Designing and Implementing an Arc
Flash Clothing Program
Understanding The Electric
Arc Flash Hazard
Background
• Involved with the Flame Resistant Clothing market from
the service, manufacturing and garment sides for over
20 years.
• Over the past 11 years worked closely with fortune 1000
companies as they look develop PPE programs within
their Electrical Safe Work Practices to comply with
NFPA70E/NESC and also Flash Fire programs for NFPA
2113.
• Developed and conducted over 250 educational and
informational seminars on the Hazards of Arc Flash and
Flash Fire for NSC, ASSE, VPPPA, NJATC, NECA,
CAER and numerous other associations.
Content
• What is an Arc Flash?
• Why AR/FRClothing?
• Creating and AR/FR Program
OSHA General Duty Clause
• Employer’s responsibility / Choosing AR/FR
“Each employer shall furnish to each of his
employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized
hazards that are causing or are likely to
cause death or serious physical harm.”
References
OSHA:
• 1910.132(a) – Protective equipment, including
personal protective equipment for eyes, face,
head, and extremities, protective clothing,…
• 1910.137 - Electrical Protective Equipment
• 1910.147: LOTO
• 1910.269: Power Generation & Distribution
• 1910.331-.335 - ESWP
• 1910.334 Use of equipment - Portable - Fixed Test
• 1910.335 PPE & warning
Arc Flash Event
• A dangerous release of energy created
by an electrical fault - Arc temp can
reach 35,000 F
• Release will contain:
–
–
–
–
Thermal energy
Acoustical energy
Pressure wave
Debris -Copper expands 67,000 times
when vaporized
• Fatal burns can and do occur at >10
feet
What Equipment can Cause Arcs?
• Typical equipment can be:
– Motor Control Centers (MCC’s)
– Circuit Breakers
– Disconnects
– Metering Devices (remove – install)
– Panel Boards
– Switchgear (low and high voltage)
– Transformers
Why is AR/FR Needed?
• Most severe burn injuries and
fatalities are caused by non-flame
resistant clothing igniting and
continuing to burn
• Flame resistant clothing will selfextinguish, thus limiting the injury
• Body area under non- AR/FR
clothing is often burned more
severely than exposed skin
What Is a Burn?
A chemical process which
progressively injures skin;
severity relates to depth
 1st : redness, pain – not
permanent
 2nd: blistering – skin will
regenerate
 3rd: total skin depth
destroyed. Will not
regenerate – requires
grafting
 4th : Underlying muscle
damaged
Burn Survival
• Burn percentage, more
than severity, predicts
survival because skin is
infection barrier
• 2nd and 3rd degree break
skin, providing an infection
pathway
• Most hospital deaths 2-4
weeks post-exposure are
infection
Burn Injury – Chances of Survival
% Survival
100
80
25% Body Burn
50% Body Burn
75% Body Burn
60
40
20
0
20 - 29.9 30 - 39.9 40 - 49.9 50 - 59.9
Age Range, Years
American Burn Association 2000 - 2009
Burn Injury Costs
• Burn treatment requires
approx. 1.5 days
hospitalization per % burn
• Average hospitalization is
19 days, at costs
exceeding $25,000/day
• Total hospitalization cost
typically ranges from
$200,000 to $750,000,
with many over
$1,000,000 USD
Burn Costs: AR/FR vs Non-AR/FR
Accidents Before FR
Accidents
After FR
Paid
Reserve
Medical
Indemnity
Vocational
Expenses
Total
562,677.78
52,182.14
2510.36
931.53
$618,301.81
250,000.00
721,431.00
7,438.00
0.00
$978,928.00
32,707.38
6,035.28
1,903.55
36.00
$40,682.21
Medical
Indemnity
Vocational
Expenses
Total
184,572.12
30,143.43
2,393.43
20.00
$217,128.98
124,999.00
19,226.00
7,606.00
0.00
$151,863.00
9,213.25
1,890.57
1,195.40
10.00
$12,309.92
Source: PECO Presentation by Bill Mattiford, PES-IEEE Seminar.
What is Flame Resistant Clothing?
• Clothing made from fabrics that
self-extinguish
• Fabrics may be natural or synthetic
• Designed to limit (not eliminate)
burn injury
• Survival, extent of injury, recovery
time and quality of life are all
dependent on FRC performance
“Primary” vs. “Secondary”
• Primary Protective Clothing
– Definition; “Clothing that is designed to be
worn for work activities where significant
exposure to molten substance splash,
radiant heat, and flame is likely to occur.”
