14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield

14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield — Rated for CAT 2 Electrical Environments

Xi'An PPE MAX Co., Ltd. builds the 14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield (Model FCA9). The shell is polycarbonate, 1.5 mm thick. Testing confirms an ATPV of 14 cal/cm². Size comes to 8" × 19" (20 cm × 48 cm). Several standards are covered: EN ISO 16321, EN 166, EN 170, GS-ET-29, ANSI Z87.1, Z94.3, NFPA 70E, and ASTM F2178. Black is one color you can order. Blue is the other. The shade number is UL1.7. Electricians reach for the FCA9. So do maintenance crews. Both need face and eye cover when an arc flash is possible.

What Is This Product?

This product is personal protective equipment. Electrical workers wear it for arc flash events. Thermal energy is one hazard it guards against. Shrapnel is another. So is intense light.

The shield has an Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) of 14 cal/cm². That rating puts it in PPE Category 2 (CAT 2). CAT 2 covers energy exposures that usually fall between 8 and 25 cal/cm². Switchgear operations are one suitable use. Panel inspections are another. The same goes for similar electrical maintenance tasks.

Regular visors work a different way. The FCA9 is built from polycarbonate that absorbs infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Visible light still passes through clearly. Three problems people meet in the field get solved here. Color distortion is one, and it makes wire identification harder. Fogging on the lens during high-tension work is another. Neck fatigue from heavy headgear comes third.

Standard Specifications

Features

1.5 mm Polycarbonate Construction

Impact protection comes from the PC lens. It stands up to high-mass strikes and high-velocity ones too. The lens meets ANSI Z87.1+ requirements. That covers a 0.25-inch steel ball fired at 300 ft/s.

Shade UL1.7 with Optical Class 1 Clarity

The shade number is set so it blocks UV and IR radiation. Color perception stays intact. That lets a worker read color-coded wiring correctly while working on live circuits.

Dual-Surface Coating

A hydrophilic anti-fog coating lines the inside of the lens. Outside, a hydrophobic hard coat sits on the surface. Scratches do little to it. Industrial chemicals do little as well. Both coatings are bonded in processes checked by cross-cut tape adhesion testing under ASTM D3359.

Coverage: 8" × 19"

The lens area runs 20 cm × 48 cm. That covers the full face and reaches down toward the chin and neck. Polycarbonate keeps the weight down. On long CAT 2 jobs, fatigue stays low.

Two Color Options

Site supervisors can spot the difference between worker roles or PPE types at a glance. Black and blue versions make that possible.

Advantages

• ATPV of 14 cal/cm², confirmed: testing to the ASTM F2178 open-air arc protocol is how this figure was checked
• Clears rules on several standards: the European specs (EN 166, EN 170, EN ISO 16321, GS-ET-29) are all met. North American ones (ANSI Z87.1, Z94.3, NFPA 70E) are covered too
• Less weight than high calorie arc hoods: air moves better and your neck feels less strain than with 40 cal hood systems
• Very little optical distortion: prismatic power stays inside industry limits (less than 0.06 diopters prism imbalance)
• Standard hard hat mounting: designed for slotted hard hats; verify compatibility with your specific dielectric hard hat model to confirm the full assembly rating

Applications

Industries that carry CAT 2 electrical hazards use the FCA9 14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield:

• Electrical utilities: transformer maintenance, switchgear inspection
• Industrial manufacturing: motor control center (MCC) operations, panel work
• Construction: live electrical installation and testing
• Oil and gas facilities: electrical equipment maintenance in hazardous zones
• Data centers and commercial buildings: UPS and distribution board servicing

Certifications for 14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield

The FCA9 complies with the following standards:

• EN ISO 16321 | EN 166 | EN 170 | GS-ET-29
• ANSI Z87.1 | Z94.3
• NFPA 70E | ASTM F2178

About Xi'An PPE MAX Co., Ltd.

Occupational safety gear has come out of Xi'An PPE MAX Co., Ltd. since 1956. Documented QC records back every FCA9 batch. Third-party lab verification of ATPV sits in those files, and so do coating adhesion test reports. CE and ANSI/NFPA compliance both apply to the FCA9. Buyers who source across European and North American markets get simpler procurement as a result.

Packing

Packing is done so lenses do not get scratched and the coating stays intact in transit. Standard export packaging comes as an option. Labels can be set up for 14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield private label and OEM orders. Ask us for carton dimensions or details on order quantities.

After-Sales Service

• Replacement and warranty support for confirmed manufacturing defects
• Technical documentation available on request: test reports, compliance certificates, SDS
• Polycarbonate integrity is recommended for review every 3 to 5 years due to UV exposure and micro-stress accumulation

FAQ

Q: Does This product replace the need for a balaclava?

A: Exposure under 14 cal/cm² is covered across the whole face by the FCA9. The neck is still exposed, and so is the back of the head. A balaclava is required by NFPA 70E, unless the shield is mounted on a fully sealed helmet system.

Q: How often should the shield be replaced?

A: Replace the shield every 3 to 5 years. Do it even when the part still looks fine. UV light and small stresses break down the impact strength of polycarbonate over time.

Q: Can ammonia-based products be used to clean the shield?

A: No. The polycarbonate structure gets broken down by ammonia and strong solvents. Those also strip the anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings off. For cleaning, stick to mild soap and water, or use biodegradable wipes approved by the manufacturer. Nothing else.

Q: What does the FCA9 weigh next to a 40 cal arc hood?

A: The FCA9 weighs less than high-calorie hood systems. Air moves through it more freely too. That lowers heat stress and tiredness during long CAT 2 maintenance jobs.

Q: Is the FCA9 compatible with all slotted hard hats?

A: Standard slotted hard hats take the shield thanks to a universal mounting bracket. Make sure it fits the model of dielectric hard hat you use. Doing that step confirms the full assembly keeps its rated dielectric protection.

Q: What makes polycarbonate a solid pick for arc flash protection?

A: Thermal energy gets absorbed by PC, and it holds up against impact as well. Thickness on the FCA9 comes in at 1.5 mm. Even at that gauge, it clears the high-mass and high-velocity impact tests in ANSI Z87.1+. Clear optics hold up as well. Precision electrical work needs exactly that.

Contact Us

Request a quote, samples, or technical documentation for the FCA9 by emailing bettybing@ppemax.com. The PPE MAX team will respond to your 14 Cal Arc Flash Face Shield inquiry directly.