Arc-rated face shield

An arc-rated face shield is PPE built for electrical arcs, not an ordinary store face shield. It protects the eyes and face from the intense UV of an arc and also carries blast and impact ratings. Always wear safety glasses or goggles under the face shield or hood. A typical layering is hood, then safety glasses, then the arc flash face shield. For arc-flash PPE category 1 (minimum arc rating of 4 cal/cm2), wear either an arc-rated face shield or an arc flash suit hood. At category 2 (minimum 8 cal/cm2), the face shield must be paired with an arc-rated balaclava; otherwise, wear an arc flash suit hood. The higher categories (25 and 40 cal/cm2) call for an arc flash suit hood instead. A hood is also required when incident energy exceeds 12 cal/cm2. Tinted energy-absorbing shields give more protection from radiant energy but reduce visual acuity and color perception, so extra task lighting may be needed. ASTM F2178 is the test method and specification used to set the arc rating of face protective products.