Example- Firefighter Turnout Gear
• Secondary Protective Clothing
– Definition; “Clothing that is designed for
continuous wear in designated locations
where intermittent exposure to molten
substance splash, radiant heat, and flame
is possible.”
What Flame Resistant
Clothing is Not!
Hierarchy of Controls
•
•
•
•
Eliminate or replace
Engineering
Admin and/or policies
PPE
Arc Flash Incident –
Chicago April 18, 2004
NFPA 70E
• Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
• Covers industrial personnel
– Electricians
– Maintenance workers
– Operators
•
•
•
•
•
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, developed by the
National Fire Protection Association, is one of the foremost consensus standards
for electrical safety. It covers employee protection from the electrical hazards of
shock, arc flash and arc blasts.
Although it is only referenced in OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart S, Appendix A,
NFPA 70E is considered by OSHA to be the recognized industry practice for
electrical safety.
In its standard interpretation of the relevance of NFPA 70E, OSHA states:
Industry consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E, can be used by employers as
guides to making the assessments and equipment selections required by the
standard. Similarly, in OSHA enforcement actions, they can be used as evidence of
whether the employer acted reasonably.
And while the 2004 edition of NFPA 70E emphasizes that working on live parts is
"the last alternative work practice," it contains extensive requirements for
"working on or near electrical conductors or circuit parts that have not been put
into an electrically safe work condition." When such work is to be performed, the
required electrical hazard analysis has specific requirements for analysis of shock
and flash hazards. Other sections provide guidance on selecting the proper PPE.
Standard for Electricians
NFPA 70E
–
–
–
–
–
–
2015 Edition updated 3 - 5 years
Install, maintain, repair electrical system
Arc Rated (ATPV and EBT)
ASTM F-1506
3rd Party Testing
Garments labeled
Changes for 2012
The 2012 Edition of NFPA 70E has been published and there are a large number of changes. There
are a few key changes related to arc flash protective apparel. The three most notable are:
•
•
•
First the terms Arc Rated & AR have replaced Flame-Resistant & FR. This is an attempt to
prevent the use of garments using fabrics that use the term FR but have not actually been
tested to establish an arc rating. This was done because there are flame-resistance tests used
for products like draperies that are not suitable of arc protection but have been sold as “FR.”
Users therefore assumed they provide protection against electric arc flashes. The change
does not require a garment be labeled as AR versus FR but does require the garment to have
been arc tested and adhere to ASTM F1506 which requires it to be labeled with the arc rating
(cal/cm² or EBT.)
Second is the consolidation of Hazard Risk Categories 2 and 2*. By doing this, HRC 2 now
requires the use of either an arc rated wrap-around face shield and arc rated balaclava, or an
arc rated flash suit hood. Previously only an arc rated face shield was required. This was done
to provide full head protection. With the face shield alone the sides and back of the head
were not protected.
The standard now states that flammable synthetic fabrics, zipper tape and findings shall not
be used. Previously it only referred to synthetic fabrics, not findings. This was done to
specifically address the use of none FR zipper tape and other findings that could fail in an arc
flash event.
25
Changes 2015 Edition
The 2015 edition of NFPA 70E reflects a major shift in
how stakeholders evaluate electrical risk. In support of
this, new definitions were added to Article 100,
including Hazard, Hazardous, Risk, and Risk
Assessment.
Throughout the document changes were made to
provide clarity to users, such as changing “arc flash
hazard analysis” to “arc flash risk assessment,” “shock
hazard analysis” to “shock risk assessment,” “electrical
hazard
analysis” to “electrical hazard risk assessment,” and
“hazard identification and risk assessment” to “risk
Why 100% Cotton Is not safe!
Definitions
• Hazard. A source of possible injury or damage to health.
• Hazardous. Involving exposure to at least one hazard.
• Incident Energy Analysis. A component of an arc flash risk
assessment used to predict the incident energy of an arc flash
for a specified set of conditions.
• Risk. A combination of the likelihood of occurrence of injury
or damage to health and the severity of injury or damage to
health that results from a hazard.
• Risk Assessment. An overall process that identifies hazards,
estimates the potential severity of injury or damage to health,
estimates the likelihood of occurrence of injury or damage to
health, and determines if protective measures are required.
