Can someone help me understand and relay the reasoning behind needing arc flash PPE when racking breakers in an MCC? The argument was that if the door needs to be open when racking the breaker it is obvious why you need PPE. If the door can remain closed and a breaker racked in via a small racking port, why do you need PPE when you could close the breaker without any PPE? We were just going by the table in 130.6.

I would say it's due to additional risk. As you know, the tables are risk based. For example, there is a higher risk for racking/unracking because of operator error. It is/has been the case where breakers are racked in to their final position in the closed position, drawing and arc, and...well you know the rest.

Mike

If an arc flash occurs, the doors may not remain closed and even if they do, energy can still be released through any hole, vent etc. The link is to a video where I have 2 arc flash tests. The second one is 18,000 amps and it blows the door open. Hope it helps give you better feel for what happens.

VIDEO: Doors Blowing Open

Why not implement remote racking from outside the boundary?

Yes, you wear PPE to do this process. If you watched Jim's video, you saw that the doors don't necessarily stay closed and keep an arc flash contained. How a latched door can open is another question, but they do fly open.
The question I have is how often do you do this process? Seems like racking a breaker in or out of a MCC is not a standard process. If you do this on a regular basis, I'd want to know why and is it really so important?

For clarity the work task is racking a power circuit breaker in or out of switchgear, not an MCC.

Follow a procedure, turn off the load following normal procedures. Line side is energized. Open door racking is recommended as if there is any pressure it will be reduced.

Before the work task is executed, has your employer completed a risk assessment procedure for the work task? The RAP will include the work task's shock risk assessment and arc flash risk assessment with the outcome determining additional protective measures.

The overall Job and individual work task's risk assessment includes a review of the potential injury or damage to health and likelihood of occurrence to determine the hierarchy of risk control methods to apply to eliminate exposure or reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

All of this would be in the employer's documented, implemented and audited Electrical Safety Program.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the idea that you can close a breaker without PPE under "Normal Operation" conditions is a misconception. NFPA 70E article 110.4(D) states Normal operation of electric equipment is permitted if a normal operating condition exists. Not that PPE isn't required. To clarify further, this statement is under section 110.4 (Energized work) which is listing examples of when energized work is permitted. Therefore this article is giving permission to perform "energized work" without a permit under Normal Operation conditions, not saying you don't need PPE.

Thanks!