Arc Flash Face Shields Explained
An arc flash releases radiant heat, blinding light, and molten debris in a fraction of a second. The face and eyes are directly in the firing line, and an arc flash face shield is what protects them.
An Arc Flash Face Shield is the barrier that stands between that energy and the worker. It is not a general safety visor. It is tested to a specific standard for a specific hazard.
What an Arc Flash Face Shield Is and How It Works
An Arc Flash Face Shield is a face and eye protector tested to ASTM F2178. It does three things at once: blocks radiant heat, filters the intense light, and stops flying molten debris.
Every shield carries a cal/cm² rating, also called its ATPV (Arc Thermal Performance Value). This is the incident energy the shield can withstand, and it has to match the task.
One more thing sets a quality shield apart: what the worker can see through it. Traditional visors use a heavy yellow tint that dims the view and distorts colour, making wiring and labels harder to read. A true-colour shield fixes that.
Styles of Arc Flash Face Shields
- Universal fit for peaked hard hats – adds arc protection to a standard peaked helmet.
- Side mount – clips into the accessory slots on most standard hard hats.
- Petzl model – integrates with the Petzl height-safety helmet for working at heights.
- All-in-one helmet and visor – hard hat and shield built together, nothing to match.
See the full range on the Volt Safety arc flash face shields page.
How to Pick the Right Arc Flash Face Shield
Start with the rating. The shield’s cal/cm² value has to meet or exceed the incident energy of the task, which comes from your arc flash risk assessment. A shield rated too low does not protect the way the worker assumes.
Then weigh the practical factors: a true-colour lens, a comfortable fit for all-day wear, and a style suited to the environment.
BSD Real View Technology
The BSD Real View lens gives more than 95 percent colour accuracy, so the worker sees wiring and instruments in natural colour instead of through a yellow haze. In a live environment, that clarity is a safety feature.
Real View shields also have permanent anti-fog and a long service life. In Australia, Volt Safety stocks the BSD Real View range, and that clarity is why we chose it. You can read more on the BSD Dresden site.
Where It Fits in a Kit
A Face Shield is one layer of head protection, not the whole answer. It is highly recommended to wear in conjunction with:
- Head protection, a balaclava, for the head, neck, and lower face to protect from Arc Flash Burn
- Hearing protection, Ear-canal Earplugs, protect against the arc blast pressure wave
- Eye protection, such as impact-rated safety glasses, protect against molten shrapnel
A hygiene kit keeps shared shields sanitary, and an LED torch helps in dim switchrooms.
- Body protection, garments covering the full body at appropriate ATPV rating
- Hand protection, gloves covering hands at appropriate ATPV rating
- Foot protection, full leather safety work boots are appropriate as per AS 4836 standard
Standards It Should Meet
Our BSD range complies with AS 4836, ASTM F2178, ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, EN ISO 16321 Class E, DIN EN 170, E DIN 58118, and DGUV GS-ET-29.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a vented hard hat? Not recommended. Wearing a balaclava with a non-vented hard hat is the best form of protection.
What standard does it need to meet? ASTM F2178 is the core arc rating standard. In Australia, work also sits under AS 4836.
What does the cal/cm² rating mean? It is the ATPV, the incident energy the shield can withstand. Match it to your risk assessment.
Why true-colour over tinted? A tinted shield distorts colour and dims the view. Real View gives more than 95 percent colour accuracy.
Do I still need safety glasses underneath? Yes. The shield is primary protection, with glasses, a balaclava, and hearing protection as extra layers as recommended in NFPA70E standard.