Arc Flash Studies: Understanding the Analysis and Benefits for Your Facility

Arc Flash Studies are essential for ensuring the safety of electrical systems in any facility. These studies evaluate the potential for arc flash incidents, which can occur during electrical faults and result in serious injuries or damage to equipment.

Safety is a top priority for any facility, and Arc Flash Studies help ensure that your electrical systems operate safely and without risk to employees and visitors. When should you consider an Arc Flash Study, how can you benefit from the study, and what's typically involved? We'll cover how these studies provide insights into the potential arc flash hazards and help mitigate risks to keep your team safe.

At Tec Inc., we are committed to providing comprehensive Arc Flash Studies that help our clients minimize risks and ensure workplace safety. A recent project we completed at Lincoln Electric Company is a perfect example of these studies' critical role. Our team studied the entire facility and generated over 2,000 arc flash labels for their electrical panels and equipment, providing valuable information to identify and address electrical hazards.

Below, we'll explore why Arc Flash Studies are necessary, their benefits, and what our process includes.

Why Do an Arc Flash Study?

Arc Flash Studies are safety analyses identifying the hazards associated with arc flash incidents in electrical systems.

An arc flash occurs when an electrical fault causes a short circuit or failure in the insulation of electrical components, resulting in a powerful, explosive release of energy. These incidents can lead to severe injuries, fatalities, and significant damage to equipment, causing costly downtime.

Sample Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Label

Conducting an Arc Flash Study is often required for facilities to comply with industry regulations, protect employees, and minimize operational risks. According to industry standards such as NFPA 70E (National Fire Protection Association), businesses must assess arc flash hazards and take the necessary steps to protect their workforce. Arc Flash Studies can help pinpoint electrical system risks, provide insights into safe work zones, educate staff on essential protective gear (PPE), and offer electrical maintenance guidelines.

Arc flash studies and related short-circuit analyses should be completed for any facility with medium or high-voltage electrical service. Arc flash hazards are a life-safety issue. NFPA 70E and OSHA require studies and training for anyone who works on energized equipment. At Tec Inc., we have provided dozens of arc flash studies to numerous clients and on-site training to a variety of industries across Ohio and Pennsylvania.

One example, Lincoln Electric Company, our Arc Flash Study helped safeguard the workplace and ensure compliance with safety standards. With over 1,000 electrical panels throughout the plant, each required a detailed analysis to determine the potential energy release and appropriate hazard classification.

How to Benefit from an Arc Flash Study

Conducting an Arc Flash Study provides tangible benefits that protect your workforce and reduce operational risks.

Enhanced Worker Safety

• The most crucial benefit of an Arc Flash Study is ensuring the safety of your workers. You can significantly reduce the likelihood of injury or death from an arc flash by identifying hazards and recommending protective measures such as PPE, safety barriers, or electrical configuration changes.

Compliance with Industry Standards

• An Arc Flash Study helps facilities comply with regulations such as OSHA standards, NFPA 70E, and IEEE, ensuring legal compliance and enhanced workplace safety. Oftentimes, non-compliance can increase an organization's risk of fines, legal issues, and liability.

Cost Savings from Preventing Equipment Damage

• Arc flash events can cause catastrophic damage to electrical equipment, leading to expensive restorations or replacements. By conducting a study and addressing potential risks, you can reduce repair and downtime costs.

Employee Training and Awareness

• Arc Flash Studies provide valuable data for training programs that raise awareness of electrical hazards and promote safe working practices. This results in a safer, more informed workforce and helps prevent accidents.

The labels provide valuable data to employees.

These benefits were valuable for Lincoln Electric. The study allowed them to address arc flash risks and ensure the safety of their employees.

What's Included in Our Process

At Tec Inc., our approach to Arc Flash Studies is comprehensive and systematic. Here's a breakdown of the key steps involved:

Data Collection

Our first step is typically gathering data on the existing electrical system. This often includes reviewing electrical drawings, one line diagrams, and maintenance records and conducting on-site inspections to assess all components comprehensively. Accurate data collection is critical for developing precise models and simulations.

System Modeling and Short Circuit Analysis

• We perform a short-circuit analysis to model the system's behavior during an electrical fault. This analysis helps determine the available fault current at various points, forming the foundation for calculating arc flash hazards.

Arc Flash Hazard Calculation

• Using data from the short-circuit analysis, we calculate the incident energy at each location in the facility. This calculation considers fault duration, system voltage, and available fault current, giving our team a clear understanding of potential arc flash hazards.

Sample Arc Flash Label

Labeling

• We create precise arc flash labels for each electrical panel or piece of equipment, such as those implemented at Lincoln Electric. These labels display vital information like the voltage, arc flash boundary, and incident energy, ensuring workers are fully informed of the risks.

  
  

Training and Safety Documentation

• Finally, we provide training and documentation to help a facility maintain safety standards and keep workers up to date with the latest protocols. This often includes guidelines for using PPE, safe working practices, and emergency procedures in case of an arc flash event.

Ongoing Support

• Arc Flash Studies are not a one-time process. As facilities make electrical system changes, updating the study and labels to reflect these modifications is critical to continued safety. Tec Inc. offers ongoing support to ensure your facility remains safe and compliant with evolving standards.

Take Action to Secure Your Facility

Arc Flash Studies are critical for ensuring electrical systems' safety, compliance, and efficiency. At Tec Inc., we are dedicated to helping our clients protect their teams, minimize risks, and meet the highest safety standards. Whether it's a small facility or a large manufacturing plant like Lincoln Electric, our Arc Flash Studies provide valuable insights to mitigate risks and support a safer, more efficient operation.

If you're considering an Arc Flash Study for your facility, don't hesitate to contact our team. We're here to guide you through the process and help create a safer environment for everyone.