Understanding Arc Ratings – Bulwark Whitepaper

UNDERSTANDING ARC RATINGS

Understanding arc ratings is very important. You know your crew needs to wear FR clothing that meets a certain arc rating. But do you understand what that protection level means or how FR fabric gets its arc rating? To put it simply, FR fabric is exposed to a series of arc flashes to determine how much energy the fabric is able to block before it would likely cause the wearer to obtain a 2nd degree burn, 50% of the time. But that’s just the beginning. This whitepaper addresses the arc flash hazard, a brief history of the arc rating system and how it all comes together in the form of arc-rated FR fabrics to keep you and your crew compliant.