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Understanding the hazards and qualifications involved with arc flash

analysis fieldwork

Steven J AbbottStark Safety Consultants

Continuing Education CreditsNECA has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by

the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.

This session is eligible for 0.1 IACET CEUs

To earn these credits you must:• Have your badge scanned in and out at the door• Attend 90% of this presentation• Fill out the online evaluation for this session

This seminar is offered as an introduction and will address, “What an individual should know who is going to be involved in gathering the necessary field data to be used in an incident energy analysis .”

In general, this 90 minute instructor-led presentation provides the participant with a basic understanding of safety and technical qualifications and skills needed for "mapping" the electrical system as well as the details and accuracy issues that can be the difference between a good study or "something" less than reliable.

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•16years: JATC committee member

•21 years: Electrical Safety Program Developer, OSHA Outreach instructor.

•2005: President Stark Safety Consultants

•2006: National Training Partner - N.J.A.T.C.

•2012: Electrical contributor-QualifiedSafety.com

Steven J. AbbottPresident – Stark Safety Consultants

Learning ObjectivesFollowing this session, participants will be able to:

• List the required skills and knowledge of a Qualified Person for work near energized parts.

• List safety concerns for accessing equipment to allow for minimal facility down time

• Identify the basic data required to be collected in electrical equipment needed for an incident energy analysis.

• Identify when a photo is recommended to be taken for liability and verification of device details

• Identify some typical data collection pitfalls that can effect results of analysis

Recordkeeping AuditingBudgeting

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Why should I get involved?1. “Bid  specs  are  asking  for  Arc  flash  and  related  

studies.”

2. “Requirements  for  who  is  doing  the  study  are  very  demanding”

3. “I  have  a  customer  who  has  asked  for  help”

4. “I  know  I  need  to  get  to  my  customers  about  this  before  someone  else  does”

BenefitsGood: Help customer understand why /how you need to protect your employees

Better: Shift  more  work  to  your  “qualified”  personnel  

Best: Become  a  resource/solution  provider…..not  just  the lowest price!

OSHA Final Ruling 1910.269 In  part…

x No later than January 1, 2015, employers must estimate the incident heat energy of any electric-arc hazard to which a worker would be exposed.

x No later than April 1, 2015, employers generally must provide workers exposed to hazards from electric arcs with protective clothing and other protective equipment with an arc rating greater than or equal to the estimated heat energy.

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Remember why

Purpose and Goals

NFPA 70E: 130.5 Arc Flash Hazard Analysis. An arc flash hazard analysis shall determine:• Arc flash boundary• Incident energy at the working distance• Personal protective equipment that people within

the arc flash boundary shall use.

*Based  on  the  working  distance  from  the  employee’s  face and chest areas from the prospective arc source

How do you knowDone right

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Don’t  show  how it should be…  

Show how it is.

Protect yourself

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Protect yourself

• NFPA 70E 2012110.2 (D)(1)(b)

Such persons permitted to work within the Limited approach boundary of exposed energized electrical conductors and circuit parts operating at 50volts or more shall, at a minimum be additionally trained in all of the following:

Qualified Person

• Ability to distinguish exposed, energized conductors and circuits from other parts of equipment

• Ability to determine nominal voltage

• Understanding of the required approach distances, both arc flash and shock

• Ability to assess hazards and determine what PPE and safety practices are required to work safely

Qualified Person

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Such Persons shall be familiar with:• Special Precautionary techniques

• Work practices, Voltage testing, LOTO• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Arc rated clothing, Arc rated head protection options, Voltage rated gloves, tools,

• Insulating & Shielding materials• Blankets, shields,

• Test Equipment• Ratings, limitations, Inspections, Proficiency in

indicating functions• Inspection, safe use and upkeep of above items

Qualified Person29 CFR 1926.32(l) IN PART… "Qualified" means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability……

29 CFR 1910.399…Qualified person. One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.

“Bootcamp”• Purpose/goals

• Data collection Team– Qualifications– responsibilities/duties

• Safety procedures

• Typical data guidelines

• Photos –”who, what, when”

• Utility data

• Equipment needs

• Data collection pitfalls

• Dealing with difficult to obtain data

• Installing labels

• Tracking changes

• Hands on training process to assist in growing your team

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Data collection “Base”  process1. Protect yourself and others in the immediate area before

starting (Boundaries and PPE)2. Create the Device ID3. Gather data

a.CONDUIT/WIRE/DISTANCE: Incoming line side conduit and wire

b.Protective device detailsc.CONDUIT/WIRE/DISTANCE: Outgoing load side

conduit and wire4. Photos and notes5. Double-check with team

Make sure device is secure before moving on

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1. CONDUIT / WIRE / DISTANCE: Incoming Line-side

2. DETAILS: Protective device

3. CONDUIT / WIRE / DISTANCE: Outgoing Load-side

1

2

3

1 3

Mark conduits to ensure you have clear details after the cover is reinstalled.

3#6 #8N #10G THW

Breaker 1F25 information

No Box around ID = no label

Conduit and wire informationNo distance yet

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• Evaluate equipment and immediate surroundings with the following in mind:• Overall scope of the project• Time required to set up arc flash boundary, collect data,

and then remove arc flash boundary.i. You may be blocking key traffic areas during this time

periodii.You may need to plan or schedule your activities based

on operations or processes at the facility.

“You  don’t  want  to  open  the  lunch  room  panel  at lunchtime.”

Keys to consider:

Digital Images

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Refer  to  file  name…NOT  a  date/time  stamp  within  the  image

Refer  to  file  name…NOT  a  date/time  stamp  within  the  image

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Understanding of trip units/settings

Overwhelming Scale

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Hazardous Conditions

Hazardous Conditions

Covered Data Plates

Breaker cat #

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Verify Connectivity

Verify Connectivity

Understand of how to sketch/model

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Be able to spot issues

#3 wires tapped off of 1200A buss…feeding 100amp panel - 95 feet away

Understand of how to sketch/model

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Summary• May need to open live cabinets to visually gain information  needed…..danger  with  this  and  qualifications needed for those involved.

• Remember: Conduit in /conduit out and details of gear for data needed

• Photos can be valuable for preventing going into cabinet  a  2nd  time….and  to  validate  the  data  collected

• Data is not always as obvious as it may first appear

Summary• Remember accuracy  can  be  “life  or  death”:

• Don’t  forget why you are doing it in the first place• Take the time to confirm you have the data you need

in a format that can be used.

What you are working for?

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We fix $5 HaircutsArc flash studies

Incomplete

Inaccurate

BAD