When working near electrical hazards, it’s essential to select personal protective equipment (PPE) that offers protection against specific risks such as electric shock and arc flash. Above-the-neck PPE—including safety helmets and faceshields—must meet appropriate safety standards and be part of a full risk-assessed protective ensemble.
Below is an overview of helmet and faceshield types used to protect workers from electrical hazards:
Safety Helmets for Electrical Protection
Electrically insulating helmets are designed to protect the wearer from accidental contact with live electrical parts. Several safety standards define the levels of electrical protection provided:
EN 397 / EN 14052: These helmet standards include an optional 440V electrical insulation requirement, tested at 1200V. Helmets must be non-vented and marked with “440V” to show compliance.
EN 50365: Applies to insulating helmets used for live working up to 1000V AC. Testing is carried out at 10,000V. Helmets that meet this standard are labelled with a double triangle symbol and must also conform to EN 397 or EN 443. This standard allows for both vented and non-vented designs.
ANSI Z89.1 (USA): This standard includes three helmet classes:
Class C (Conductive): No electrical protection.
Class G (General): Tested at 2,200V.
Class E (Electrical): Tested at 20,000V. ANSI Z89.1 can be used in conjunction with EN standards for added protection.
AS/NZS 1801 (Australia/New Zealand): Includes insulation tests for operating voltages up to 650V.
JSP offers safety helmets that meet these standards, such as the EVO®5 E-Xtra, which provides electrical protection to EN 50365, AS/NZS 1801, and ANSI Z89.1 Class E.
Faceshields for Arc Flash and Electric Arc Protection
Arc-rated faceshields are designed to protect the face and eyes from burns and injuries caused by electric arc incidents.
Key standards include:
EN 166: Includes an optional test for resistance to short circuit electric arc. Only applies to clear visors at least 1.4 mm thick, marked with ultraviolet scale 2C-1.2 and an ‘8’ to indicate arc resistance.
GS-ET-29: A supplementary European standard for arc flash faceshields. It sets performance levels for light transmittance and arc resistance. Shields are classified by two levels of arc protection and must also comply with EN 166.
ASTM F2178-12: An American test method used to determine a faceshield's Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV), which is reported as a numerical value (cal/cm²). Higher values represent greater arc protection.
JSP’s AFP-25 helmet-mounted faceshield, developed with arc protection specialists Oberon, is tested for use with the EVO®5 helmet range. It achieves:
GS-ET-29 arc class 2
ATPV rating of 41.6 cal/cm² (ASTM F2178)
JSP recommends applying an ATPV value of 25 cal/cm² for safety margin purposes.
The EVOGuard® C5 MAX electrical helmet system also offers:
Insulation up to 1000V AC
Class 1 arc flash eye and face protection
This system should be used alongside appropriate arc flash protective clothing and gloves to ensure full-body protection.
Summary of key points:
Use EN 397/EN 50365-rated helmets for protection against electrical contact up to 1000V.
ANSI Z89.1 helmets offer additional protection, especially Class E (tested to 20,000V).
Faceshields marked to EN 166, GS-ET-29, and ASTM F2178 provide protection against arc flash and electric arcs.
Look for ATPV values or arc class ratings to understand performance levels.
Ensure PPE is used as part of a complete protective ensemble for electrical safety.
If you need further support, please contact our Technical Support Team using the email: technical@jspsafety.com or contact us via our WhatsApp.