Integrated Circuit Systems

Arc Flash Experts

We Can Help You Address the Hazards of Arc Flash and Meet the OSHA & NEC Requirements

What is ARC FLASH and How is it Caused?

Insulation breakdown, dirt, moisture or any mechanical disturbance can cause an electrical short circuit to flow from conductor to conductor or conductor to ground. With sufficient voltage, this current can cause the surrounding air to become ionized, reducing resistance and resulting in an ARC current. Instantaneously, temperatures can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit creating an explosion where metal can vaporize and expand 67,000 times causeing a shock wave of intense heat, deafening noise, and blinding light to radiate in all direction. To make the incident worse, the enclosure reflects all this energy in the direction of your maintenance worker.





Arc Flash Boundary: "An approach limit at a distance from exposed live parts within which a person could receive a second degree burn if an electrical arc flash were to occur." (NFPA-70E)

NEC and OSHA have addressed these hazards and approved the NFPA-70E Standards for Electrical Safety in the workplace to be recognized as the industry standard.



Recent Changes to NFPA-70E 2015 Include, But Not Limited to the Following:

  • Elimination of PPE Hazard Category "0"
  • Elilmination of the Prohibited Approach Boundary
  • Additional Boundary Requirements
  • Updated Training and retraining requirements
  • Minor terminology changes (such as "work shoes" becomes "footwear")
  • Working spaces shall not be used for storage
  • Insulated tools must be used when working inside the restricted approach boundary

10 Pit Falls to Avoid While Developing an Arc Flash Safety Program:

  1. Relying on PPE tables instead of arc flash calculations.
  2. Failing to perform a protective device coordination study.
  3. Estimating equipment data instead of collecting it from the field.
  4. Labeling for work tasks instead of equipment "worse case" scenarios.
  5. Assuming arc flash labeling makes you NFPA-70E compliant.
  6. Failing to train electricians that changing protective device trip times affect the arc flash hazard.
  7. lacking a detailed safety program and safe work practices
  8. Not implementing safety training for all workers.
  9. Failing to keep your one-lines up-to-date.
  10. Not implementing a work permit requirement and job planning/briefing for all electrical work.




What is Your Potential Liability if an ARC FLASH Occurs?

The victims of an ARC FLASH hazard can experience years of burn rehabilitation or worse, death. Accrued costs for medical treatment, potential litigation fees, OHSA fines, loss of production, and increased costs of insurance can exceed $1,000,000 per case.

OSHA and the NEC have now acted on these hazards. They have adopted a standard that requires employers to provide risk assessments, warning labels, worker training, and the effective safety programs that can greatly reduce arc flash exposure.

Integrated Circuit Systems Can Provide Help!

During the past years, ICS has provided the expertise necessary for your company to become OSHA compliant and reduce hazards in your site specific workplace.


arc-flash-suit

Our Arc Flash Analysts can help you with a combination of services:

  • Comprehensive on site data collection.
  • Develop an accurate single line diagram.
  • Perform short circuit calculations.
  • Coordination of protective devices.
  • Calculate incident energy levels.
  • Determine accurate Pesonal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirments
  • Print and install Arc Flash Warning Labels

Knowledge and Safety Training are the Path to Prevention!

CONTACT


Michigan
info@icsnh3.com


Telephone: 616-263-9501
Facsimile: 616-263-9503

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