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Safety BASICs
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Electrical Hazards
Shock
Arc-Flash
Heat
Fire
Arc-Blast
Pressure
Shrapnel
Sound
Example of an arcing fault
Safety BASICs
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Shock
Over 30,000 non-fatal electrical shock
accidents occur each year
Over 600 people die from electrocution each
year
Electrocution remains the fourth (4th) highest
cause of industrial fatalities
Most injuries and deaths could be avoided
Safety BASICs
Shock (Resistance Table)
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Safety BASICs
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Shock
Current passing through the heart and lungs is the most serious
Safety BASICs
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Shock
Human body resistance (hand to hand)
across the body is about 1000
Ohms Law: I = V / R (Amps.)
I = 480 volts / 1000
= 0.48 amps (480 mA)
The National Electrical Code considers 5
mA to be the safe upper limit for children
and adults.
Safety BASICs
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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 35,000F - this is
four times hotter than the surface of the sun
Fatal burns can occur at distances over 10 ft.
Over 2000 people are admitted into burn
centers each year with severe electrical
burns
Electrical Arc
35,000 F
Molten Metal
Pressure Waves
Sound Waves
Copper Vapor:
Solid to Vapor
Expands by
67,000 times
Shrapnel
Hot Air-Rapid Expansion
Intense Light
Intense Light
Damage eyes cataracts
Shrapnel
Flung Across Room or From Ladder/Bucket
Arc-Flash
Test No. 4
22.6 KA Symmetrical
Available Fault Current
@ 480V, 3 Phase
6 cycle STD
Set @ 6 cycle opening
640A OCPD
Non Current Limiting
with Short Time Delay
Fault Initiated on
Line Side of 30A
Fuse
30A RK-1
Current Limiting Fuse
Size 1 Starter
TEST 4
TEST 4
TEST 4
TEST 4
TEST 4
TEST 4
TEST 4
Results:
Test No. 4
22.6 KA Symmetrical
Available Fault Current
@ 480V, 3 Phase
Opened in
six cycles
No Current
Limitation
Fault Initiated on
Line Side of 30A
Fuse
640A OCPD
Non Current Limiting
with Short Time Delay
30A RK-1
Current Limiting Fuse
Size 1 Starter
141.5 db @ 2 ft.
P1
T2
>2160 lbs/sq.ft
T1
> 225 C /
437 F
Test No. 3
22.6 KA Symmetrical
Available Fault Current
@ 480V, 3 Phase
601A.
Class L
Current Limiting Fuse
Fault Initiated on
Line Side of 30A
Fuse
30A RK-1
Current Limiting Fuse
Size 1 Starter
TEST 3
TEST 3
TEST 3
TEST 3
Results:
Test No. 3
Cleared in 1/4 Cycle
Current-Limitation
Reduced Energy
Fault Initiated on
Line Side of 30A
Fuse
22.6 KA Symmetrical
Available Fault Current
@ 480V, 3 Phase
601A.
Class L
Current Limiting
Fuse
30A RK-1
Current Limiting Fuse
Size 1 Starter
133 db @ 2 ft.
P1
T2
62 C / 143.6 F
504 lbs/sq.ft.
T3
(No Change
From Ambient)
T1
> 175 C/
347 F
Test No. 1
22.6 KA Symmetrical
Available Fault Current
@ 480V, 3 Phase
601A.
Class L
Current Limiting
Fuse
30A RK-1
Current Limiting
Fuse
Fault Initiated on
Load Side of 30A
Fuse
Size 1 Starter
TEST 1
TEST 1 Close-up
TEST 1 Close-up
TEST 1 Close-up
TEST 1 Close-up
TEST 1 Close-up
22.6 KA Symmetrical
Available Fault Current
@ 480V, 3 Phase
Results:
Test No. 1
Class L Fuse
Did Not Open,
System was
Selectively
Coordinated
30 A RK-1 Fuse
Cleared Fault in
Less Than 1/4
Cycle
601A.
Class L
Current Limiting Fuse
30A RK-1
Current Limiting
Fuse
Size 1 Starter
Fault Initiated on
Load Side of 30A
Fuse
T2
(No Change
From Ambient)
T3
(No Change
From Ambient)
P1
(No Change
From Ambient)
T1
(No Change
From Ambient)
Safety BASICs
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Non-Current Limiting
Current Limiting
Consider that:
Magnetic Force -- varies with the square of the Peak Current
Thermal Energy -- varies with the square of the RMS Current
Safety BASICsTM
Current-Limitation: Arc-Energy Reduction
Test 4
Test 3
Non-Current Limiting
Test 1
Safety BASICs
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