Understanding Arc Flash Hazards
Arc flash incidents are among the most common and dangerous hazards in the electrical power industry. These events occur when a fault causes energy to arc through the air, traveling from one conductor to another or to ground. Arc flashes usually result from equipment failures in systems with high available incident energy—a dangerous measure of how much energy a system can release during a fault. As little as 1.2 cal/cm² of incident energy can cause second-degree burns.
Impact on Safety and Equipment
Arc flashes don’t just damage equipment or cause downtime. They are also a leading cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. According to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, over 30,000 arc flash incidents occur annually, resulting in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths. Common causes include misoperation of protection devices, incorrect settings, delayed trip response, and poor maintenance.
Assessing Your Facility’s Risk
To evaluate your facility’s arc flash risk, begin with a comprehensive study. This process includes data gathering, impedance diagramming, short circuit analysis, and incident energy calculation.
In addition to analysis, the study educates employees about job-site hazards by defining protection boundaries, approach distances, arc energy levels, and PPE requirements specific to your site.
Staying Compliant with NFPA 70E
NFPA 70E requires you to review your arc flash study every five years or after any major electrical system changes. Once complete, label equipment with clear hazard warnings. These labels should also display the PPE required for safe access or work.
Reducing Incident Energy
After identifying risks, the next step is to reduce incident energy. Mitigation technologies can save lives, protect equipment, and reduce downtime. Lowering incident energy also allows employees to wear lighter PPE, improving mobility and comfort.
How ReeshaTech Can Help
ReeshaTech offers cost-effective strategies to help you manage and mitigate arc flash hazards. Our team reduces fault current levels and durations, increases working distances, and installs arc-resistant equipment. We also offer remote racking systems, current-limiting devices, relay coordination, differential protection, and arc-detection relays.
Safety-Focused, Budget-Conscious Solutions
As a trusted leader in arc flash assessments and mitigation, ReeshaTech delivers solutions that match your technical needs and budget. We provide turnkey, right-sized systems while keeping safety at the heart of every project. Our goal is to help you protect your team and maintain the integrity of your power systems.
