Arc Flash Suit Protection Levels: Choosing the Right Arc-Rated PPE for Electrical Work

Electrical work can involve risks that are difficult to predict. A fault, short circuit, equipment failure, or incorrect operation can generate an electric arc in an extremely short period of time.

For workers exposed to arc flash hazards, choosing appropriate Arc Flash Protective Clothing is therefore an important part of an overall electrical safety program.

An Arc Flash Suit is not simply a protective garment. Its arc rating, construction, material, coverage and compatibility with other PPE all need to be considered according to the hazards of the working environment.

C&G has developed the ArcPro® Arc Flash Protection range to provide different levels of protection for electrical workers, covering multiple arc-rated configurations from lower to higher protection requirements.

What Is an Arc Flash Suit?

An Arc Flash Suit is specialized PPE designed for workers who may be exposed to the thermal hazards generated by an electric arc.

Unlike conventional workwear, an arc-rated suit is designed around the specific requirements of arc flash protection.

The C&G ArcPro® range uses inherently flame-resistant fabric, meaning the flame-resistant protection is built into the material rather than being dependent only on a surface treatment. According to the C&G product catalog, this protection cannot simply be washed out or worn away.

This material technology is used across different ArcPro® protection levels, allowing C&G to develop a broader Arc Flash Suit product system.

Different Arc Flash Protection Levels

Arc flash hazards can vary significantly between different electrical environments and tasks.

For this reason, C&G's ArcPro® product range is not limited to a single protection level.

The catalog includes Arc Flash Suit configurations at multiple ATPV ratings, including:

• 6 cal/cm²

• 8 cal/cm²

• 25 cal/cm²

• 33 cal/cm²

• 45 cal/cm²

• 55 cal/cm²

• 67 cal/cm²

The product range also includes different garments and components corresponding to these protection levels.
This creates a flexible product matrix for different electrical protection requirements.

6 and 8 Cal Arc Flash Suit

At the lower end of the ArcPro® range, C&G provides 6 cal/cm² and 8 cal/cm² Arc Flash Suit configurations.

The 6 cal/cm² range includes arc-rated jackets, pants, shirts, coveralls and gloves. The ArcPro-Suit-6 uses C&G ArcPro® inherently flame-resistant fabric and is listed with ASTM F1959, ASTM F2621, NFPA 70E, IEC 61482-1-1, EN ISO 11612:2015 and other standards in the catalog.

The 8 cal/cm² range further expands the product selection with jackets, pants, shirts, coveralls, gloves and face shields.

C&G also provides an 8 cal high-visibility Arc Flash Suit option, with flame-resistant reflective tape and multiple high-visibility color choices.

25 and 33 Cal Arc Flash Suit

For applications requiring higher arc protection, C&G provides ArcPro® 25 cal/cm² and 33 cal/cm² systems.

The 25 cal/cm² product family includes:

• Arc Flash Jacket

• Arc Flash Pants

• Arc Flash Bib-Overall

• Arc Flash Coverall

• Arc Flash Hood

• Lift-Front Hood

• Arc Flash Gloves

• Arc Flash Leggings

• Arc Flash Robe

The 33 cal/cm² system follows the same concept, providing multiple body-protection components rather than relying on a single garment.

This type of modular product architecture allows protective clothing to be configured according to the requirements of different electrical operations.

45, 55 and 67 Cal Arc Flash Suit

C&G also provides higher-level Arc Flash Suit configurations for applications requiring greater arc-rated protection.

The ArcPro-Suit-45 provides an ATPV of 45 cal/cm² and is manufactured using C&G ArcPro® inherently flame-resistant fabric. The catalog also lists corresponding robes, jackets, pants, bib-overalls, hoods, lift-front hoods, gloves and leggings.

The ArcPro-Suit-55 provides an ATPV of 55 cal/cm², with corresponding arc-rated robes, jackets, pants, bib-overalls, hoods, gloves and leggings.

At the highest end of the catalog's listed ArcPro® range, the ArcPro-Suit-67 provides an ATPV of 67 cal/cm². Its system includes a 67 cal/cm² jacket, bib-overall, hood and gloves.

More Than an Arc Flash Suit

An effective Arc Flash Protection system normally involves more than the clothing worn on the body.

C&G's product range extends from body protection to head and face protection.

For example, the ArcPro® range includes arc-rated face shields such as the ArcPro-Shield-14, with an ATPV of 14 cal/cm². The shield uses a grey nanoparticle design intended to provide a wide field of view and enhanced color recognition, together with a transparent chin protector for downward vision.

C&G also offers lift-front Arc Flash Hoods. The ArcPro-LHood-45 uses lift-front technology designed to improve breathability and communication, while its toric lens and nanoparticle grey color are designed to improve field of view and color recognition.

This demonstrates an important principle in Arc Flash PPE:

Protection should be considered as a complete system rather than as an isolated garment.

Built-In Protection and Long-Term Durability

Arc flash protection is not only about the initial performance of a garment.

Industrial PPE may be washed and used repeatedly, so material durability is also important.

According to the C&G catalog, ArcPro® was developed to withstand repeated washing. The catalog states that its tear resistance remains stronger than FR cotton-nylon blends even after testing following 100 washes.

For professional electrical workers, this combination of built-in arc protection, durability, weight and comfort can be an important consideration when selecting long-term protective clothing.

Choosing the Right Arc Flash Suit

Selecting an Arc Flash Suit should begin with the actual electrical hazard assessment rather than simply choosing the highest available rating.

Important factors include:

Arc hazard level
Determine the required arc rating based on the electrical task and hazard assessment.

Required body coverage
Depending on the application, protection may involve a jacket and pants, bib-overall, coverall or a more comprehensive configuration.

Head and face protection
Arc-rated hoods and face shields may form an important part of the overall PPE system.

Visibility and work environment
High-visibility options can be considered where workers operate around vehicles, equipment or other visibility hazards.

Compatibility with other PPE
Arc Flash Protective Clothing should work together with helmets, gloves, insulating PPE and other required protective equipment.

C&G ArcPro®: A Complete Arc Flash Protection Product System

From 6 cal/cm² to 67 cal/cm², C&G's ArcPro® product portfolio provides multiple Arc Flash Suit configurations and supporting PPE components.

The system includes arc-rated clothing, hoods, face shields, gloves, leggings and complete protective kits. For example, the ArcPro-Kit-65 includes a 65 cal/cm² jacket, bib-overall, hood and gloves together with a safety helmet, insulating gloves and multifunctional kit bag.

With its R&D center, independent laboratory and broad safety-product portfolio, C&G focuses on developing integrated safety solutions for high-risk industries including electrical power and energy. The company was established in Shanghai in 2005 and reports that its products are sold in more than 110 countries.

For electrical workers, contractors and industrial safety professionals, C&G ArcPro® provides a structured approach to Arc Flash Protection—from individual arc-rated garments to complete Arc Flash PPE systems.

C&G ArcPro® — Arc Flash Protection for Professional Electrical Safety.

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