The Basics of Arc Flash Protection

2008
TheBasicsArcFlash Protection
An arcing fault can be defined as the flow of current through a path where it is not intended to flow
RobVajko 12/15/2008
www.nationalsafetyinc.com
WhatisanArcFlash?
Anarcflashstartswithanarcingfault.Anarcingfaultcanbedefinedastheflowofcurrent throughapathwhereitisnotintendedtoflow.Thecurrentcreatesanelectricarcplasmaand releasesdangerousamountsofenergy Anelectricarcisthepassageofsubstantialelectricalcurrentthroughionizedairandgases.
Badthingscanhappen. Anelectricarcfaultisabadthing!
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Theabovephotoisastillshotofavideoclipofaarcflashthatyoucanviewonlineat http://205.243.100.155/frames/mpg/345kV_SWITCH.MPG
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Theabovephotoisastillshotofavideoclipofaarcflashthatyoucanviewonlineat: http://205.243.100.155/frames/mpg/500kV_Switch.mpg
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Clothedareascanbemoreseverelyburnedthanexposedskin!
TheCostsofBurnInjury
Personal
Burnsareoneofthemostpainfulinjuriesahumancanexperience Burnvictimsoftenseekpsychologicalcare Rehabilitationisaslowanddifficultprocess
Financial
Medicalcostsquicklyaccumulateduetoyearsoftreatment Rehabilitationcostscanexceed1millionUS$perperson
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ArcBlastHazards
Upto80%ofallelectricalinjuriesareburnsresultingfromanarcflashandignitionofFLAMABLE clothing Approximately1persondiesdailyintheU.S.fromarcblasts,and67peopleareadmittedto hospitalsforassociatedinjuries PressurewavesassociatedwithArcBlastscan: Vaporizecopper,expandingit67,000timesitsinitialvolume Createasonicboomcondition
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Thereisaknowncasewhereautilitycabinetdoorwasblownoffthehingesandembeddedina concretewall1.5inches10feetawayfromtheutilitycabinet.
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HOWTOPREVENTARCFLASH
RegulationsandStandards
Severalindustrystandardsconcernthepreventionofarcflashincidents: OSHA29CodeofFederalRegulations(CFR)Part1910SubpartS. NFPA702002NationalElectricalCode. NFPA70E2000StandardforElectricalSafetyRequirementsforEmployeeWorkplaces. IEEEStandard15842002GuideforPerformingArcFlashHazardCalculations.
RegulationsfortheStateofWashington(Checkwithyourownstateagencies)
WAC295155WashingtonStateElectricalStandardsforConstruction WAC29644WashingtonStateElectricalConstructionCode WAC29645WashingtonStateElectricalWorkSafetyRules
WISHA6PointPlan
CompliancewiththelatestOSHAstandardsinvolvesadherencetoasixpointplan: Afacilitymustprovide,andbeabletodemonstrateasafetyprogramwithdefined responsibilities. Calculationsforthedegreeofarcflashhazard. Correctpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE)forworkers. Trainingforworkersonthehazardsofarcflash.
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Appropriatetoolsforsafeworking. Warninglabelsonequipment. Companieswillbecitedandfinedfornotcomplyingwiththesestandards. NFPA70Epromotesestablishingelectricallysafeworkconditionsby... 1.Identifyingallpowersources 2.Interruptingtheloadanddisconnectingpower 3.Visuallyverifyingthatadisconnecthasopenedthecircuit 4.Lockingoutandtaggingthecircuit 5.Testingforvoltage 6.Groundingallpowerconductors Howcanwepreventarcflashwhenwehavetoworkonornearenergizedparts? Specialsituations: Interruptionoflifesupportequipment Deactivationofemergencyalarmsystems Shutdownofhazardouslocationventilationequipment Removalofilluminationforanarea A.Usewrittenpermitsystemforplanning&conductingworkinthesesituations B.Usetheappropriatetoolsforvoltageandcurrentlevelswhenperformingallelectricalwork NFPA70EKeyPPESteps
