FAQs

Can we use a different brand hard hat with an Oberon faceshield or suit hood?

Can we use a different brand hard hat with an Oberon faceshield or suit hood?

Yes, Oberon has different adapters available that can fit other manufacturer’s hard hats. However the selection is limited and you must consult with an Oberon Representative for assistance. The originally supplied Oberon hard hat shall never be switched for another manufacturer’s hard hat without first changing the adapters. Failure to comply will result in broken adapters and increased risk to the worker. Oberon has conducted all...


Will the Hood Ventilation System pull in toxic smoke after an arc flash incident?

Will the Hood Ventilation System pull in toxic smoke after an arc flash incident?

This is highly unlikely. Workers need the fresh air provided by an Oberon hood ventilation system to properly function during a work task execution. The risk of heat stress causing disorientation and dizziness is far more severe than the likelihood of the fan unit pulling in toxic fumes from an arc flash. Oberon has tested its hood ventilation system and made no observations of the fan causing...


What is the difference between green versus grey arc flash faceshield or hood lenses?

What is the difference between green versus grey arc flash faceshield or hood lenses?

Both Oberon green/yellow and new clear True Color Grey (TCG) lenses provide protection from an arc flash incident. A clear grey lens is safer than the old green technology because the likelihood of a worker making a mistake that could cause an arc flash has been reduced.   Oberon’s True Colour Grey is a medium density filter that allows all visible light to pass through it with no distortion....


I know the voltage, what arc flash suit should I get?

I know the voltage, what arc flash suit should I get?

Voltage does dot determine the arc flash hazard. Knowing the voltage is only one piece of determining Arc Flash PPE. The electrode orientation, available fault current (amps), the working distance between the worker and the equipment, the clearing time of the circuit protection device, the spacing between conductors or from a conductor to ground, the number of phases, whether the conductors are in an enclosure, and the equipment configuration must...


What pen I can use to write on rubber gloves?

What pen I can use to write on rubber gloves?

Some customers have contacted us asking how to properly mark their electrical rubber gloves with either first use date or employee name. When writing on an electrical rubber glove, it is important to use an ink that will not compromise the protective properties of the glove. The manufacturer recommends the use of either a Sharpie® marker for colored gloves or a Pentel® white marker for black gloves. Do not use paint or other...


Can I use Febreze on my PPE?

Can I use Febreze on my PPE?

The stock answer is “the garments should be free of flammable contaminants”…whether that be oily/flammable dirt or additives from the cleaning process such as fabric softeners. The MSDS for Febreze states that Febreze does contain Ethanol which is flammable (also documented in the MSDS). If you require a blanket statement that it is OK to use Febreze regardless of how or how much is used, then the answer is NO because the MSDS states clearly that there is a flammable...


Which safety spectacles are suitable to wear with arc flash face shields and hoods?

Which safety spectacles are suitable to wear with arc flash face shields and hoods?

There are some companies in the market that promote “arc flash protective safety spectacles”.  Even if the spectacles were manufactured with a material that absorbed the thermal energy of an Arc Flash incident (like Oberon’s arc flash face shields and hood windows) the limited surface area of the user’s face that a spectacle would cover would make the product ineffective at best! Much of the users face would...


What is ASTM F2178 – Standard for Arc Rated Eye or Face Protective Products?

What is ASTM F2178 - Standard for Arc Rated Eye or Face Protective Products?

ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) developed this F2178 standard in order to evaluate the arc protective value of face and head protective devices. Prior to the issue of this standard in August 2002, there was no standard that addressed the evaluation of a finished product, just the component fabric of a garment (ASTM F1506). Every manufacturer of hoods and faceshields should conduct testing on the hoods and...


Do my arc flash garments need to be re-certified?

Current standards for arc flash thermal protective products are manufactured to comply with a variety of ASTM and ANSI standards. The standards dictate how products should be tested.  They do not require any retesting of the garments after manufacturing as the current tests are destructive in nature and would render the PPE unusable after testing. It is advisable for the user, before and after every use of an arc flash PPE product, whether it be a coat, pants, hood face shield, or...


How are Arc Flash thermographer’s gloves used?

How are Arc Flash thermographer’s gloves used?

Arc Flash Thermographer’s gloves are manufactured of an arc-rated fabric that has been tested according to ASTM F1959 to provide protection against the thermal incident energy of an Arc Flash. Like the Arc Flash garments that are used in this application, the fabric is arc-rated and flame resistant and provides some level of insulating protection against the thermal incident energy. Again, like the Arc Flash suits, they are assigned an arc rating to reflect...