Site Specific Arc Flash Labels

[mshields]

Arc Flash labels with specific PPE categories, are, to the best of my knowledge, a requirement of OSHA and not the NEC nor typically, a states Fire nor Building code (assuming they are IBC and NFPA 1 or 101 based). Correct? Or am I starting off wrong.

Regardless, it would be an oversight on a new project not to include the full array of studies to determine label requirements and to give the client, in the end, a fully NFPA 70E compliant and labelled Elec distribution system. BUT, what if you are charged with adding a switchboard and a panelboard to an otherwise substantial electrical distribution system for which your client has never bothered to get these studies done and which therefore determining the appropriate PPE level for your system requires a study well beyond the scope of your work. Is it incumbent on the engineer to require the client to pay for a

 

[ron]

Site specific arc flash labels are a 70E requirement which would be invoked by OSHA (typically after an accident) and not a code requirement.

The code requires general hazard / warning labels.

If you wish to encourage your client to comply with 70E, they may as part of their hazard analysis, decide to use the 70E tables if the notes apply or do the detailed calculations. Either of which require upstream calculations from your mid-stream misc panelboard or SWBD, so it would be a challange and require you to use engineering judgement, or provide a full proposal to do a full analysis upstream.

 

[mshields]

Thanks Ron - probably not reasonable to just lay all of that on the contractor.

 

[Beaches EE]

In my opinion, it is not reasonable to put a detailed analysis of the entire system on the EC. A EE/PE should perform the study.