Arc-Flash Study Requirement
- Thread starter anbm
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
What is required is an arc flash hazard warning label. But in order to apply the proper label, you need to know the degree of hazard. An arc flash study is one way to figure out the hazard level. Using a table 130.7(C)(9)(a) from NFPA 70E is another, but that table has a limit to its applicability.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
If you are asking about the rule in 110.16, then for the most part you get that information from the utility. As long as the number from the utility is less than the short circuit rating of the service equipment, I don't see any need to do any calculations. If the number from the utility is higher than the equipment rating and if there is very much length of service conductor between the utililty transformer and the service equipment, a calculation may show that the available fault current at the service is less than the equipment rating.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Don, the question had to do with arc flash, not fault current ratings.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Charlie,
I have had many questions about the 110.16 rule from people calling it an arc flash label.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
There is no direct code requirement. But it could be difficult to justify, in a court of law, why one was not performed.
The NEC requires an advisory warning label only - absolutely no evaluation of any risk is needed to meet this requirement.
NFPA 70E (an optional standard) requires labeling which provides infomation on the proper PPE for energized work.
OSHA wants the employees to be protected from workplace hazards, they cite NFPA70E as a standard 'best practice'.
kenaslan
Senior Member
- Location
- Billings MT
Currently, there is no "Law" requiring this. However you can still be sited by OSHA for noncompliance of a law that does not exist.
In response to an inquiry to OSHA?s stand on arc-flash hazards, Richard S. Terrill, the Regional Administrator
for Occupational Safety and Health, US Department of Labor for the Northwest Region at Seattle, concluded
the following:
?Though OSHA does not, per se, enforce the NFPA standard, 2000 Edition OSHA considers NFPA standard a
recognized industry practice. The employer is required to conduct an assessment in accordance with CFR
1910.132(d)(1). If an arc-flash is present, or likely to be present, then the employer must select and require
employees to use the protective apparel. Employers who conduct the hazard/risk assessment, and select
and require their employees to use protective clothing and other PPE appropriate for the task, as stated in
the NFPA 70E? standard 2000 Edition, are deemed in compliance with the Hazard Assessment and
Equipment Selection OSHA standard.?
Also See http://www.reliabilityweb.com/art05/nfpa_70e.htm
I think it is just a matter of time (soon) before AHJ's are going to require this calc on the permit set just as they want to see to short circuit calc. Might be a nice nich industry to get into.
I also think that local cash strapped goverments (cities, counties) will incorperate this into local regs, so they can fine business that do not comply with this. Just think of how many panels in a city times $100 fine. This would fix a city budget without raising taxes.
In response to an inquiry to OSHA?s stand on arc-flash hazards, Richard S. Terrill, the Regional Administrator
for Occupational Safety and Health, US Department of Labor for the Northwest Region at Seattle, concluded
the following:
?Though OSHA does not, per se, enforce the NFPA standard, 2000 Edition OSHA considers NFPA standard a
recognized industry practice. The employer is required to conduct an assessment in accordance with CFR
1910.132(d)(1). If an arc-flash is present, or likely to be present, then the employer must select and require
employees to use the protective apparel. Employers who conduct the hazard/risk assessment, and select
and require their employees to use protective clothing and other PPE appropriate for the task, as stated in
the NFPA 70E? standard 2000 Edition, are deemed in compliance with the Hazard Assessment and
Equipment Selection OSHA standard.?
Also See http://www.reliabilityweb.com/art05/nfpa_70e.htm
I think it is just a matter of time (soon) before AHJ's are going to require this calc on the permit set just as they want to see to short circuit calc. Might be a nice nich industry to get into.
I also think that local cash strapped goverments (cities, counties) will incorperate this into local regs, so they can fine business that do not comply with this. Just think of how many panels in a city times $100 fine. This would fix a city budget without raising taxes.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
OK, fine, but the OP did not mention that code article, and 110.16 is about arc flash. Are you perhaps thinking about the 2011 article 110.24? :happyyes:
kingpb
Senior Member
- Location
- SE USA as far as you can go
- Occupation
- Engineer, Registered
The best way to avoid arc flash studies - Put a label on the gear that says "work shall not be performed on this equipment while it is energized":thumbsup: Log it that is the safety policy.
Works everytime!
Works everytime!
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Yes...that is the section I was thinking of. 110.16 does not require any calculations, just a generic warning.
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