Head & Face Protection
When considering head and face protection please note the following:
Currently there is no arc flash standard for PPE which is designed to protect the head and face
IEC 61482-2 is only for garments
The open arc test method IEC 61482-1-1 will detail the ATPV for a fabric or assembly of fabrics
Certain manufacturers have had their products “blasted” on an arc test rig at known incident energy levels in order to gauge qualitative performance
In some cases you may choose to consider other standards as being helpful, e.g. EN531 for the protection of accidental contact with heat and / or flame, EN 166 protection from impact
You would be advised to provide (as a minimum) products that are made from fabrics (or fabric assemblies) that have been tested using the open arc method (IEC 61482-1-1) and which have achieved performance results that exhibit an ATPV of at least the value that your chosen garments do
You should consider that an arc flash may give rise to some or all of the following hazards:
Intense heat
Very bright light
Flying debris
Very loud noise
Hot gases
Smoke and fumes
Explosive pressure levels
In doing so you must endeavour to take all reasonably practical steps to provide protection which is both appropriate and suitable to the risks you identify.
REMEMBER PPE DOES NOT PREVENT THE INCIDENT SO PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL