Safety Standards

Know what the label means

NFPA, ASTM, ANSI and more. Here's a plain-language guide to the standards you'll see on welding gloves, FR clothing, curtains and blankets, and how to read them.

FR vs. arc-ratedFR clothingArc flashCut-resistant glovesCurtains & blankets

Start here

FR vs. arc-rated

Flame-resistant (FR) fabric won't ignite and keep burning, or melt, when it's exposed to flame. It can be inherently FR or chemically treated.

Arc-rated (AR) fabric is FR fabric that has also been tested against electric arc flash and given an arc rating in cal/cm². If your job includes energized electrical work, you need arc-rated gear.

All arc-rated clothing is FR. Not all FR clothing is arc-rated.

01 / Flame-resistant clothing

Flash fire and flame

These are the standards behind most FR shirts, pants, jackets and coveralls.

Flash fireThird-party certified

NFPA 2112

Sets minimum performance for FR garments that protect industrial workers from short-duration flash fire. Fabric must self-extinguish within 2 seconds and char no more than 4 inches in the vertical flame test, and keep that performance after 100 launderings. Look for the certifier's mark on the garment label.

Test method

ASTM D6413

The vertical flame test behind most FR claims. A strip of fabric is held in a flame for 12 seconds, then measured for afterflame, afterglow and char length. It's a test method, so the garment standards set the pass limits.

Arc flashPerformance spec

ASTM F1506

The performance specification for flame-resistant, arc-rated clothing worn by workers exposed to flames and electric arcs. Garments that meet it state F1506 and their arc rating in cal/cm² on the label.

02 / Arc flash

NFPA 70E and arc ratings

NFPA 70E is the standard for electrical safety in the workplace. It covers safe work practices around energized equipment and how to choose arc-rated PPE. PPE categories set a minimum arc rating:

PPE category 1

4

cal/cm² minimum arc rating

PPE category 2

8

cal/cm² minimum arc rating

PPE category 3

25

cal/cm² minimum arc rating

PPE category 4

40

cal/cm² minimum arc rating

What an arc rating is

How much heat energy a fabric can block before a second-degree burn is likely, measured in calories per square centimeter. A higher number means more protection.

ATPV and EBT

Arc ratings are reported as ATPV (arc thermal performance value) or EBT (energy breakopen threshold). The label shows whichever is lower. Match it to the incident energy on the equipment's arc flash label.

03 / Cut-resistant gloves

ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels

The U.S. standard for classifying hand protection. Cut resistance is rated A1 to A9 by the grams of cutting force a material withstands. The 2024 edition adds a standard label showing abrasion, cut and puncture ratings.

A1200-499 g
A2500-999 g
A31,000-1,499 g
A41,500-2,199 g
A52,200-2,999 g
A63,000-3,999 g
A74,000-4,999 g
A85,000-5,999 g
A96,000+ g

Grams of cutting load. Higher A number, more cut resistance.

Global gloves

Reading an EN 388 label

The European standard for gloves against mechanical risks. The shield icon carries up to six marks. X means not tested.

4543FP
  • 1st digitAbrasion, 0 to 4
  • 2nd digitBlade cut, 0 to 5
  • 3rd digitTear, 0 to 4
  • 4th digitPuncture, 0 to 4
  • LetterISO 13997 cut, A to F
  • PImpact protection passed

Example label only. Check each product page for its actual rating.

04 / Curtains, screens and blankets

Fabric fire ratings

Welding curtains, screens and blankets carry their own set of fire ratings. Here's what each one tells you.

Flame propagation

NFPA 701

Fire tests for flame propagation of textiles and films, used for curtains, drapes and similar fabrics. When a curtain says it meets NFPA 701, check which test method the claim refers to.

Registration

California State Fire Marshal

California's Office of the State Fire Marshal registers flame-retardant fabrics after lab testing. Registered fabrics carry the OSFM seal and a registration number, and California requires them for curtains in many public and commercial spaces.

Hot work

FM 4950

FM Approvals' standard for welding pads, welding blankets and welding curtains used in hot work operations.

Specific properties

UL Classified

UL evaluated the product for specific properties or conditions of use, often flammability, rather than a full product standard. The label tells you exactly what was classified.

Tent fabrics

CPAI-84

A flame-resistance specification for tent fabrics and other pliable materials. You may see it on some FR tarps and covers.

Our rule

How we list standards

We name a standard on a product only when the manufacturer states it for that product. Your employer's hazard assessment decides what protection your job needs.

Not sure what your job calls for?

Send us your requirements and we'll help you find gear rated for the work.

Talk to a welderShop FR clothing