Is NFPA 2112 enough for electrical work?

No. NFPA 70E requires arc-rated clothing for arc flash hazards; NFPA 2112 addresses flash fire only.

Match the arc rating to the incident energy from your arc flash study, at or above the calculated value.

Does FR clothing need special washing?

Follow the care label; most FR cotton can be home laundered, while industrial programs should use FR-compatible detergents and avoid bleach and fabric softener.

NFPA 2112 vs NFPA 70E – FR and Arc-Rated Clothing Guide

FR clothing buyers hear two standards most often: NFPA 2112 for flash fire and NFPA 70E for electrical arc flash. They answer different questions, and a garment that meets one is not automatically compliant for the other.

This guide explains what each standard tests, how arc ratings are labeled, and how to build a layering system that matches your hazard assessment.

NFPA 2112: flash fire protection

NFPA 2112 is the standard for flame-resistant garments that protect industrial workers from short-duration flash fires. A compliant garment must limit predicted body burn to 50% or less in an instrumented manikin test, and pass heat and flame tests after washing.

It is commonly required in oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical work, and is often paired with NFPA 2112-compliant coveralls, shirts, pants and jackets.

NFPA 70E: arc-rated clothing

NFPA 70E addresses electrical safety in the workplace, including arc-rated clothing for qualified workers. Garments are tested to ASTM F1506 and labeled with an arc rating in cal/cm² (ATPV or EBT).

The standard's PPE categories map incident energy ranges to minimum arc ratings. The 2024 edition continues to emphasize risk assessment and selecting clothing rated for the calculated incident energy.

PPE category	Arc rating	Typical layers
CAT 1	4 cal/cm²	Arc-rated shirt and pants
CAT 2	8 cal/cm²	Arc-rated shirt, pants, plus arc-rated outer layer
CAT 3	25 cal/cm²	Arc-rated coverall or multi-layer system
CAT 4	40 cal/cm²	Arc flash suit with hood

FR vs arc-rated: what is the difference?

FR (flame-resistant) means the fabric self-extinguishes and resists ignition; NFPA 2112 verifies flash fire performance.
Arc-rated means the garment has been tested for arc thermal performance and carries an ATPV or EBT value.
Arc-rated garments are also flame-resistant, but an NFPA 2112 garment may have no arc rating.
For electrical work, use arc-rated clothing with a rating equal to or above the incident energy.

Reading FR labels

Look for the standard (NFPA 2112, ASTM F1506, NFPA 70E) and the year.
Check the arc rating in cal/cm² for arc-rated garments.
Confirm care instructions: FR performance depends on laundering.
Track garment lot codes for traceability in industrial laundry programs.

Building a compliant layering system

Start with the hazard assessment: flash fire only, arc flash only, or both. Then select base, mid and outer layers that are all FR or arc-rated, because a non-FR layer worn over FR clothing defeats the protection.

Cold weather and rain gear must also be FR-rated when worn in FR zones, which is why FR outerwear and FR rain gear are part of the same program.

Need this checked against your order? Send the standard, class and garment type — we will confirm the fabric, tape and labeling before production.

NFPA 2112, NFPA 70E and Arc Flash Standards