Leather protectors also provide arc flash protection. While no specific thermal values are given, manufacturers have tested them and their arc resistance is known. Many people are unaware that rubber insulating gloves also provide arc flash protection. The standard also now states that the use of PPE other than or in addition to that listed in the tables and elsewhere in the standard shall be permitted provided it meets the requirements specified in the standard. Incidentally, although it isn’t stated in the standard, it is also highly recommended that a balaclava be worn with all levels of arc flash PPE, and inside hoods as a second layer of protection for the head. The definition of balaclava eliminated referring to them as head socks, and redefines them as head protective fabric that protects the neck and head except for the facial area. Footwear that is not leather or dielectric is now permitted provided it meets the same requirements as arc rated clothing which is no ignition, melting or dripping when exposed to an arc flash. High-visibility apparel has been added to outerwear. The reasoning is that if the primary arc flash PPE is the correct value, should there be an arc flash event and arc-rated outerwear of a lower value fails, the worker is still sufficiently protected by the arc rated clothing underneath as long as it is of the required ATPV value. The standard now states in a footnote that “The arc rating of outer layers worn over arc-rated clothing as protection from the elements or for other safety purposes, and that are not used as part of a layered system, shall not be required to be equal to or greater than the estimated incident energy exposure.” This change in the standard significantly eases the problem of finding arc-rated outwear in the higher Arc Thermal Protection Values (ATPV). In the past, PPE requirements listed outerwear such as parkas and rainwear in the various categories such that they had to be at least equal to the calorie rating of the other arc flash clothing. One significant change involves arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE). If the arc flash boundary is crossed, then arc flash protection must be implemented. If they aren’t, they must be escorted at all times by a qualified electrical worker. If the limited approach boundary is crossed, the thermographer must be a qualified electrical worker. The restriction is that the restricted approach boundary must not be crossed. They may change the procedures workers are required to comply with and, therefore, may require some retraining to cover them.Īs a reminder, for those performing thermographic work, the standard still provides for performing this work without an energized electrical work permit when there are exposed, energized electrical circuits and parts such as when the door of a motor starter is opened. Workers generally don’t care about these “structural” changes, but nevertheless, they are still important and must be addressed. This will affect the administrative side of a safety program and safety training, and may impact some procedures as these items are moved out of the procedures and into the overall requirements of the program. The committee felt that general requirements scattered among Articles 105, 120 and 130 should be gathered into article 110, and assembled and organized into a logical sequence of general requirements for electrical safety-related work requirements, the title of Article 110. One of the major changes is in Article 110. There is major reorganization in Article 110, a completely new Informational Annex R, additions to Chapter 3, and a few seemingly minor additions that impact the application of PPE, and arc flash risk assessment. A few very significant changes and additions were made that we need to be aware of because they impact the way we apply the standard. As in the past, a lot of work has gone into adding informational notes. Many of them are “housekeeping” items such as section reference numbers that change due to adding and moving things within the document, updating references and an ongoing effort to harmonize this standard with the National Electrical Code. As there always are, several changes took place in the 2021 edition. The standing committee also implements many changes on their own after intense discussion and careful consideration. These are carefully reviewed and, if found to have merit, adopted. Web: Email: NFPA 70E ® Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace is reviewed and revised every 3 years in response to input from a wide variety of sources including the general public. Equipment Use and Performance Standards.
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