![]() ![]() That would be provided by a head covering.Įarmuffs are considered inappropriate protection for arc flash hazard zones. The purpose of the earplug is to provide hearing protection only – not to provide any burn protection. Under the NFPA 70E-2015 standard, all exposed skin is to be covered with arc-rated clothing, such that an earplug would not be the primary protection for an arc flash burn. But arc ratings are not defined for hearing protection. NFPA does not certify or approve any PPE, so any claims from manufacturers stating that a particular piece of PPE has been tested to NFPA standards, or has been certified by NFPA, are inaccurate and misleading.Īrc ratings are required for primary PPE, such as arc-rated clothing. This 2015 standard requires workers in an arc flash hazard zone to wear insert-type hearing protection (earplugs). The National Fire Protection Association’s 2015 edition of its 70E standard for electrical safety in the workplace defines arc flash boundary zones and recommended personal protective equipment for each zone. Temperatures can reach 35,000° F, and the impulse sound resulting from the explosive expansion from the arc can exceed 160 dB – far above levels capable of instantaneous permanent damage to hearing. When voltage is high enough (possible above 300V, but usually around 480V), the intense heat of the arc flash can create a serious hazard for workers in the arc flash zone. ![]() “Arc flash” is the term describing an extremely volatile electrical hazard in which an uncontrolled current passes between two conductors. Witt, director of hearing conservation, Honeywell Safety Products, Lincolnshire, IL.Įach year, more than 2,000 people are treated for burns and injuries from electrical arc flashes (NFPA 70E-2015, Annex K).
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