Article 130 – Work involving Electrical Hazards Changes
• 130.5 Arc Flash Risk Assessment. An arc flash risk assessment shall be
performed and shall:
(1) Determine if an arc flash hazard exists. If an arc flash hazard
exists, the risk assessment shall determine:
a. Appropriate safety-related work practices
b. The arc flash boundary
c. The PPE
• (A) Documentation. The results of the arc flash risk assessment shall be
documented.
• (C) Arc Flash PPE. One of the following methods shall be used for the
selection of PPE. Either, but not both, methods shall be permitted to be
used on the same piece of equipment. The results of an incident energy
analysis to specify an arc flash PPE Category in Table 130.7(C)(16) shall not
be permitted. (you either use the info from your risk assessment to
determine the level of PPE or use the tables to select PPE category)
Article 130 – Work involving Electrical Hazards Changes
• (1) Incident Energy Analysis Method. The incident energy exposure level
shall be based on the working distance of the employee’s face and chest
areas from a prospective arc source for the specific task to be performed.
Arc-rated clothing and other PPE shall be used by the employee based on
the incident energy exposure associated with the specific task. Recognizing
that incident energy increases as the distance from the arc flash decreases,
additional PPE shall be used for any parts of the body that are closer than
the distance at which the incident energy was determined. Informational
Note: For information on estimating the incident energy, see Informative
Annex D. For information on selection of arc-rated clothing and other PPE,
see Table H.3(b) in informative Annex H.
• (2) Arc Flash PPE Categories Method. The requirements of 130.7(C)(15) and
130.7(C)(16) shall apply when the arc flash PPE category method is used for
the selection of arc flash PPE.
Article 130 – Work involving Electrical Hazards
- Changes
130.7 Personal and Other Protective Equipment.
• (9) Factors in Selection of Protective Clothing
• (d) Coverage. Clothing shall cover potentially exposed areas as completely
as possible. Shirt and coverall sleeves shall be fastened at the wrists, shirts
shall be tucked into pants, and shirts, coveralls, and jackets shall be closed
at the neck.
New Simplified Tables - New Tables for AC and DC Systems
Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(a) Arc Flash Hazard Identification for Alternating
Current (ac) and Direct Current (dc) Systems
New PPE Category Task Tables
Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(b) Arc-Flash Hazard PPE Categories for Alternating
Current (ac) Systems
Table 130.7(C)(15)(B) Arc-Flash Hazard PPE Categories for Direct Current (dc)
Systems
Article 130 – Work involving Electrical Hazards Changes
Table 130.7(C)(16) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
•
HRC (Hazard Risk Category) has changed to PPE Category
•
HRC 0 – has been removed
Simplified Task
Table for AC and
DC to determine
if Arc Flash PPE
is required
Simplified Task
Table to
determine the
level of PPE
Category
Annex - H
To be used in
conjunction with
the tables – If tables
show no PPE
needed for task –
non FR, nonmeltable garments
can be used
When Incident Energies
are known and the IE is
below 1.2cal/cm2 – only
then is non FR non meltable garments are
allowed
NFPA 70E Categories
One needs an Energized Work Permit
NFPA 70E Hazard Analysis Three Options Available
• Calculate specific equipment hazard and match
Arc Rating of clothing to hazard
• Use task based matrix to determine hazard risk
category of job
• Simplified two category approach in Annex H
ANSI Z535.4 Safety Label.
• Warning Arc Flash and
Shock Hazard Appropriate
PPE Required Arc Flash
Protection..
Simplified Approach to Compliance
PPE C 1
PPE C 2
PPE C 4
41
Hazard/Risk Categories defined……
PPE
Category
Clothing Description
Req’d Min
ATPV
(cal/cm2)
1
Arc-rated FR shirt and FR pants or FR coverall
4
2
Arc-rated FR shirt(s) and FR pants or FR coverall
8
3
Arc-rated FR shirt and pants or FR coverall and
arc flash suit selected so that the system arc
rating meets the required minimum
25
4
Arc-rated FR shirt and pants or FR coverall and
arc flash suit selected so that the system arc
rating meets the required minimum
40
Big Change in 2015
• Hazard/risk category 0 has been removed from Table
130.7(C)(16). Hazard/risk category will now be
referred to as PPE category.
• Hazard/risk category 0 was deleted because the new
PPE table only specifies PPE for work within the arc
flash boundary. If there is no arc flash hazard, then
no arc flash PPE is required and it is therefore not
necessary on a table devoted to PPE. [Table
130.7(C)(16)]
NFPA 70E Changes important to workers wearing
flame resistant apparel include the following:
1. Terminology Change:
PPE Category has replaced HRC – According to note (14) on page 7, “Hazard/risk category [HRC] will now be referred to as PPE category.”
