Is it necessary for rainwear worn over FR clothing to be made from FR material?

When considering the requirement for rainwear worn over flame-resistant (FR) clothing, the essential factor is that while the FR clothing itself needs to provide protection against arc flash and flash fire hazards, the outer layer of rainwear does not necessarily have to be made from flame-resistant material. The primary purpose of rainwear is to keep the wearer dry, and as long as the underlying FR clothing remains compliant and intact, a non-FR rain jacket can serve its purpose without compromising safety.

In most scenarios, the risk of exposure to thermal hazards is primarily associated with direct flames or arcs, which should be mitigated by the FR clothing underneath. Thus, while selecting rainwear, it’s encouraged to keep in mind the environments and conditions being worked in, but the requirements do not obligate the outer layer to be FR-rated. This understanding is pivotal in ensuring that workers are adequately protected while also being equipped for varying weather conditions effectively.