The flames speak for themselves.

“In the last 30 years, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that cotton is safe,” says Jason Brozen - master electrician, CESCP, and renown technical trainer, and survivor of a life-changing arc flash incident.

But you don’t have to be a scientist to see that cotton is the opposite of safe. As the smoke dissipates it’s immediately clear: the cotton clothing has readily ignited.

• Flames quickly engulf the manikin’s back – causing catastrophic third degree burns on most of the body.
• Extinguishing the blaze requires two foam-based fire extinguishers and, ultimately, a water hose (unsafe in real-world electrical environments) - all while the manikin sustains additional burn damage.

What if I’m just watching?

We tested this question too, placing a cotton-clad supervisor manikin off the shoulder of the worker manikin. Although the supervisor is at a greater distance from the gear and not interacting with it, wearing cotton is a fatal mistake.

• The cotton on the supervisor manikin ignited from brief exposure, engulfing it in flames.
• This outcome contrasts sharply with the worker manikin outfitted in proper AR PPE who is completely unharmed despite being even closer to the arc.

Footage of real life arc flash incidents corroborates our findings. This is why AR PPE is so important!

Legit or bull$#!t?

This claim is 100% BS. Our test illuminates four significant problems with cotton:

1. Ignites easily
2. Spreads rapidly
3. Sustains combustion
4. Is difficult to extinguish

Cotton is not protective — it’s fuel for arc flash injuries. Don’t risk it.