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1. DetermineArcFlashProtectionBoundary 2. ConductArcFlashHazardAnalysis 3. SelectRequiredFRClothing&PPEBasedonSpecificHazardPresentWithinFlashProtection Boundary
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PersonalProtectiveEquipment
SelectRequiredFRClothing&PPEBasedonSpecificHazardPresentWithinFlashProtection Boundary
Weartheappropriateprotectionwhenworkingonoraround energizedequipment!
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WhatTypesOfArcProtectiveFlameResistantGarmentsAreAvailable? BasicFRClothingOptions Shirts Pants Uniform Dress Jeans KnitandWoven ShortandLongSleeve
Coveralls ColdandInclementWeatherFRClothingOptions Rainwear LinedandUnlinedJackets FleeceSweatshirtsandSweatpants InsulatedOverallsandCoveralls InsulatedParkas LongUnderwearandSocks Hoods/Balaclavas Vests
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FRGarmentExamples
Category1 Category2 Category2
Category3and4
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FRClothingSelectionCriteria
Protection WearerComfort Durability FlameResistanceDurability GarmentWearLife
CostEffectiveness
InitialCost LifeCycleCost
EaseofCare/Appearance InSummary BurnInjuriesFromElectricArcExposuresCanBeFatalorCanSeverelyInjuretheWorker BasedonKnownElectricalParametersandWorkPractices,ArcExposureIntensityCanBe EstimatedfortheHazard,hencejobtaskslistedandrecommendationsonPPEtowear. BasedOnEstimatedArcExposureIntensity,AppropriateProtectiveClothingSelectionsCanBe MadeToMinimizeWorkerBurnInjuryLevelsInTheEventOfAnElectricArcAccident InManySituations,LayeringofFRClothingIsRequiredtoMatchElectricArcHazardEnergy Levels
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RainwearwithNonMeltableSubstrate (ASTMF1891)
RainwearwithMeltableSubstrate
PhotocourtesyofHughHoaglandwww.arcwear.com
REMEMBER
TheOutermostGarmentMustBeFlameandArcResistant MeltableSubstratesCanIncreaseWorkerInjury
OtherConsiderations FaceShieldsRatedforArcHazard HearingProtectionRatedforArcHazard HandandFootProtectionRatedforArcHazard
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ExposureEnergyBasics
ExposureEnergyisExpressedincal/cm2 MeasuredUsingThermalSensors 1cal/cm2theExposureontheTipofaFingerbyaCigaretteLighterin1Second
AnExposureEnergyof1to2cal/cm2WillCausea2ndDegreeBurnonHumanSkin
Definitions
ARCRATINGThemaximumincidentenergyresistancedemonstratedbyamaterialPRIORTO BREAKOPENORATTHEONSETOFASECONDDEGREEBURN.A1stDegreeBurnorlessisthe goalduringanelectricalarcflash. HRCHazardRiskCategory.CurrentcategoriesthatapplytoworkersareLevel04.Remember 4,8,25,40! FLATPANELTESTINGThisishowourfabricsaretestedandhowthecalorieratingisfound (breakthroughthreshold). CALORIE/CMThisisameasurementofENERGY.ACigarettelighterplacedunderyourfinger for1secondequalsroughlya1calorieburn. WhatisaCalorie? ACalorieisameasurementofenergy,similartolabelsonfoodproducts A100cal/cmblastcanreachtemperaturesofupto35,000degreesFahrenheitinthe center,and11,000degreesontheperimeter
ArcHazardExposureLevels Category0N/A Category14cal/cm* Category28cal/cm* Category325cal/cm*
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Category440cal/cm* Over40calRecommendedtoreengineersystemtoalowerrating. *Req'dminimumRatingofPPE. 1.2cal/cmistheONSETofaseconddegreeburn PPELevelsarethemaximumateachexposurecategory
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The Basics of Arc Flash Protection

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2008

OtherConsiderations FaceShieldsRatedforArcHazard HearingProtectionRatedforArcHazard HandandFootProtectionRatedforArcHazard

ArcHazardExposureLevels Category0N/A Category14cal/cm* Category28cal/cm* Category325cal/cm*

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