Arc flash assessments are widely used by electrical professionals – in judging the level of risk in an environment where electrical work is to be carried out. It is important to comprehend the analysis, in order to properly enforce safety measures.
Arc analysis results tell the professionals about possible dangers, protective attire, and working distances. This guide provides an overview of the main components of arc flash assessments and shows ways in which such outcomes could be applied—to protect workers and equipment.
General Steps Involved in Conducting an Arc Flash Analysis
The data from an arc flash analysis is usually presented in tables that conform to the IEEE 1584 standard. These tables contain data on incident energy levels, ideal working distances, and PPE. For electrical professionals to maximize the benefit from these results, they need to know what each of these stands for.
Incident Energy Levels
Arc flash energy, expressed in calories per square centimeter (cal/cm²), represents the energy produced by an arc flash. This value is used to assess the degree of risk of an arc flash hazard at a certain area/point. Higher incident energy levels means a higher tendency of workers to get injured, and damaged equipment.
Arc Flash Boundaries
Arc flash boundaries refer to the distance away from the potential arc/location that a worker can be without having to use personal protective equipment. These boundaries are important; to establish ‘no go’ zones around the equipment.
Protective Gear Categories
Arc flash analysis tables also identify the energy level based on the incident energy calculation, showing the required PPE categories for each activity. These categories include 1 up to 4—a higher number is used to show that the worker needs a higher level of protection. Electricians must ensure that they wear gear based on the category of the electrical equipment they are dealing with in order to avoid accidents.
How to Apply Arc Flash Analysis Results
It must be noted that information given in an arc flash analysis is useful not only for the identification of possible risks but also for the formation of safety measures at the workplace.
First, identify the areas of higher incident energy. It is important to make all the personnel aware of these and educate them on the right way to handle things. The next thing to do is to ensure that there are necessary labels on the equipment and the panels. These should include arc flash boundaries, incident energy levels, and the applicable PPE categories. Such information can effectively be used by workers to determine the risks associated with performing activities close to or on energized equipment.
Final Thoughts
It is crucial to learn how to approach the results of the arc flash analysis in order to provide an adequately safe electrical work environment. Do not forget to train staff on how to choose suitable PPE, how to maintain reasonable distances from electrical equipment and conform to all the other protection guidelines.