Hi there,
We made the decision recently to provide 100% cotton pants (trousers) and long sleeve shirts as a base layer, and then staff are required to wear arc rated overalls when entering the switchyard and generator rooms on top of this gear. This is because a lot of their work is at the office remotely operating and also doing things outside like pipeline inspections etc.

We have recently found out that the supplier website where we got the clothing from has accidentally misled us and the long sleeve shirts are actually 98% cotton and 2% spandex.

We recently did a melt test with a heat gun (although we know this is no way near the same as an arcflash explosion, however it is all we could to simulate it.) It took some time but the shirt did eventually burn and did not melt like the high vis vest we also burnt as a test.

My question is- as a base layer (underneath 100% cotton arc rated overalls) is it okay for the shirts to have 2% spandex?

Thank you
Yvonne
New Zealand

70E in the US states that an incidental amount of elastic is ok for underwear and socks only. Hugh Hoagland on this forum is the guru regarding this topic...

Mike