Importance of Arc Flash Hazard Analysis and Mitigation in the US

One the most fatal electrical hazards that can occur at a workplace is the arc flash hazard. An arc flash fault occurs when an electrical current flowing through the air gap between conductors ionizes the air surrounding the conductor and expels large amount of energy.

Commercial and industrial electrical systems are widely prone to arc flash hazards. In the United States, it was found that on an average 5-10 arc flash incidents occurred each day causing enormous number of causalities. Over a year, the number of causalities tally to over 70,000.

The arc flash temperature ranges between 2,800 to 19,000 °C. This temperature is greater than the surface temperature of the sun (5,505°C) and can cause third degree burns which are irreversible and mostly fatal. Victims of arc flash hazard never regain their prior quality of life.

The objective and services provided by Carelabs to perform arc flash hazard analysis and mitigation are:

Arc flash victims’ injuries are not limited to burns from the intense heat but can be a consequence of other non-thermal characteristics, such as the pressure, sound and the intense light produced by the blast.

The degree of injury is further dependent on three factors:

The primary reason to perform an arc flash hazard analysis is to increase the safety of workers and reduce arc flash incidents. Carelabs performs arc flash studies using the ETAP software.

In accordance with the standards provided by NFPA and IEEE, Arc Flash Hazard Analysis performed by our experienced professionals will help protect electrical workers from arc flash incidents, aid in determining flash hazard boundary and design Personal protective equipment to minimize the degree of damage in case of an accident.

Arc flash mitigation involves taking necessary measures to minimize the risk associated with arc flash hazard. Use of personal protective equipment only helps minimize injury and does not mitigate the issue of arc flash hazard. Hence there are a series of techniques employed to minimize this damage.

Arc flash mitigation systems include and are not limited to:

Carelabs offers a detailed report of arc flash hazard analysis and mitigation which includes the summary, observations, and recommendations along with all relevant drawings inscribed by our Professional Engineer. The drawings and report will also be provided to you in a digital format.

The threat of arc flash hazard from accidental contact with energized parts can be life threatening and can cause severe personal and financial loss. Companies should take additional steps to reduce the potential for an arc flash and implement solutions to mitigate arc flash hazards.

Performing arc flash hazard analysis is tedious. By hiring a professional from Carelabs, will help you take load off your shoulders and ensure that everything at your company is up to code and in line with state regulations.

Contact us to get your arc flash hazard analysis and mitigation report today!

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Introduction In electric hazards, arc flashes are among the most dreadful threats. Despite their criticality, many myths surround arc flashes. Although IEEE and NFPA continuously strive to enhance awareness, five to ten arc flashes happen in the USA daily. We, at Carelabs understand the importance of maintaining a healthy electrical infrastructure. To help companies […]