Arc Rated Hearing Protection, Bigfoot, Chupacabras and the Loch Ness Monster

What does arc rated hearing protection, Bigfoot, Chupacabras and the Loch Ness monster have in common? THEY DON’T EXIST! The 70E Solutions team is asked almost daily to quote Arc Rated (FR) hearing protection which is an impossible task seeing as it isn’t produced.

The urban legend of arc rated hearing protection started long ago in a far off land…. or more realistically in a sales meeting at a hearing protection manufacturer. A major hearing protection manufacturer offered a now discontinued line of “Arc Flash” hearing protection. These ear canal inserts had no FR/Anti-Melt properties whatsoever however the spec sheet did go on to say that electrical explosions are very loud and the NFPA 70E Standard does require hearing protection. This particular sales think tank went on to invent snake oil, several “As Seen on TV” products and the “30 Minute Abs” video series.

What does the NFPA 70E standard say about hearing protection?

The 2015 NFPA 70E 130.7(C) (5) states: “Employees shall wear hearing protection whenever working within the arc flash boundary.” When worn properly, the face shield and balaclava will protect your entire head and face area, including your ears. At the end of the day, if you are ever in a situation where your hearing protection has melted in your ear canal, that is the very least of your worries.

For additional information you can visit 70ESolutions.com