There are many questions and even more misunderstandings around comfort and heat stress for people specifying or wearing arc rated and flame resistant protective apparel; thus, it is important to understand a few basics on the interrelationship, if any, to garment or fabric type and weight. Discomfort and heat stress are not used interchangeably. Comfort is an inherently subjective characteristic that cannot be effectively or predictably measured by lab tests or judged across a desk, and is considered a nuisance issue. However, heat illness is a specific and potentially medically consequential event; it is unrelated to comfort, and is a potentially major health issue.
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Where we share our perspective on current trends, best practices, and the future of FR safety.
The Difference Between Arc Rated (AR) and Flame Resistant (FR)
There’s a new acronym in the world of PPE, and it has been causing confusion, both among folks new to the subject as well as those long familiar with FR (Flame Resistant) clothing. The letters “AR” stand for Arc Rated, and made their debut in the recent revision of NFPA 70E; the short explanation of the difference is that ALL AR clothing is flame resistant (FR), but not all FR rated clothing has been Arc Rated.
