flame retardant properties of the garment and at what level the material takes up the heat energy discharged at an arc (this is stated in cal/cm²). The higher the ability of the material or material combination to absorb the energy, the higher the protective function of the garment.

ASTM F1506 is not a base for certification, it’s a validation standard.

ASTM F1891 – Standard Specification for Arc and Flame Resistant Rainwear

This USA standard set the specifications for arc and Flame Resistant Rainwear. It addresses laminated and coated materials and state the minimum performance specifications for Arc Flash protective rainwear as well as minimum requirement of flame resistance and mechanical durability of fabrics and subassemblies used.

Additional to the ASTM 1506, the material and the seams of the rainwear must be tested for water penetration/leakage.

The major requirement of this standard is that the fabric used must be Arc Rated, tested for an Electric Open Arc to receive an ATPV-value. This is done by testing according to ASTM F1959.

The protection lies in the flame retardant properties of the garment and at what level the material takes up the heat energy discharged at an arc (this is stated in cal/cm²). The higher the ability of the material or material combination to absorb the energy, the higher the protective function of the garment.

ASTM F1891 is not a base for certification, it’s a validation standard.

ASTM F1959 – Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing 

ASTM F959 is the USA standard test method for Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing. The purpose of this test method is to determine how much energy a fabric, or fabric combination, will block from an electric arc without causing a second-degree burn injury.

The test exposes panels of flame resistant fabrics to electric arc flashes of varying energies. The result is reported as the ATPV-Value.

ATPV-Value (Arc Thermal Performance Value) indicates the amount of energy (cal/cm²) to which the material/garment can be exposed and still provide a 50% protection against the second degree’s burn injury.

If the fabric breaks open at a lower value than the ATPV-rating, the reported value is the Energy Breakopen Threshold (Ebt).

EBT-Value (Energy Break Open Threshold) indicates the amount of energy (cal/cm²) to which the material/garment may be exposed before a 50% risk of hole formation occurs.

The ATPV-value (or Ebt-value) shall be reported for all garments that meets the ASTM 1506 or ASTM 1891 standards. Blåkläder’s FR-garments are marked externally with the Arc Flash PPE Category and the ATPV value.

The protection lies in the flame retardant properties of the garment and at what level the material takes up the heat energy discharged at an arc (this is stated in cal/cm²). The higher the ability of the material or material combination to absorb the energy, the higher the protective function of the garment.

ASTM F1959/1959M is not a base for certification, it specifies a test methodology.

CSA Z462 – Workplace electrical safety

Z 462, is the Canadian standard for electrical safety in the workplace. It is published by CSA, Canadian Standard Association. The standard content is harmonized with NFPA 70E, but with some deviations. The major one being that Z 462 has included one 5^th Arc Flash PPE Category with the minimum of ATPV 75. There are also some clarifying annexes that are not included in NFPA 70E.