What types of above the neck PPE provide protection against electrical hazards?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical safety ranges widely, including helmets, faceshields, clothing and footwear. A full hazard assessment must be carried out by qualified personnel in order to select the correct type and level of protection for a particular task.

Here are some of the above the neck PPE products available for protection against electrical hazards.

Safety Helmets

Electrically insulating safety helmets help to protect wearers against accidental contact with live electrical parts. There are a number of helmet standards which include electrical insulation requirements.

Optional requirements set out in EN 397 and EN 14052 include a 440V insulation assessment, tested at 1200V. Helmets meeting must be non-vented and marked with 440V to show conformity.

EN 50365 is an additional standard applicable to helmets for working on live installations up to 1000V. Testing is carried out at 10,000V and the specification requires that insulating helmets fulfil the requirements of either EN 397 or EN 443 (helmets for firefighters). Due to the nature of the tests, this standard can be applied to vented and non-vented helmets. Products meeting EN 50365 are labelled with a double triangle symbol and the relevant class.

The ANSI Z89.1 American national standard for hard hats sets out three classes relating to electrical properties:

- Class C, Conductive – No electrical testing

- Class G, General use – Tested at 2200V

- Class E, Electrical – Tested at 20,000V

ANSI Z89.1 can be applied in the UK and across Europe, in addition to the relevant EN standards, for increased electrical protection.

AS/NZS 1801, the Australia / New Zealand standard for occupational protective helmets, includes an electrical resistance test assessing the electrical insulation properties of helmets for operating voltages up to 650V.

Faceshields

Faceshields designed to be resistant to short circuit electric arc or arc flash hazards provide protection to the eyes and face against electrocution, burns and other effects. There are several standards covering eye and face protection products with requirements for electrical protection.

EN 166 includes an optional requirement for resistance to short circuit electric arc. This is only applicable to clear visors that are at least 1.4mm thick with ultraviolet scale and filter markings 2C-1.2. Faceshields meeting this requirement help to protect against arcing from live electrical installations and are marked with an ‘8’ on the visor.

GS-ET-29 is a supplementary standard setting out requirements for faceshields worn by electricians during work in which a risk of a fault arc exists. It applies in addition to EN 166, the main specification for personal eye protection. Requirements are given for light transmittance and arc testing. Faceshields are assigned two classes, for light transmittance and fault arc resistance, which are marked on the product alongside the relevant EN 166 markings.

ASTM F2178-12 is an American standard test method used to determine the Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) rating of eye and face protectors intended for use against arc flash risks. Performance is reported as a numerical value, unlike European standard GS-ET-29 which assigns classes only.

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JSP offer a range of above the neck PPE designed for protection against electrical hazards, including safety helmets offering electrical insulation to EN 397 and EN 50365.

The EVO?5 E-Xtra provides electrical protection to EN 50365, AS/NZS 1801 and ANSI Z89.1 Class E.

The AFP-25 helmet mounted faceshield is designed for industrial-grade arc flash eye and face protection. In collaboration with arc risk specialist manufacturers Oberon, the faceshield has been tested and rated on the JSP EVO?5 helmet range, achieving GS-ET-29 arc class 2 and an ATPV rating of 41.6cal/cm2 under ASTM F2178. JSP advise using on the basis of an ATPV value of 25cal/cm2 for additional safety.

The EVOGuard? C5 MAX electrical helmet system offers electrical insulation up to 1000Va.c. and Class 1 arc flash eye and face protection. EVOGuard? C5 Max should be used as part of an arc flash protective ensemble that also includes suitable arc flash protective clothing and gloves.

Learn more about electrically insulating helmets.

Find out how to read eye protection markings.