Eye glasse requirements with NFPA 70E

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A couple of things come to mind.
1. You mention Cat 2 PPE which leads me to think that you are going by the tables in NFPA 70E to determine what arc rated PPE is needed. There was a IEEE paper that looked at arc flash incidents and the PPE worn & method to determine. Using the tables gave you a 50% chance of wearing the correct PPE versus an actual study where the incident energy was calculated gave you a 100% chance of wearing the correct AR PPE.

2. Based on the above, I think it is possible that you could have enough thermal energy passed through the PPE to heat the metal eyeglass frames.

3. Another thought is that it seems like you have to wear safety glasses where you work so why not just get prescription safety glasses? Seems it would be more comfortable than glasses on top of glasses.
 
I think that the prohibition on metal frames for live work is based on them making contact with live surfaces either while you are wearing them or after they fall off, not on heating by arc flash. Although I suppose inductive heating might be an issue.
That would not be a factor if they were enclosed in PPE so that they could neither fall nor touch anything, but that does not change the letter of the regulation.
 
build a better idiot said:
So I understand that 70E says you cannot wear metal framed eyewear when working in live conditions.
Click to expand...

You understand wrong. Well, partly wrong. The actual language from Art. 130.6(D) is "Conductive articles...(such as...metal frame glasses) shall not be worn within the restricted approach boundary or where they present an electrical contact hazard with exposed energized electrical conductors or circuit parts."

So, don't get your face closer than 1 foot [the restricted approach boundary] from energized conductors 300V to 1kV, and you'll be fine!
 
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