Updated July 2, 2024
The following paragraph is part of a recent ArcWear blog post by Hugh Hoagland, copied with permission.
The new standard acknowledges that some level of protection from arc flash is inherent in properly tanned leather. It however adds [some] important changes:
1) allowing for flame resistant thread; 2) requiring cuffs to be leather, arc rated materials meeting ASTM F1891 (rainwear specification) or to be arc tested to assure they do not melt, drip or ignite and continue to burn in a potential arc flash; 3) allowing leather protectors to be labeled as arc rated as part of the specification. This will result in safer cuff materials and also allow materials like Kevlar for cut resistance. This has been allowed in the ASTM F3258 standard for some time but now both protector glove standards will safeguard workers better from arc flash.
Note that #2 above states that cuffs are required to be tested if they are not leather, not the leather gloves themselves.
We apologize for any confusion in our previous blog.
Link here to read the complete article and watch the video.