Hazard Analysis now referred to as Risk Assessment - NFPA 70E 2015 edition defines Risk Assessment as “An overall process that identifies
hazards, estimates the potential severity of injury or damage to health, estimates the likelihood of occurrence of injury or damage to
health, and determines if protective measures are required.” (p. 17) Risk Assessment is further examined in the footnote to Table
130.7(C)(15)(A)(a): “Hazard identification is one component of risk assessment. Risk assessment involves a determination of the likelihood
of occurrence of an incident, resulting from a hazard that could cause injury or damage to health.”
2. A Change to “Coverage” Requirements:
In section (d) on page 31, “Coverage,” a couple of changes can be seen - The word coverall was added to two parts: “Shirt and coverall
sleeves shall be fastened at the wrists…” “…shirts, coveralls, and jackets shall be closed at the neck.” Additionally, a statement was added,
“shirts shall be tucked into pants…” The second change to “Coverage” requiring shirts to be tucked into pants is in-line with OSHA’s recent
updates to standard 29 CFR 1910.269. According to e-Hazard, “NFPA 70E helps employers meet the performance requirements of the
OSHA standards for electrical safety. (1)” To further assist employers in understanding what is required under OSHA’s standard pertaining
to arc-rated PPE maintenance and inspection.
3. Elimination of HRC 0
According to note (14) on page 7, “Hazard/risk category 0 has been removed from Table 130.7(C)(16)… Hazard/risk category 0 was deleted
because the new PPE table only specifies work within the arc flash boundary. If there is no arc flash hazard, then no arc flash PPE is
required and it is therefore not necessary on a table devoted to PPE.”
4. New Arc Flash PPE Category Tables: 130.7(C)(15)(a) and (b)
The NFPA 70E Technical Committee has agreed to a new format for choosing arc-rated clothing and PPE. Details of the impending changes
were outlined clearly in this May ISHN article. Predicted changes reflected in the updated standard include splitting Table 130.7(C)(15)(a)
into two. The first table is used to determine if an arc flash hazard exists. One of the complaints about the previous table method was that
tasks that do not pose an arc flash hazard are listed in the table – hence the decision to remove PPE Category/HRC 0. Under the new table
method, if there is an arc flash hazard, you must wear the required PPE and arc-rated clothing matched to the hazard (3).
• OSHA is the “SHALL”
• NFPA 70E is the “HOW”
– Industry consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E, are used in OSHA
enforcement actions as evidence as to whether the employer acted
reasonably
Industries Requiring AR/FR Clothing
Manufacturing
Food
Paper
Chemicals
Machinery
Electronics
Transportation
Universities
Hospitals
Hospitality
Equipment Failure
– When any piece of the equipment or system fails, all
calculations and predictions fail with it. By definition, one
can no longer be certain of maximum possible incident
energy, or, by extension, probability of ignition of non FR
cotton.
Testing Video
Arc Flash Slo Mo
The details of injury and long term effects
• 2 workers suffered more than 60% 2nd and 3rd degree body
burn.
• One subjected to induced coma for 60 day period
• 3rd worker treated and released, today experiencing long term
neurological problems – “similar to shaking a baby”
• Worker pulling off hard hat – mesh liner and helmet plastic
harness melted – requiring surgical removal
• Incident energy calculated to approx. 22.7 cal/cm²
HRC 2 Arc with FRC
OSHA Requirements
• The General Duty Clause requires work places free
from recognized hazards
• The general Duty Clause requires employees to
comply with the rules pursuant to the Act.
• The specific Duty Clause requires employers to
comply with OSHA Standards
How large is the problem?
•
According to CapSchell, Inc., a Chicago-based research and
consulting firm that specializes in workplace injury prevention, there
are five to 10 arc flash explosions every day in the United States,
resulting in 1 to 2 deaths.
• Moreover, over the course of a seven-year study tracking electrical
accidents conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 2,576 U.S. workers died and another 32,807 were
injured -- losing an average of 13 days away from work -- due to
electrical shock or burn injuries.
• A second study involving more than 120,000 employees determined
arc flash injuries accounted for 77% of all recorded electrical injuries
-- The final cost to employers and their insurers for a single, serious
injury can approach $10 million. (CapSchell) -- 2,000 workers are
admitted annually to burn centers for extended injury treatments
caused by arc flash, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
• A recent study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) determined 17,101 injuries were caused by
electric arc flash burns between 1992 though 2001.
OSHA alleges safety violations at MillerCoors
08/04/2009
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
(AP) – 19 hours ago
DENVER — Regulators have proposed fining MillerCoors $128,500 over alleged safety violations at its
brewery in Golden.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Monday a maintenance electrician who was
missing for several hours was found dead outside an open, energized electrical panel Feb. 2, and two
others were burned by an electrical arc flash April 9.
OSHA investigators in the fatal accident found inadequate safety measures for electrical hazards, but
coroner's officials couldn't determine if that led to the death, said John Healy, OSHA's area director in
Englewood.
OSHA cited MillerCoors LLC for 10 alleged violations of rules for electrical hazards.
That included one alleged willful violation over allegations that MillerCoors failed to ensure employees
used proper protective equipment when working near energized electrical parts. OSHA also alleged nine
serious violations over work practices and protective equipment.
A MillerCoors spokesman didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
MillerCoors received the citations Friday and has 15 business days to contest the findings, Healy said.
"We found dangerous conditions that existed at MillerCoors in the area of electrical work," Healy said.
"The company does need to take necessary steps to mitigate workplace threats to ensure the safety of the
work force."
Contractor Faces $148,000 in Fines
Following Arc Flash Injury OH&S 9/6/09
•
•
•
•
•
OSHA has proposed $148,000 in fines against C.W. Pond Contractors Inc., a Norwalk, Conn.,
electrical contractor, in connection with a March 4 electrical fire at the Old YMCA at 980
Washington Blvd. in Stamford, Conn.
Two apprentice electricians were working on and around an energized 480 volt electrical
distribution panel when an electrical arc flash and blast occurred, burning one of the
workers. OSHA's investigation found that the panel had not first been de-energized before
being worked on, as required, and the employees had not been supplied with the required
personal protective equipment.
As a result of these conditions, OSHA has issued C.W. Pond Contractors two willful citations,
carrying $140,000 in proposed penalties. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed
with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.
The contractor also has been issued one serious citation, with a $7,000 fine, for not training
employees on safety-related electrical work practices, and one other-than-serious citation
with a $1,000 fine for an incomplete illness and injury log. Serious citations are issued when
death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer
knew or should have known.
"The lethal potential of electricity cannot be underestimated. This accident could easily have
resulted in a double fatality, as electricity moves--and can kill--at the speed of light," said
Robert Kowalski, OSHA's area director in Bridgeport. "Due to the grave nature of these
hazards, we are proposing the maximum fines allowed under the law."
Creating an FRC Program
• Hazard Assessment
• PPE Selection
– Protection
– Comfort
– Value
• Care and Maintenance
The Next Step
• Already performed hazard analysis
• Decided level of protection needed, i.e. Arc Ratings
• Clothing must be chosen
–
–
–
–
Everyday garments
Arc flash suits
Outerwear?
Layering to meet levels
Engineered Flame Resistant Fabrics
• Natural fibers
• Synthetic fibers
• Natural / synthetic blends
NOTE: Flame resistance must be durable to launderings,
wear, the environment, etc. for the service life of the
garment
All – FR fabrics are engineered do not let marketing terms
confuse you – inherent –treated etc.
Look for proven products!
Comfort – The Bottom Line
• Never make comfort decisions from graphs,
data, office samples or appearance
• There is simply no substitute for
a wear test
Proper Use
•
•
•
•
•
•
AR/FR should be appropriate to hazard
Always the outermost layer
Worn correctly; zipped, buttoned, etc
All natural, non-melting undergarments
Clean, no flammable contaminants
Repaired correctly and removed from service
when needed
Don’t let this be your Legacy
Maintenance of FRC
• Garments should be cleaned to maximize
performance
• Contaminants can “mask” or negate flame
resistance
• Care choices
– Home laundry
– Industrial Laundry
– Dry-cleaning
Significant 2015 Changes
• New PPE Category Tables
– No Hazard Risk Categories????
• HRC 0 Eliminated
– How are we going to sell clothes????
