![]() Standards such as NFPA 70e and CSA Z462 are intended to lay out arc flash guidelines for qualified electrical workers when de-energizing could lead to a greater hazard than leaving the power on. Although the level of incident energy released in an electrical arc flash explosion may be larger in the higher voltage ranges found in petrochemical and other industrial facilities, it meant that the large volume of medium and especially low voltage electrical equipment in industrial, commercial and institutional facilities would cause the largest number of electrical safety accidents.Īrc Flash Levels of Protection starts with preventing personal protection injuries from occurring is to turn off the electrical equipment before starting work. While petrochemical facilities were maybe the first to see the need for electrical arc flash protection, it quickly was seen that arc flash hazards apply to all electrical facilities. In terms of personal protective equipment (ppe), here are the most valuable minimum arc rating levels of protection Visit Our NFPA 70E Arc Flash Training Page Visit Our CSA Z462 Arc Flash Training Page Consequently, several leading companies acted to create the first known set of work practices that were designed to specifically protect electrical workers who were performing electrical maintenance and service work on energized electrical equipment. ![]() If you need to perform work on the energized equipment, you may also need a work permit and documentation.Īrc Flash Protection first became a major area of investigation in the 1980's when in the IEEE published Transactions on "Industry Applications" there happened to appear an article authored by a Ralph Lee entitled: “The Other Electrical Hazard: Electric Arc Blast Burns.” This early investigation led several companies to realize, particularly companies from the petrochemical industry, that too many electrical workers were injured from electrical safety accidents. In order to pass this boundary, you must be a qualified worker with the proper training and PPE. The area closest to the live, exposed equipment is within the restricted boundary. Non-qualified workers should stay outside of this boundary unless wearing proper PPE and being escorted by a worker with specialized training. Appropriate PPE should be worn by qualified workers in the limited space (space between the limited approach boundary and the restricted boundary). Within this boundary, it is still possible to be exposed to a shock hazard. Moving toward the energized and exposed equipment, you’ll find the limited approach boundary. If the limited approach boundary is further out, then that should be treated as the line no one should pass without training and PPE. ![]() When the arc flash boundary is the furthest away, it becomes the line no one should pass without training and PPE. Sometimes this boundary is the furthest one from the exposed equipment, other times the limited approach boundary is the furthest out. That’s the distance where a worker without appropriate PPE would receive second-degree burns. ![]() The arc flash boundary is calculated to 1.2 calories/cm2 of incident energy. The arc flash boundary, or restricted approach boundary, changes depending on the potential arc flash hazard. Arc Flash Levels of Protection are best understood as layers or boundaries of protection around and away from hazardous electrical equipment. ![]()
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