What are the two methods stated in NFPA 70E 130.5 for determining the proper arc flash PPE?

• A. Incident energy analysis and arc flash PPE category
• B. Incident energy analysis and PPE selection by color
• C. Time-current curves and breakdown voltage
• D. PPE category by experience

Answer: (A)

NFPA 70E 130.5 provides two practical paths to determine arc flash PPE. One path is to perform an incident energy analysis, which calculates the energy (in cal/cm²) the worker could be exposed to at a given working distance. Once you know that incident energy, you select PPE with an arc rating that meets or exceeds that energy level. The other path uses the PPE category method, which relies on predefined categories that correlate to ranges of incident energy. You assess the task and conditions, map them to a PPE category, and then assemble the PPE required for that category.

These approaches let you choose between a calculation-driven selection and a table-based selection, depending on available data and the specificity needed. The idea is to ensure the chosen PPE provides adequate protection for the expected arc flash energy.

PPE selection by color, PPE choice by experience, or methods tied to time-current curves and breakdown voltage aren’t the approaches NFPA 70E endorses for determining arc flash PPE.