Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
A tool being inserted or dropped into a breaker or service area, or another item accidentally left behind, that compromises the distance between energized components. A worker mistakenly failing to ensure that the equipment has been properly de-energized. For this reason it is always best not to service energized electrical equipment.
Five to ten arc flash explosions occur in electric equipment every day in the United States, according to statistics compiled by CapSchell, Inc., a Chicago-based research and consulting firm that specializes in preventing workplace injuries and deaths.
Five to ten arc flash explosions occur in electric equipment every day in the United States*
*CapSchell Inc.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E-2004, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace IEEE Standard 1584, Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations
These provide information on safe work practices and required protective equipment for electrical workers exposed to arc-flash hazards.
2
Table 1:
Clothing Category
Untreated Natural Fiber Clothing Fire Resistant Shirt and Fire Resistant Pants
System voltages Arcing fault current levels Distance from a worker to the fault source Duration of the fault
1 2 3
4 8 25
Cotton Underwear 2 plus Category 1 Fire Resistant Coverall Over Category 2 Multi-layer Flash Suit Over Category 2 3
Equipment type Prospective bolted fault currents Characteristics of the upstream protective devices
40
It is important to use the correct level of PPE equipment for the task and the hazards that are present. Too little PPE leaves workers inadequately protected, and is therefore undesirable. Too much PPE is also undesirable, as it may hinder movement and increase the level of risk associated with a specific work task, or create other hazards such as increased heat stress.
How can Schneider Canada Services help you implement NFPA 70E guidelines?
Schneider Canada Services can help you understand NFPA 70E in order to provide a safe working environment for your electricians and/or employees. As a safety-focused company, we take the lead in providing education and solutions to address changing electrical standards. To help meet the newly revised standards on arc flash, we can assist you by conducting an assessment that will provide a baseline to determine the status of the equipment in place and recommending remedial actions, if necessary, to mitigate arc flash incidents. The assessment and recommendations may include:
For assistance with implementing NFPA 70E guidelines in your facility, Call 1 (800) 265-3374 Or contact your regional Schneider Electric sales office. Or visit our web site at: www.schneider-electric.ca/services
Analyzing and calculating the degree of arc flash hazard. Type of personal protective equipment required. Type of training needed for workers. List of tools needed for safe work. Description of warning labels required for equipment. Deployment of products, solutions or methods to limit arc flash, when possible. Assist with specifications for new or upgrade of existing equipment .
Give an information seminar to help you understand NFPA 70E and changes to the Canadian Electrical Code. Provide an assessment of your facility to determine what you must do to comply with NFPA 70E. Conduct an arc flash analysis to determine the incident energy levels and boundary distances. This may include a short circuit analysis. Provide recommendations of PPE category and labeling requirements, and interpretation of NFPA guidelines. Recommend changes to equipment protection settings and/or possible retrofit options to reduce arc flash incident energy levels. Train your employees on arc flash hazards and the use of PPE.
Schneider Canada Services engineers can help mitigate the risk associated with arc flash.
Schneider Canada Services provides your organization with the information you need to understand the dangers of arc flash and what you can do to improve electrical workplace safety. Our trained experts are familiar with arc flash incidents, recommendations for mitigating risk and current guidelines to help train your employees and ensure your facilities meet current standards. Workplace safety and efficiency By completing a full arc flash assessment, a company can determine what equipment labeling and safe boundary distances are required and ensure the best possible mix of worker safety and efficiency. The risks of not doing an assessment can be very expensive. First, without knowing the boundary distance of an arc flash event, it is impossible to know where to begin implementing safety procedures. The assessment activity provides the background necessary to make intelligent safety decisions. For instance, if electricians are required to work on "hot" or energized equipment, without knowledge of the hazards involved, the highest level of protection (PPE) would be required. Unfortunately, Level 4 PPE, which is very difficult to work in, may not provide protection from the impact of a blast and may not even be necessary in many cases. Attempting to complete work in a Level 4 suit such as the one shown below is very slow and time-consuming. Also, depending on the complexity of the job and manual dexterity required, some work is more difficult to complete in this type of suit. According to the requirements outlined in NFPA 70E, employees working on or around energized electrical equipment are required to understand PPE "arc flash exposure levels" to determine the level of protection required. Arc flash exposure is related to:
The amount of fault current that could flow at a particular point in the electrical system. The time required for the nearest upstream overcurrent protective device to operate and stop the current flow.
Schneider Canada Services offers arc flash analyses, performed by professional engineers, to identify appropriate levels of PPE for your employees.
