FAQ: Safety Workwear & Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Quick Guide to Flame-Resistant Clothing

ATPV - Arc Thermal Performance Value. An ATPV of greater than or equal 8 calories/cm² gives us Hazard Risk Category 2 (HRC2) classification and is the benchmark for most facilities.

NFPA - The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, creates and updates the standards used for personnel while engaging or around safety hazards.

NFPA 70E - Work standard by the NFPA that encompasses aspects of electrical safety at work. It emphasizes the usage of FR Clothing.

NFPA 2112 - Certified by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Specifies performance requirements and methods of testing for FR Fabric and FRC Clothing.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 - Guidance for complying with the safety apparel requirements. This includes allowable types of flame-resistant clothing and the employer’s judgment of the hazards.

ASTM F1506 - Standard performance specification for fire-resistant and arc-rated textile materials for wearing clothing for use by electrical workers exposed to quick electric arc and related heat/thermal hazards.

Quick Guide to Safety Toe Boots

Composite Safety Toe - Lightweight, good electrical resistance and keeps your feet warmer in cold climates due to insulation.

Steel Safety Toe - Puncture proof and costs less, but weighs more and doesn’t keep your feet as warm.

Alloy - Lighter than steel toe caps and meets major safety requirements.

D Width - The most common width for men's shoes, and is considered the same as Regular, Medium, or Standard width.

EE Width - Extra wide width descriptor.

ASTM F2413 - Standard specs for the performance requirements of industrial safety toe footwear.

EH Rated - Footwear with electric shock resistance that can withstand an application of 14,000 volts at 60 HZ for 1 minute with zero current flow or leakage current over 3.0 milliamperes in dry conditions.