NFPA 70E – STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 70E, 2012 Edition addresses electrical safety related work practices for activities such as inspection, operation, repair or demolition of electric conductors, electric equipment, signaling and communications conductors and equipment, and raceways. It also includes safe work practices for employees performing other work activities that can expose them to electrical hazards such as installation of conductors and equipment; or in installations used by the electrical utility, but are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation or control center. The 2012 Edition changed the term “flame resistant (FR)” to “arc rated (AR)” throughout the standard when referring to personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical workers. Former tables 130.7(C)(10) and (C)(11) on PPE selection when the hazard/risk category method is used were combined into a single table 130.7(C)(16). The new table provides clearer guidance to PPE selection. The HR categories and the arc ratings required for each remain, but the HRC 2* category has been eliminated. A hard hat, hearing protection, safety glasses or goggles, heavy duty work gloves and leather work shoes are required for all HR categories. An arc rated flash suit hood or wrap-around face shield worn with an arc rated hood is required for all HRC 2 – 4 jobs. HRC 0 and HRC 1 tasks require safety glasses or goggles. 70E continues to allow non-melting flammable (non-arc rated) materials to be used as undergarments and permits their use in HRC 0 tasks. However, garments that are not arc-rated cannot be used to increase the arc rating of a garment or a clothing system. Informative Annex H on selection of PPE (the simplified two-category system) was greatly expanded with explanatory material.

WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW

70E is a national consensus standard that establishes “best practices” for protection from electric arcs.

Employers must conduct both shock and flash hazard analysis to establish a flash protection boundary.

Under NFPA 70E employers must document and implement an overall electrical safety program that includes hazard/risk evaluation and job briefing procedures. This program must be audited annually. If energized electrical conductor or circuit parts operating at 50 volts or more are not placed in an electrically safe work condition, written authorization by work permit is required. Employees must

be qualified to do the work and trained to understand the specific hazards and potential injury associated with electrical energy.  Employees exposed to shock hazards must be retrained annually in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

When work will be performed within the arc flash protection boundary, the employer must document the incident energy exposure in calories per square centimeter. Arc rated clothing conforming to the requirements of ASTM F1506 and appropriate PPE must be worn either based on the incident energy determined for the specific task or by using NFPA 70E Table 130(C) (16) to determine the hazard/risk category.

THREE STEPS TO COMPLIANCE WITH NFPA 70E

IMPLEMENT AND DOCUMENT AN OVERALL ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROGRAM

The employer must implement and document an overall electrical safety program that directs activity appropriate for the voltage, energy level and circuit conditions. This includes hazard/risk evaluation and job briefing procedures and must be audited annually. Employees must be qualified to do the work and trained to understand the specific hazards and potential injury associated with electrical energy.  Employees exposed to shock hazards must be retrained annually in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

SELECT PPE

Employees must wear arc rated clothing wherever there is a possible exposure to an electric arc flash above the threshold incident-energy y level for a second-degree burn (1.2 cal/cm2). Conductive items such as jewelry, necklaces, etc. may not be worn where they present a contact hazard. Clothing made from synthetic materials that melt such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene and Spandex may not be used unless such blends meet the requirements of ASTM F 1506 and do not exhibit melting and sticking during arc testing.

Be aware that other PPE may be required for specific tasks including hearing protection, voltage-rated tools and gloves, etc.

To view a full line of Bulwark FR uniforms please visit ALL UNIFORM WEAR and any of it’s 22 retail locations throughout Florida.  All Bulwark FR uniforms can be customized with embroidery to display your company name and title.    

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHO IS COVERED?

Employees during activities such as installation, operation, maintenance and demolition of exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts. Research shows that approximately 10% of the employees in any operation work as electricians, maintenance, or other categories of work covered by this standard.

DOES OSHA ENFORCE NFPA 70E?

OSHA believes that the NFPA 70E standard offers useful guidance for employers and employees attempting to control electrical hazards, but OSHA has not conducted a rulemaking and therefore does not “enforce” NFPA 70E. OSHA does use consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E as evidence of hazard recognition in evaluating General Duty Clause violations.

WHERE CAN I GET A COPY?

NFPA 70E is available from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101; phone: 1-800-344-3555; on-line at: http://catalog.nfpa.org.

WHAT IS ATPV; EBT?

The standard requires that arc rated garments have a minimum Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) based on the hazard/risk analysis for the task being performed. The ATPV is expressed in calories per square centimeter and represents the protection from electric arcs provided by the garment. If the ATPV cannot be calculated because the fabric breaks open, the energy causing the break open is expressed as the Breakopen Threshold Energy (EBT).

WHERE DO I FIND ARC RATINGS?

Arc ratings are included on Bulwark garment labels and in the Bulwark catalog and Wholesale Product Guide. This information is also available on line at www.bulwark.com.

MY CUSTOMER HAS DONE THEIR CALCULATIONS AND SOME TASKS REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAN IS AVAILABLE FROM SINGLE LAYER GARMENTS. WHAT DO I OFFER THEM?

The total system arc rating of layered ensembles must be determine by a multilayer arc test on the combination of all layers assembled as they would be worn, rather than adding the arc ratings of the individual layers. Arc ratings of individual layers cannot simply be added together. Any garment worn as the outer layer, including rainwear, must be FR. Electrical switching clothing (flash suits) is available for those needing HRC 3 (25 minimum ATPV) or HRC 4 (40 minimum ATPV). Many insulated outerwear garments also have ATPVs greater than 25. These can be used for specific applications where higher arc ratings are needed. Keep in mind that hearing, head, face and neck protection are also required for these higher exposure levels.

THERE ARE SOME REALLY COMPLEX CALCULATIONS IN 70E. DO I HAVE TO BECOME AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO UNDERSTAND THE STANDARD?

Arc rated clothing and PPE must be worn either based on the calculated incident energy determined for the specific task or by using Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) to determine the hazard/risk category (HRC). HRC is specified based on specific job tasks. These range from HRC 0 that allows non-melting flammable materials up to HRC 4 that requires an arc rated FR shirt and pants or FR coverall, and arc flash suit with a minimum system arc rating of 40.

INFORMATIVE

Annex H provides a simplified approach to select appropriate arc rated clothing and PPE based on whether the task requires “everyday work clothing” or an “arc flash suit”.

CAN’T THOSE COVERED BY THIS STANDARD JUST WEAR HEAVYWEIGHT NON-MELTING FLAMMABLE GARMENTS SUCH AS DENIM JEANS?

Probably not. Non-melting flammable garments are only allowed for HRC 0 exposures. Employees must wear FR 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).

CAN WORKERS CONTINUE TO WEAR FLAMMABLE T-SHIRTS UNDER THEIR ARC RATED GARMENTS?

Layering of non-melting flammable garments is permitted to be worn under FR garments for added protection. However, if Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) is used to determine the HRC category, only FR layers within the layered system are used to determine system arc rating.