in active use at Arnold AG (Switzerland)

The problem is that conventional electric arc protective clothing is often heavy and bulky. In pouring rain, it soaks up water and becomes even heavier. In warmer weather, wearers sweat easily. This means that workers sometimes choose not to wear their protective garments. The consequences can be fatal. According to the Swiss Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations (ESTI), 14 percent of severe arc flash injuries result from people not wearing their protective clothing.

Lashing rain, cold temperatures, wind: working outdoors can be incredibly strenuous. Added to this, electrical utility workers installing or doing maintenance work on electrical equipment are always at risk of an arc incident. This term describes an arc flash, or flashover, that sometimes spontaneously develops when workers operate close to high-tension powerlines or overhead line equipment. For this to happen, there is no need for physical contact. Technically, electric arc incidents cannot be completely prevented. It is therefore all the more important that workers who are exposed to the hazards of an electric arc are well protected.

A solution has now been found in the innovative GORE® PYRAD® fabric technology. Not only does GORE-TEX foul-weather gear equipped with this technology reliably protect wearers from the hazards of an electric arc, it is also breathable, windproof and durably waterproof. Even when it is wet, this fabric remains light and comfortable.