PPE category recommendations presented in a clear, tabular format (Based on IEEE Standard 1584, Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations). Written report of findings and recommendations for reducing arc flash hazards. Optional power equipment labels listing PPE category recommendations for attachment to existing enclosures. Optional colour-coded, single-line diagram showing PPE category recommendations for posting in electrical rooms. Optional on-site electrical safety training for your staff.
Arc flash study has not been performed in the past three years. Short-circuit, protective coordination studies have not been performed in the past five years. Changes have occurred to the electrical distribution system or electric utility system. A safety audit is required. Your facilitys insurance policy is up for renewal. Modifications or expansions of the electrical distribution system are being considered.
5
At your facility
Our experts can conduct customized, on-site training at your facility to educate your employees and any outside electrical contractors you use about the dangers of arc flash and how to follow the NFPA workplace safety guidelines. This training will enable your employees and contractors to:
Realize the dangers of exposure to arc flash. Manage arc flash incident protection more effectively. Understand the different levels of PPE. Implement effective safety procedures. Choose the correct type of equipment youll need to work on and around your own electrical equipment. Conduct arc flash assessments and distance calculations.
Provides participants with a basic understanding of safe work place practices. Reviews the NFPA 70E 2004 Edition guidelines. Provides a basic overview of correct distribution equipment maintenance procedures.
Powerzone IV low voltage switchgear with Masterpact arc fault circuit breakers.
Retrofit solutions
Masterpact arc flash circuit breakers provide arc flash protection without fuses, using breakthrough technology exclusive to the industry.
Retrofit existing low voltage power circuit breakers using the new arc flash Masterpact NW or NT retrofit and/or direct replacement products. Schneider Canada Services offers direct replacement breakers for many manufacturers low and medium voltage breakers, including Allis Chalmers, Federal Pacific, Federal Pioneer, General Electric, ITE/ABB and Westinghouse. Install H.VIR Comet Infrared (IR) viewing windows, which allow diagnostic IR scanning without removing equipment covers to improve worker safety while assessing equipment condition. The crystal material used in the H.VIR windows is up to 96% transparent to infrared wavelengths, which ensures accurate IR scanning while maintaining the equipments NEMA or IEC/EN IP ingress rating. Install auto rack remote racking system for the existing medium voltage circuit breakers to help keep workers at a safe distance from potential arc flash locations. Install the Square D arc terminator device retrofitted into existing MasterClad medium voltage switchgear to reduce or eliminate arc flash hazards. Upgrade low or medium voltage breakers with Sepam medium voltage protection relays or Carriere low voltage protective relays. Both offer LSIG functionality to help reduce breaker tripping times. Sepam protective relays allow you to switch between two protective relay settings. This allows you to select the more sensitive settings based upon arc fault conditions when working on equipment.
The Comet H.VIR infrared viewing window uses a crystalline material that is up to 96% transparent to infrared wavelengths. This ensures accurate infrared scanning while maintaining the equipments NEMA or IP ingress rating.
Sepam medium voltage and Carriere low voltage protective relays provide LSIG functionality to reduce tripping times under arc flash conditions.
When designing a new system, contact your Schneider Electric consulting engineering specialist to help with the specification of our new Square D Powerzone 4 low voltage switchgear, which can include Masterpact NW or NT arc flash branch circuit breakers. As an alternative to arc resistant switchgear, a Square D arc terminator device can be installed in one cell of a Square D MasterClad medium voltage switchgear lineup, protecting up to 10 breakers. The Arc Terminator system detects and controls the effects of arcing faults. It extinguishes arcs in less than 1/4 of a cycle, significantly minimizing equipment damage and reducing equipment downtime.
7
The Square D Arc Terminator system detects and controls the effects of arcing faults, extinguishing arcs in less than 1/4 of a cycle.
Our powerful family of brand names is integrated into a truly global offering that provides comprehensive solutions and a wide range of products, equipment and services.
Since 1945, Federal Pioneer distribution equipment has been installed in Canadian utilities and industrial, commercial and residential facilities.
Since 1920, Merlin Gerin has been an international leader in low and medium voltage IEC type electrical distribution, circuit protection, metering and control.
For more than a century, Square D has provided leading-edge NEMAtype electrical distribution and industrial control products and systems.
For over 80 years, Telemecanique has provided leading-edge industrial control products, systems and solutions.
NFPA 70E is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02169
Schneider Canada Services 6675 Rexdale Road Mississauga Ontario L4V 1V1 CANADA Tel: (905) 678-7000 Fax: (905) 678-8583 S0180BR0401EP R2
Head office/Sige social 19 Waterman Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4B 1Y2 www.schneider-electric.ca Tel.: (416) 752-8020 Fax: (416) 752-6230 June 2007