The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has begun shipping copies of NFPA 70E 2015, according to Hugh Hoagland of e-Hazard, an electric arc flash safety consultancy and training company.

The 70E standard goes into effect within 15 days of printing according to the forward. Print copies are expected Oct. 10, 2014, according to Hoagland. The new standard is available now in .pdf form and has what Hoagland calls “stunning changes” including:

• Elimination of HRC 0 — moving all electrical work into arc-rated clothing (non-melting clothing required under AR clothing);

• New risk-based Assessment Tables with strong requirements for proper equipment maintenance;

• Elimination of PPE for all closed door operations (says Hoagland: “Unwisely this covers all voltages”) but the chance that any company meets the maintenance requirements is slim,
he says;

• The term HRC is gone.  Look for clothing companies to start using ARC, says Hoagland;

• Most ARC PPE in Tables is raised. No lowering for risk in tables;

• Calculations are emphasized. Tables usefulness is now limited and requiring less or much more PPE, according to Hoagland.

For more information, contact: e-Hazard, Hugh Hoagland, http://electricarcflashsafety.com/