What is an Arc Flash?
An arc flash is a short circuit through air that flashes over from one exposed live conductor to another conductor or to ground.
Simply put, an arc flash is a phenomenon where a flash over of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. The results are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur.
Arc flash can be caused by many things including:
•Dust
•Dropping tools
•Accidental touching
•Condensation
•Material failure
•Corrosion
•Faulty Installation
•Coming close to a high-amp source with a conductive object can cause the electricity to flash over.
•Dropping a tool or otherwise creating a spark can ignite an arc flash
•Equipment failure due to use of substandard parts, improper installation, or even normal wear and tear
•Breaks or gaps in insulation.
Three factors determine the severity of an arc flash injury:
•Proximity of the worker to the hazard
•Temperature
•Time for circuit to break
Simply put, an arc flash is a phenomenon where a flash over of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. The results are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur.
Arc flash can be caused by many things including:
•Dust
•Dropping tools
•Accidental touching
•Condensation
•Material failure
•Corrosion
•Faulty Installation
•Coming close to a high-amp source with a conductive object can cause the electricity to flash over.
•Dropping a tool or otherwise creating a spark can ignite an arc flash
•Equipment failure due to use of substandard parts, improper installation, or even normal wear and tear
•Breaks or gaps in insulation.
Three factors determine the severity of an arc flash injury:
•Proximity of the worker to the hazard
•Temperature
•Time for circuit to break
Definitions
Arc Flash Boundary (AFB) - is the distance at which an electrical arc can flash outward, which may endanger employees working on electrical equipment?
Arc Flash Boundary (AFB) - is the distance at which an electrical arc can flash outward, which may endanger employees working on electrical equipment?
Flash Protection Boundary (FPB) - the calculated safe working distance from electrical equipment which would not expose the employee to the hazards associated with an electrical arc flash.
Electrical Assessment - an analytical evaluation which would calculate the arc flash potential of an electrical component 1 hazard, used to establish the flash protection boundary and the correct level of required PPE, determined by an electrical engineer or the equivalent.
Electrical Assessment - an analytical evaluation which would calculate the arc flash potential of an electrical component 1 hazard, used to establish the flash protection boundary and the correct level of required PPE, determined by an electrical engineer or the equivalent.
Qualified Employees (per NFPA 70E, 2000 Edition, Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces) - a qualified person shall be trained and knowledgeable of the construction and operation of equipment or a specific work method, and be trained to recognize and avoid the electrical hazards that might be present with respect to that equipment or work method.
•His skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed energized parts from other parts of the electric equipment.
•The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed energized parts.
•The approach distance specified in the tables and the corresponding voltage to which the qualified person will be exposed.