Panel Covers

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spark master

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Now that arc flash hazards are becoming so well known, are panel covers, and dead fronts designed to withstand a pressure wave, should a breaker fail ?

We all know, none qualified people flip breakers every day. Residential and commercial. Even during the hurricane, Big gov't is telling people to flip there mains.
 
The NEC doesn't seem to be too concerned with a residental dwelling panel.

110.16 Arc-Flash Hazard Warning. Electrical equipment,
such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control pan-
els, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers, that
are in other than dwelling units, and are likely to require
examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while
energized shall be field marked to warn qualified persons of
potential electric arc flash hazards. The marking shall be
located so as to be clearly visible to qualified persons be-
fore examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance of
the equipment.
Click to expand...
 
The real question is, are they building enclosures sturdier to withstand the pressure wave ?

How many panel covers have we've seen with sheet metal screws, that have been removed and stripped out 10 zillion times. and 1/2 the screws are missing.
 
spark master said:
Now that arc flash hazards are becoming so well known, are panel covers, and dead fronts designed to withstand a pressure wave, should a breaker fail ?

We all know, none qualified people flip breakers every day. Residential and commercial. Even during the hurricane, Big gov't is telling people to flip there mains.
Click to expand...
Panel covers and dead fronts are intended to contain the results of a breaker operating within its 'listed ratings'.
They are not intended to mitigate the effects of an arcing fault within the enclosure.

Breakers are tested for hundreds of non-fault (i.e. <2X full load) operations.
 
Knowledgeable OSHA souces tell me that the agency considers "dead fronts" to be trim panels, not "dead fronts," because it's possible for fingers or conductive tools to contact energized conductors (especially because they're concealed) and they offer no protection against an arc.
 
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