![]() Wear safety glasses and heavy leather gloves when doing electrical work.Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when doing electrical work.Do not wear meltable (polyester, nylon, spandex, etc.) fibers when doing electrical work.While there is no “Level 0”, the following industry practices should be considered for electrical work with less than 1.2 cal/cm2: Specifically, if the incident energy is less than 1.2 cal/cm2 at 18 inches working distance, then arc-rated clothing is not required. The big idea is that special arc flash PPE is not required for low level hazards. “Level 0” was removed from the incident energy PPE table in the 2018 version. ![]() Note that Category 0 was removed from NFPA 70E task table method category table in the 2015 version. The Arc Flash Institute generally does not recommend using the “table method” or “category method” due to the potential misuse of the tables but instead recommend the “incident energy analysis method”. These categories are only to be used when utilizing the “table method” or “category method” (per 130.5(F)). These categories are still used by some manufacturers and are well understood by many in the industry. In older 70E versions, the term Hazard Risk Categories (HRC) was used to describe these different categories. When arc flash PPE was first being discussed by the NFPA, it was typical to describe PPE as Category 0, Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, or Dangerous. See Table 130.5(G) for further information. * note This simplified list is not the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is presented only by the standard in its entirety. Incident energy exposures equal to 12 cal/cm2 up to 40 cal/cm2 Weather appropriate arc-rated gear as needed.Hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, and leather footwear.Rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors.Arc-rated faceshield and arc-rated balaclava OR arc flash hood.Arc-rated clothing (long sleave shirt, long pants).Incident energy exposures equal to 1.2 cal/cm2 up to 12 cal/cm2 Simplified PPE list based on NFPA 70E Table 130.5(G) In 2018, this arbitrary cutoff was removed from an informational note with the intent that great emphasis with respect to de-energizing is always necessary regardless of the energy being 4 cal/cm2 or 40 cal/cm2. In practice, 40 cal/cm2 was often the cutoff for “safe” work and the highest PPE incident energy level described in 70E until 2018. The second level is from 12 cal/cm2 up to 40 cal/cm2 ( or greater). The first level is from 1.2 to 12 cal/cm2. The Arc Flash Institute recommends most facilities consider a two-level PPE program as outlined in NFPA 70E Section 130.5(G) and Table 130.5(G). When working within the arc flash boundary, and when a risk analysis determines that there is a likelihood of occurrence of an arc flash event, then arc flash PPE shall be worn. Arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE) is required by OSHA and described in NFPA 70E.
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