Q: Is it still the case that layering arc-rated PPE is allowed only if those garments have been tested together>
I know that clothing has to be tested per ASTM F1959 to verify compatibility and establish performance data.
A: Layers have to be tested as a system to be used as more than the highest individual layer.
Many authors with little knowledge of arc flash testing and arc flash phenomena have taken general statements from the early researchers and stated as fact the following myths:
Myth One: You can add up the ATPV’s of two or three materials and you will get a conservative arc rating of the system. The “air gap” between layers adds X cal/cm² protection.
FACT: In many cases this is true, but not in all cases. Combinations of a common t-shirt under an arc-rated shirt have been shown to provide protection equal to the outer shirt due to superheating of the outer shell fabric in the arc. This superheating affects some materials more than others. We have many examples of materials in which burns are predicted at just beyond the rating of the outer shell shirt.
For example, one FR cotton/nylon shirt with an 8 cal/cm² rating and a specific AR 4 cal/cm² undershirt only received 8 cal/cm² when tested together.
Myth Two: The “air gap” between two layers adds insulation and X cal/cm² of protection.
FACT: Ablation (breaking open and breaking away to allow energy escape) is more predictive of the protection of a two-layer system than adding the ATPV’s. The “air gap” in an electrical explosion (an arc flash) may provide no protection at all. Ablation, prevention of convective hot gas flow, thermal stability of the fiber blend at many different temperatures are better predictors. To date, however, the only way to estimate the combinations of these effects is to arc test the system using ASTM F1959 or IEC 61482-1-1.
ArcWear provides FREE Arc Flash Layering Data on their website.
Most garment manufacturers have data on their common systems.
ArcWear can do arc flash testing to provide an arc rating of your system.
What the Standard Says
Refer to NFPA 70E®, Annex M Layering of Protective Clothing and Total System Arc Rating.
Non arc-rated layers add no protection but may be allowed.–Cotton t-shirt cannot be counted as adding protection–Non arc-rated clothing may be worn IF it is non-melting (i.e. cotton, wool, silk, leather). In real-life, cotton undergarments may add some protection but may also ignite, causing serious burns.
Layers of arc-rated garments may provide additional protection, only arc –rated systems can count.–Putting an 8 cal coverall over a 4 cal shirt doesn’t automatically give you a 12 cal system.
Arc-rated outer layer (such as a high visibility vest) over a protective system (i.e. an 8 cal/cm² ARC 2 shirt) does not reduce the rating of the under layer.–Non arc rated melting vests may not be worn over arc rated layers.
Don’t discount the power of layering. It is the most reasonable way to protect workers and still manage heat stress and costs.
Avoid the short cuts of “adding up the layers.”
There is good information available, and your arc-rated clothing supplier should be able to help. Wearing arc-rated underlayers, even if you do not know the added protection level, eliminates the risk of ignition and has great value in work settings where high voltages are present and where arc flash levels are higher than 15 cal/cm².
NOTE: e-Hazard does not sell arc-rated clothing. We provide unbiased information on the industry as a training company.
