Arc Flash Safety

Qualified Persons Working On

Or Near Energized Equipment
What Is an Arc Flash?
An arc flash is a high-amperage short circuit that sends an
electric current through the air.

 It occurs when an electric current flows between separate

energized conducting surfaces, such as when circuit breakers
and disconnects are opened and closed, when energized
equipment is touched with a tool, or when equipment fails.

 Most electrical arc flash injuries do not occur in the

presence of high-voltage (above 600 volts) electrical currents.
Low voltage equipment sources (under 600 volts) account for
most electrical arc flash occurrences.

 However, high-voltage incidents can be the most

catastrophic.
Arc Flash
Electrical short circuit
or arc through the air

Concentrated energy
explodes outward

High-intensity flash

Instantaneous arc
blast pressure wave

Superheated ball of gas

melts metal, burns clothes
and skin
ARC FLASH
• As much as 80% of all electrical
injuries are burns resulting from
an arc-flash and ignition of
flammable clothing.

• Arc temperature can reach

35,000°F - this is four times hotter
than the surface of the sun
Fatal burns can occur at distances
over 10 ft.
ARC EXPOSURE ENERGY BASICS
Exposure Energy is Expressed in
cal/cm2

1 cal/cm2 Equals the Exposure on the

tip of a finger by a Cigarette Lighter in
One Second

An Exposure Energy of Only One or Two

cal/cm2 Will Cause a 2nd Degree Burn
on Human Skin
Arc as a Heat Source

The electrical arc is recognized as high - level heat source.

 The temperatures at the metal terminals are high, reliably

reported to be 20,000 K (35,000 ° F).
The special types of arcs can reach 50,000 K (about
90,000°F).

The only higher temperature source known on earth is the

laser, which can produce 100,000 K.
ARC FLASH HAZARDS

Apart from thermal burns, an arcing phenomenon is

associated with other hazards too,
• Electrical shock
• Molten metal
• Projectiles
• Blast and pressure waves
• Intense light
• Intense sound
• Fire
• Effect of strong magnetic fields and plasma
• Toxic gases and vapors.
Severe burns
 Hearing loss
 Punctures and lacerations
Fireball destroys skin
and tissue

Heat blast can extend

several feet from
source

Burns from hot

surfaces, projectiles, and
fireball
 Molten Metal
35,000 °F

Pressure Waves

Sound Waves

Copper Vapor: Shrapnel

Solid to Vapor
Expands by
67,000 times Hot Air-Rapid Expansion

Intense Light

ARC FLASH HAZARDS

Causes of Arc Flash
Tools dropped on conductors, circuit breakers, or other
energized parts, which can cause a short-circuit;

Accidental contact with electrical systems, such as a worker

accidentally touching an energized conductor thought to be
de-energized;

Improper work procedures, such as working on energized

equipment when it should have been de-energized or locked out;

Insulation failure where the fault current’s magnetic effect causes

conductors to separate, producing an arc; Testing electrical
equipment with inappropriate instruments; and Inattentiveness to the
risks posed by energized equipment
Causes of Arc Flash
Buildup of dust, impurities,
and corrosion on insulating
surface

Sparks produced during

racking of breakers,
replacement of fuses, and
closing into faulted lines

Birds or rodents that break

leads at connections
ARC BLAST

As opposed to arc flash, which is associated with thermal

hazard and burns, arc blast is associated with extreme
pressure and rapid pressure buildup.

 Consider a person positioned directly in front of an event and

high pressure impinging upon his chest and
close to the heart and the hazard associated with it.
Arc Flash Hazard Prevention
Safe Work Practices - Review the Operation

 Read all warning signs

 Read the hot work permit

 Match the tools to the

operation

 Take whatever readings

are necessary to quantify the
system’s operation.
Arc Flash Hazard Prevention
Safe Work Practices - Determine the Hazards
Identify and inspect
energized parts

Respect the flash

protection boundary

Identify sharp objects

and other obstructions

Identify all environmental

hazards
Arc Flash Hazard Prevention
Safe Work Practices—De energizing and Lockout

 Identify all possible sources of energy supply

Open disconnecting device(s)

Verify device is open

Apply lockout/tag out devices

Test voltage—double check instrument rating

Apply grounding devices

Arc Flash Hazard Prevention
Safe Work Practices—Wear Appropriate PPE
Helmet or headgear

Arc-rated face shield

Safety glasses & gloves

Rated shoes/boots

Rated flame-resistant clothing

No metal button, clasps, or zippers!

