What is Conductive Clothing?

Conductive clothing refers to garments that incorporate conductive materials – such as metallic fibers, conductive polymers, or carbon-based yarns – into textile structures. These garments are specifically engineered to control or redirect electrical currents in hazardous environments.

Conductive clothing is made of natural or synthetic material with woven or knitted fabric or layers thereof, used to provide electrical continuity between all parts of the clothing using conductive fibres (i.e. silver or stainless steel fiber). The double layer clothing is a unique combination of silver-coated threads and a grid of stainless steel yarn to shield from high electric fields almost completely, while the insulating inner layer of the fabric uncouples the outer charged layer from the human body to provide insulation as well as wear comfort. Thus, a reduction of the electric field inside the clothing is achieved.

Unlike conventional PPE that acts solely as an insulator, conductive clothing can provide active protection by guiding electric currents safely across the garment’s surface or body, preventing them from passing through vital organs or causing arc-related injuries.

Types of Conductive Clothing

In the electrical safety context, conductive clothing is typically categorized into three primary types based on application and design intent:

Bare-Hand Conductive Suit-

This suit is designed for live-line work using the bare-hand method at high voltages. It forms a Faraday cage around the body, allowing the worker to be at the same electrical potential as the energized equipment. This enables safe physical contact with live components without current flowing through the body. The suit must have excellent surface conductivity, full-body coverage, and reliable grounding. This is used in live working areas with AC and DC electrical installations.

AC Induction Conductive Suit-

Used in environments with strong alternating current (AC) electric fields, such as near high-voltage transmission lines. These suits prevent induced voltages and currents from forming on the body due to electromagnetic exposure. The conductive layer diverts these currents safely to ground, reducing the risk of electric shock or neurological effects. Flexibility and long-duration wearability are key design considerations. This is most commonly used in high voltage power lines, railway lines.

Radiofrequency (RF) Conductive Suit-

These suits protect against radiofrequency and electromagnetic interference (EMI) typically found near broadcasting antennas, radar installations, or high-powered RF equipment. The conductive material provides shielding to both the wearer and any sensitive electronics carried. These garments must meet standards for EMF attenuation, thermal comfort, and electrical continuity to be effective in high-frequency environments. This is used in operating radio transmitters, Antenna-feeder systems, Radio stations, and other EMI sources of 30 kHz – 60 GHz radiofrequency range.

Compliance with ISO 60895

ISO 60895 sets out performance requirements and testing procedures for conductive clothing used for live working at voltages above 1 kV AC. Key elements of the standard include:

• Electric resistance of the conductive surface of fabric should be ≤ 2 Ohms
• Shield factor of the garment should be > 70 dB at 50 Hz
• Tear resistance of at least 15 N (for > 220 gsm) or at least 10 N (for 150 to 220 gsm) is required
• When the outer layer of the conductive clothing is made of knitted material, it shall have a burst strength of at least 1300 kPa when using an area of 7.3 ± 0.1 cm2 as per ISO 13938-1
• The outer layer material shall resist at least 25000 abrasion rubs tested according to ISO 12947-2, with an abrasion load of 12 kPa

The conductive clothing is categorized into two classes as follows:

• Class 1 (800 kV AC or ±600 kV DC)
• Class 2 (1000 kV AC or ±800 kV DC)

Any conductive garment designed for high-voltage applications must meet ISO 60895 to ensure it providing the required level of protection without compromising user safety. At Tarasafe, we recognize this as a non-negotiable benchmark for any future developments in this domain.

Tarasafe’s Vision for Conductive PPE

In high-risk electrical environments, the right protective gear can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe. As industries advance, so must the technology behind personal protective equipment (PPE). With over two decades of expertise in flame-retardant and arc-protective garments, Tarasafe is well-positioned to lead the next phase of innovation in electrical PPE.

We are actively evaluating materials, design methodologies, and testing protocols to develop garments that meet both the electrical performance and thermal protection needs of modern power and utility professionals.

Conclusion

As electrical networks grow more complex and maintenance tasks more demanding, traditional protection must evolve. Conductive clothing—once limited to specialized applications—is poised to become a vital part of everyday electrical safety gear. At Tarasafe, our commitment to innovation is driven by one goal: protecting those who power the world. By investing in conductive clothing technology that meets the highest global standards, we aim to redefine safety in the electrical sector.