When does an arc flash occur?
An arc flash occurs when an electric current passes through the air instead of along its intended path.
What is the result of an arc flash?
The result of an arc flash is extremely high heat that can cause severe burns, blinding light, and an explosion that can result in hearing damage and potentially fatal injury. Multiple arc flash incidents occur every day in workplaces across the United States.
The safety of your employees and contractor employees from an arc flash should be always at the forefront. This means employees have the proper PPE at all times and follow the rules and regulations of OSHA. There’s an urgency to completing arc flash risk assessments and shock risk assessments: According to changes made for NFPA 70E, these arc flash assessments must be conducted before any person is exposed to electrical hazards. The risk of an arc flash explosion occurring at your facility is not negligible, and the trend of increased power use combined with aging electrical infrastructure across the U.S. heightens the danger. The Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates direct and indirect costs to an employer from a fatal electrical accident in the millions of dollars.
What are the requirements for Arc Flash Hazard Analysis & Assessment?
Navigating all of the requirements, conditions, and exceptions that result from these arc flash assessments requires a great familiarity with the new standard. Specifically, NFPA 70E Section 130.4 requires that a shock risk assessment is performed before beginning energized work, and NFPA 70E Section 130.5 requires that an arc flash risk assessment be performed to:
- Determine whether an arc flash hazard
exists - If a hazard exists, determine:
- The appropriate safety-related work
practices - The arc flash boundary
- The correct PPE to be worn
- The appropriate safety-related work
Arc Flash Hazard Consultants
Elliot Engineering is a leading engineering firm in performing power system studies. Our Professional Engineers ensure that the arc flash hazard analysis assessments they perform, and which our customers provide to their personnel, are backed up by solid engineering calculations and practices while following OSHA regulations.
We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the arc flash hazard solutions assessment requirements of your facility with you. Contact us for more information today!
What are the Steps for an Engineered Arc Flash Analysis?
Let’s talk.
Get in touch with Elliot Engineering for your next project, or if you have any questions on our power systems engineering services or power systems engineering electrical consulting services.