Arc Flash Hazard Prevention
Respect the flash protection boundary
 Methods of Reducing Hazard Risk
Remote operation, avoiding human machine interface to avoid
human errors during routine operation

Remote racking of circuit breakers

Specifying Current Limiting Fuses on Low Voltage Switchgear

Breakers
Specifying ARC Resistance Medium Voltage Switchgear
Remote Control of Switchgear Breakers
High Resistance Grounding on Low Voltage and Medium
Voltage (15kV and below) Systems
SYSTEM AND EQUIPMENT GROUNDING
The grounding systems can be studied under two
classifications:
(1) system grounding

(2) equipment grounding

(1) System grounding

System grounding refers to the electrical connection between

the phase conductors and ground and dictates the manner in
which the neutral points of Y - connected transformers and
generators or artificially derived neutral systems through delta
- Y or zigzag transformers are grounded.
(2) Equipment grounding

The equipment grounding refers to the grounding of the

exposed metallic parts of the electrical equipment, which can
become energized and create a potential to ground — say
due to breakdown of insulation or fault — and can be
potential safety hazard

SYSTEM GROUNDING

EQUIPEMENT GROUNDING
Types of System grounding

Solidly Grounded Systems

A power system is solidly grounded when the generator, power

transformer, or grounding transformer neutral is directly
connected to the ground.
Resistance Grounded Systems
Low Resistance Grounding Systems Neutral Grounding
Resistors (NGR’s) limit the fault current when one phase of the
system shorts or arcs to ground.

High Resistance Grounding (HRG) systems limit the fault

current when one phase of the system shorts or arcs to ground,
but at lower levels than low resistance systems.
Reactance grounding
In this system, instead of resistance, a reactance is connected
between neutral and earth with ratio of reactance more than 3.
Types of Equipment earthing
Plate Earthing

In plate earthing system, a plate made up of either copper with

dimensions 60cm x 60cm x 3.18mm (i.e. 2ft x 2ft x 1/8 in) or
galvanized iron (GI) of dimensions 60cm x 60cm x 6.35 mm
(2ft x 2ft x ¼ in) is buried vertical in the earth (earth pit) which
should not be less than 3m (10ft) from the ground level.
Pipe earthing
A galvanized steel and a perforated pipe of
approved length and diameter is placed vertically
in a wet soil in this kind of system of earthing. It is
the most common system of earthing.

The size of pipe to use depends on the magnitude

of current and the type of soil. The dimension of
the pipe is usually 40mm (1.5in) in diameter and
2.75m (9ft) in length for ordinary soil or greater for
dry and rocky soil. The moisture of the soil will
determine the length of the pipe to be buried but
usually it should be 4.75m (15.5ft).
Rod earthing

it is the same method as pipe earthing

.
A copper rod of 12.5mm (1/2 inch)
diameter or 16mm (0.6in) diameter of
galvanized steel or hollow section
25mm (1inch) of GI pipe of length
above 2.5m (8.2 ft) are buried upright in
the earth manually or with the help of a
pneumatic hammer.
The length of embedded electrodes in
the soil reduces earth resistance to a
desired value.
Strip or Wire earthing

In this method of earthing strip electrodes of cross-

section not less than 25mm x 1.6mm (1in x 0.06in) is
buried in a horizontal trenches of a minimum depth of
0.5m. If copper with a cross-section of 25mm x 4mm (1in x
0.15in) is used and a dimension of 3.0mm2 if it’s a
galvanized iron or steel.

If at all round conductors are used, their cross-section

area should not be too small, say less than 6.0mm2 if it’s a
galvanized iron or steel. The length of the conductor
buried in the ground would give a sufficient earth
resistance and this length should not be less than 15m.
 Current Limiting Fuses
A current - limiting fuse is designed to reduce equipment
damage by interrupting the rising fault current before it reaches
its peak value.

The total clearing time consists of melting time, sometimes

called the prearcing time, and the arcing time.

Current - limiting fuses have a fusible element of non-

homogeneous cross - section.

It may be perforated or notched, and, while operating, it fi rst

melts at the notches because of reduced cross - sectional area.
 Each melted notch forms an arc that lengthens and disperses
the element material into the surrounding medium.

Generally, a silver element is placed in a sand medium.

When it is melted by current in the
specified current - limiting range, it
abruptly introduces a high resistance
to reduce the current
magnitude and duration.

It generates an internal arc voltage,

much greater than the system voltage,
to force the current to zero, before the
natural current zero crossing.
Remote operation, avoiding human machine
interface to avoid human errors during routine
operation

safe work practice…….?

Remote operation of switch gear Manual operation of switch gear

Remote racking of circuit breakers
 The process of racking a circuit breaker into and out of the
connected position is one of the most frequent exercises that
expose an operator to risk

Remote racking solutions reduce the need for full-body arc-flash

hazard suits by taking technicians outside the arc-flash boundary.
You Can Do It. You Should Do It.
Don’t Work Live.
The Electrical Safety Authority encourages those who do
electrical work to disconnect before working on electric
panels and other equipment. Don't work live!

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