• Prohibitive Approach Boundary Eliminated
• Arc Flash risk is now based on a Risk
Assessment for each piece of equipment
Summary
• Objections to AR/FR are usually based on either cost or comfort…
• Durability, productivity and liability issues reduce real over-time cost of
AR/FR to, or below, non AR/FR cotton in energized environments
• Wear tests and current programs clearly show comfort of newer
generation AR/FR clothing is equal to like weights of non AR/FR cotton
clothing
• Get your assessment done – know your hazard
• Any AR/FR is better than No AR/FR
• Get your layering solutions tested
The Bottom Line
Incidents & Accidents Happen
“Street Clothing” can and
does worsen injury
You Can’t Rely on “It’s Not
Going to Happen to Me”
You Can Do Something
About Your Clothing
Remember….
Thank You!
Questions & Discussion
Bulwark Protective Apparel
Derek Sang
[email protected]
Be very cautious in Rainwear and Vests
Rainwear has specific standards for
both Arc Flash and Flash Fire
FR Rainwear claims can and are very
misleading
Do not jeopardize your safety and your
FR/AR program by implementing noncompliant Rainwear and/or vests
Rainwear and vests that are marketed
as FR should not be used in a Flash Fire
– do your homework
Make sure to match the Rainwear to
the hazard – for Arc Flash ASTM 1891
and they will have an ATPV and for
Flash Fire ASTM 2733 better yet get
raingear that is tested to both
Don’ts
What could be wrong here???
Always – rolled, tucked and buttoned!
Care
Essential to your PPE’s performance and life expectancy
is caring for your garments
Objectives
• Be able to identify additives that cannot be used on
your FR/AR garments
• To be able to understand and recognize the effect of
stains and secondary accelerants on your FR/AR
garments
1910.132(f)(1)
The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this
section to use PPE. Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the
following:
1910.132(f)(1)(i) - When PPE is necessary;
1910.132(f)(1)(ii) - What PPE is necessary;
1910.132(f)(1)(iii) - How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE;
1910.132(f)(1)(iv) - The limitations of the PPE; and,
1910.132(f)(1)(v) - The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the
PPE.
1910.132(f)(2) - Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of
the training specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and the ability to use PPE
properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.
• Important to read the
manufacturers laundry
instructions on the label
• Written care instructions are
available for all employees.
• They can also be accessed at:
http://www.bulwark.com/Safety-Care
The Top 3 –
1. Do not use chlorine bleach, peroxide or fabric softener
2. Do not wear if soiled with flammable contaminants
3. Retire garment if worn out
Soiled Garments
• Monitor the accumulation of secondary accelerants on
your garments through out the day.
• After laundering make sure accelerants are removed.
If your garments still have a hydrocarbon/petroleum
odor a flammable contaminant may still be present,
rewash the garment until the odor is gone. If
flammable soils are not completely removed, the
protective qualities of the garment may be
compromised.
• Discoloration/stains alone are not an indicator of
reduced protection
How Much is too much????
Laundering Guidelines • Wash FR/AR garments separately
• Turn FR/AR garments inside out both assist in color retention
and appearance
• Use liquid detergent for best results
• Avoid the hottest temperature to reduce the impact of
shrinkage
• For tough stains applying liquid detergent to the stain or stain
remover and allow garment to soak
• Bulwark FR/AR garments can be dry cleaned for tougher stains
• Tumble dry on low setting and do not over dry
What can you Use??
The No’s
Important to Read the Label
Maintenance
Objectives
• Identify when garments need to be repaired and or replaced
• Understand proper repair process for your FR/AR Garments
Inspect garments daily –
• Check for holes, rips and tears
• Check for areas of heavy wear such as elbows and
knees where the fabric may be worn thin
• Check the integrity of the seams
In general check the integrity of the garment and repair
or replace accordingly
Inspecting Garments - General
• Evaluate fit
• Worn correctly: shirts are tucked in, sleeves are rolled down, cuffs are
buttoned and shirts are buttoned up (second button from the top)
• Outermost layer is FR/AR
• Wear and tear - thin spots, holes, abrasions, rips, and/or tears, check for
open seams
• No Alterations or modifications
• Not soiled with oils, greases and/or other flammable contaminants
• The easiest time to inspect FR/AR Clothing is just before you put it on in
the morning
• However make sure that you are vigilant throughout the day to avoid
common errors in proper wear
• Repair garments with like materials and FR threads
• If that is not possible retire the garment and replace
What to ask for:
• To see the UL Certification or other independent
organization on that particular garment
• Specify only certified compliant garments are
allowed on site
• Ask for the test data most fabric suppliers have data
sheets with the most common test results
• Work with a proven supply chain
• Periodically police your program for compliance
Questions, Comments, Feedback?
Bulwark University
Thank You From Your Bulwark Team
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