It may be surprising, but compliance and protection aren’t always synonymous – especially when it comes to arc-rated and flame resistant (AR/FR) garments.

Put simply, compliance refers to what we must do to meet regulatory requirements, such as OSHA guidelines or what is outlined within standards like NFPA 70E or NFPA 2112. Protection is what occurs when the hazards are assessed, and appropriate PPE is selected and provided.

So, compliance doesn’t guarantee complete protection for workers exposed to hazards. It is the employer’s responsibility to assess workplace risks and determine the appropriate garments that protect against specific hazards. As OSHA 3151-12R 2003 states, employers must “…select PPE that will provide a level of protection greater than the minimum required to protect employees from hazards.”

Plus, most industry guidelines and standards are minimum requirements. There are many subtleties within these guidelines and standards that leave room for interpretation – this is where you can determine whether compliance alone is adequate for workers’ protective needs, or if additional measures are necessary.

Below, Scott Margolin, Vice President of Technical at Tyndale, shares a few examples of the subtleties within standards:

Example 1: Flame Resistant Durability After Laundering

The arc rating standard ASTM F1959 requires fabric to be laundered three times before testing. While the standard accurately reflects how new arc-rated fabrics perform, it doesn’t provide insight into the long-term flame resistant durability of a garment after repeated washes.

On the other hand, ASTM F1506 requires fabric to be laundered 25 times prior to testing. For a worker who launders their garment weekly, this equates to about six months of wear. However, FR garments can typically last two to five years or more, meaning after 25 washes, there is no further industry standard to gauge their durability. It is up to you to decide whether three laundering tests or 25 laundering tests prove a garment is durable enough for your specific work environment requirements. You can then specify the fabric and garment brands you trust.

Example 2: Flash Fire Compliance vs. Protection

Now, let’s turn our attention to flash fire compliance vs. protection – in this case, the requirements for an FR garment to pass NFPA 2112. To pass NFPA 2112 requirements for predicted body burn, an entire protective garment must allow no more than a 50% body burn percentage when exposed to a three-second engulfment fire at 2 cal/cm. However, 50% body burn is extreme, catastrophic damage to the body, and garments can still pass at even lower percentages. Again, the choice is yours whether meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements is appropriate for your specific work environment requirements.

The Bottom Line

Compliance and protection are not the same. Simply meeting minimum industry standards does not guarantee protection for your workers. Employers must evaluate which FR fabrics, garments, and PPE meet the specific hazards present in the work environment and select those that offer the best possible protection.