Arc Flash Protective Clothing (IEC 61482-2)

IEC 61482-2 sets the requirements for clothing that protects against the thermal effects of an electric arc. Garments are tested by one or both of two methods: the box test, which gives a class (APC 1 or APC 2), and the open arc test, which gives an arc rating in cal/cm². It covers the heat of an arc only, not electric shock, and it doesn't cover the head, face, hands or feet.

They are the two classes from the box test in IEC 61482-1-2, where the fabric or garment is exposed to a directed arc inside a box. APC 1 is tested at 4 kA and APC 2 at 7 kA, so APC 2 is the higher class. The box test is a pass or fail at each class and doesn't give a cal/cm² value.

They come from the open arc test in IEC 61482-1-1 and are given in cal/cm². ATPV is the incident energy with a 50% chance of a second-degree burn through the fabric. EBT is the energy with a 50% chance of the fabric breaking open. ELIM is the energy below which no test result reached the burn threshold or broke open, so it is normally lower than the ATPV for the same fabric.

Not directly. The box test and the open arc test use different set-ups, so an APC class doesn't convert to a cal/cm² figure. Your arc flash risk assessment should say which rating you need, and you should choose clothing tested by that method.

Layering can increase protection, but only a tested combination counts. The ratings of separate garments can't be added together, so if you plan to wear layers, check that the maker has tested that assembly. Anything worn underneath should be flame resistant or made of fibres that don't melt, so avoid polyester or nylon base layers.

Product pages show the rating the maker gives, and the label and the maker's datasheet show the full IEC 61482-2 result, including the test method and any tested layer combinations. If you'd like help choosing, email sales@theworkwearco.com with the task and the rating from your risk assessment.