Understanding “Arc Flash”
Simply put, an arc flash is a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. The results are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur.
Arc flash can be caused by many things including
Dust• Dropping tools• Accidental touching• Condensation• Material failure• Corrosion• Faulty Installation•
Three factors determine the severity of an arc flash injury:
1. Proximity of the worker to the hazard.
2. Temperature.
3. Time for circuit to break
Because of the violent nature of an arc flash exposure when an employee is injured, the injury is serious – even resulting in death. It’s not uncommon for an injured employee to never regain their past quality of life.
Typical Results from an Arc Flash Burns (Non FR clothing can burn onto skin)
• Fire (could spread rapidly through building)
• Flying objects (often molten metal)
• Blast pressure (upwards of 2,000 lbs. / sq.ft)
• Sound Blast (noise can reach 140 dB – loud as a gun)
• Heat (upwards of 35,000 degrees F)
Approach / Protection Boundaries:
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed specific approach boundaries designed to protect employees while working on or near energized equipment.
These boundaries are:
Flash Protection Boundary (outer boundary)• Limited Approach• Restricted Approach• Prohibited Approach (inner boundary)• Flash Protection Boundary (outer boundary): The flash boundary is the farthest established boundary from the energy source. If an arc flash occurred, this boundary is where an employee would be exposed to a curable second degree burn (1.2 calories/cm2 ). The issue here is the heat generated from a flash that results in burns.
Limited Approach: An approach limit at a distance from an exposed live part where a shock hazard exists.
Restricted Approach: An approach limit at a distance from an exposed live part which there is an increased risk of shock.
Prohibited Approach (inner boundary): A distance from an exposed part which is considered the same as making contact with the live part. This distance is not common between equipment. Some equipment will have a greater flash protection boundary while other equipment will have a lesser boundary.
Ways to Protect the Workers:
There exists a number of ways to protect workers from the threat of electrical hazards. Some of the methods are for the protection of qualified employees doing work on electrical circuit and other methods are geared towards non-qualified employees who work nearby energized equipment.
These safety related work practices could include:
Energized Electrical Work Permit
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Insulated Tools
• Written Safety Program
• Job Briefing•
Understanding the Arc Flash Warning Labels:
Each piece of equipment operating at 50 volts or more and not put into a deenergized state must be evaluated for arc flash and shock protection. This evaluation will determine the actual boundaries (i.e. prohibited, limited, restricted etc) and will inform the employee of what PPE must be worn. Once the evaluation is complete an Arc Flash Hazard warning label must be affixed to the equipment and readily accessible to employees who may work on the energized equipment.
The Employees Obligation:
Employees must follow the requirements of the Arc Flash Hazard label by wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), use of insulated tools and other safety related precautions. This includes not working on or near the circuit unless you are a “qualified” worker.
Qualified person: One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.
Additional requirements for qualified persons.
Qualified persons (i.e. those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts) shall, at a minimum, be trained in and familiar with the following:
The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment.
With recent increased awareness of the dangers of arc flash, there have been many companies that offer arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE), such as suits, overalls, helmets, boots, and gloves.
