NFPA 70E - SKM"s "PPE Level #" vs. Incident Energy Levels

[lielec11]

Yet another NFPA 70E question...

FYI I am working with SKM v7.0.3.1 and NFPA 70E 2012 (My job hasn't given us the new 2015 yet, and it doens't look like SKM has updated either yet)

Does the "PPE Level #" that SKM generates actually mean anything? THe numbers seem to correspond to the incident energy levels located in Table H.3(b) in the Appendix. What confuses me is why does it jump from Level 0 to Level 3, what about 1 and 2? Are these numbers even important to put on a warning sticker, or is the protective clothing/equipment really what is important? I'm trying to create a sticker that has all relevant information but these numbers keep confusing me and the more I think about it, the more they seem pretty arbitrary. SKM even lets you change them in the table manually!

Thoughts?

 

[mayanees]

SKM has updated to 7.0.4.0 and it's based on the 70E 2015 edition.
You're using a PPE table that is the Two PPE method. There's another 4-level PPE table in the miscellaneous files, which is more applicable.
But the real fix is to update to rev 7.0.4.0
If your maintenance package is up-to-date it's free.
But you can also update the table yourself and use it in the arc-flash calculation.

 

[lielec11]

John thanks for your reply. How would I apply the 4-level PPE table? What misc. files are you referring to?

EDIT: scratch that - I found the files in my PTW folder on my network.

 

[lielec11]

Looking at the 4-level table vs. the 2-level table, is one older than the other? Should I be using one versus the other or is it irrelevant? All it seems to do is break up the incident energy levels into smaller pieces.

 

[jim dungar]

Looking at the 4-level table vs. the 2-level table, is one older than the other? Should I be using one versus the other or is it irrelevant? All it seems to do is break up the incident energy levels into smaller pieces.

Your company needs to have an Electrical Safe Work Practices program (ESWP).
All of your questions concerning 'what to use and when to use it' should be addressed in the ESWP.

My company uses the two level method, we dress in PPE only when needed (jumpsuits make this a reasonably tolerable experience) as opposed to wearing it as daily wear.
Most of the companies I visit use the 4 level system because they always have, or that is what the dealers sell, or several other reasons.

OSHA recognized NFPA70E-2015 as soon as it was published and became the current 'standard'.

 

[lielec11]

Your company needs to have an Electrical Safe Work Practices program (ESWP).
All of your questions concerning 'what to use and when to use it' should be addressed in the ESWP.

My company uses the two level method, we dress in PPE only when needed (jumpsuits make this a reasonably tolerable experience) as opposed to wearing it as daily wear.
Most of the companies I visit use the 4 level system because they always have, or that is what the dealers sell, or several other reasons.

OSHA recognized NFPA70E-2015 as soon as it was published and became the current 'standard'.

We are an engineering company. We perform the studies, we don't work on the equipment. With that said, we haven't been getting much work on the coordination/arc flash front which is why I have these questions. From some more research it appears the 2-level system replaced the 4-level system when 2012 was released. I'm in the process now of upgrading my software to reference 2015.

 

[jim dungar]

From some more research it appears the 2-level system replaced the 4-level system when 2012 was released.

No it did not.
The '2 level' suggestion, for 'engineered' calculations has been in the Annexes since at least the 2004 edition of NFPA70E.
The '4 level' comes from the 'task table' option

Your clients need to tell you what is in their ESWP. If they do not have one, they cannot be compliant with 70E

 

[wbdvt]

Ditto to what Jim said above!!

 

[lielec11]

No it did not.
The '2 level' suggestion, for 'engineered' calculations has been in the Annexes since at least the 2004 edition of NFPA70E.
The '4 level' comes from the 'task table' option

Your clients need to tell you what is in their ESWP. If they do not have one, they cannot be compliant with 70E

Yea but isn't 70E simply a standard, and not necessarily something that is required? Does OSHA require an EWSP?

 

[jim dungar]

Yea but isn't 70E simply a standard, and not necessarily something that is required? Does OSHA require an EWSP?

For example, from OSHA's website:

1910.333(a)
"General." Safety-related work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. The specific safety-related work practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards.