How many of you wear FR gear, and when

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bjp_ne_elec

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I've seen some recent threads on Fire Resistant gear, and was wondering how many of you wear or at least carry it in your vehicle. One of my nightmares, is opening a panel and shorting something out. It has only happened to me once, and that was when I was just simply swinging open a door on a 480 volt motor controller. Unbeknown to me, the previous "electrician" had changed the 120V control to 480, and when I opened up the cover, the #12 AWG wire that he had hot wired (not fused) ended up popping out of it's connection and hit the cover. Sounded like a cannon went off, and I sat there in a daze for a few minutes, with ears ringing. I had to pinch myself to find out if I was still on this earth - scared the living you know what out of me. Well this incident, I didn't experience any flash as it was contained within the motor controller - as it occurred just as the cover cracked open.

Ever since then, I always grimace when ever I even have to take a panel cover off - and you guys know full well what you can find under a circuit panel cover.

Just want to hear how various folks handle taking a cover off on an energized panel.

Thanks
 
When I was in the field(working that is :)) there were many times that I should have donned PPE but it was not available. Different times? We only had 1 pair of gloves in the shop.........need I say more. The equipment should be "readily accessible" and it should be used. I once took a panel cover off and then the dead front and the metal separator around the main lugs slid into all three phase lugs............the mall went mostly dark! You just never know what will happen and in my older more self preservation driven years, I'll use the safety equipment!
 
I am currently doing facilities engineering at a large plant in the upstate NY area. All of the electricians here have their level 2 PPE on most of the time. They will always wear their FR pants and throw on the FR shirt when they are going to open a panel, and of course safety glasses.

You just have to trust your PPE. If you still uncomfortable wear one level above the requirements.
 
So that it's not taken as advertisement, can a few of you send me some manufacturers or web sites for those selling products you've found to be satisfactory. I want to invest in some pants and shirts.

Thanks
 
bjp_ne_elec said:
I've seen some recent threads on Fire Resistant gear, and was wondering how many of you wear or at least carry it in your vehicle. One of my nightmares, is opening a panel and shorting something out. It has only happened to me once, and that was when I was just simply swinging open a door on a 480 volt motor controller. Unbeknown to me, the previous "electrician" had changed the 120V control to 480, and when I opened up the cover, the #12 AWG wire that he had hot wired (not fused) ended up popping out of it's connection and hit the cover. Sounded like a cannon went off, and I sat there in a daze for a few minutes, with ears ringing. I had to pinch myself to find out if I was still on this earth - scared the living you know what out of me. Well this incident, I didn't experience any flash as it was contained within the motor controller - as it occurred just as the cover cracked open.

Ever since then, I always grimace when ever I even have to take a panel cover off - and you guys know full well what you can find under a circuit panel cover.

Just want to hear how various folks handle taking a cover off on an energized panel.

Thanks
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last time i heard an arc that sounded like a cannon was when a 20 amp 120 volt circuit on an FPE breaker shorted. the hot touched the ground. loudest noise i ever heard
 
we dont have any PPE gear where i work at. im still trying to save up for my HRC 3 blue suit from salisbury its about 860 dollars or so for the entire kit. plus i want the dielectric footwear from the same company
 
If I am hooking up live service wires I will wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.
Other then that, no we don't wear it.
Knocking on wood!!
 
Carry FR coveralls & longsleeve shirts in the van, have a NOMEX hood and face shield too, gloves and glasses ofcourse.


I wear the everything above ( except the long sleeve shirt) when doing anything w/ 480 hot including taking panel covers off, tying in breakers etc..
 
mdshunk said:
I wonder if some guys aren't confusing FR rated clothing with full-blown arc flash gear?
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you must be referring to me, and yes, i was confused :smile: but now I'm not

edit: now that I re-read the OP, for what he is referring to, (opening 480 hot panel / control ) he would need req. ARC flash gear
 
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bjp_ne_elec said:
So that it's not taken as advertisement, can a few of you send me some manufacturers or web sites for those selling products you've found to be satisfactory. I want to invest in some pants and shirts.

Thanks
Click to expand...


Carhartt has been making FR clothing for a little while. Are you sure that is ALL you want? What about cal/rated wear? What if the blast didn't occur until the door was almost all of the way open, and your face was 24" away from the animal:-?
 
What are you guys using for gloves when removing panel covers, etc? Again, like to see a link to some of the options. I know there are some new gloves (I'm used to the bulky rubber gloves that you cover with leather gloves and they're hard to work with when you trying to perform a task like removing a panel cover) out there that you're supposed to be able to use when doing tasks that require a little more delicacy.

Thanks

Dave
 
"Arc Rated" clothing (New term to be used in 2009 70E to make things clear) IS FR clothing, but FR clothing is not necessarily "Arc Rated"

Never heard the term "cal rated" before, thats slang, but the Arc Rated gear carries a rating in units of Calories (Cal)/ Square centimeter. The Cal/cm2 rating means how much heat of the surface of the material will not allow more than 1.2 Cal/cm2 to pass through.

So a 8cal/cm2 coverall that is exposed to an 8cal/cm2 arc flash will allow less than 1.2 cal/cm2 to pass through, therefore preventing a second degree burn (Which occurs at 1.2 cal/cm2 for 0.1 second), you may still get a 1st degree burn, and keep in mind that some synthetic materials (Nylon, rayon, polyester) will melt (Into your skin) at less than 1.2 cal/cm2, thats why even with the proper PPE you still need to wear natual non melting fabrics underneath the PPE.

Does that clear everything up?
 
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