I am working on several jobs to upgrade electrical systems for a customer that wants to be NFPA 70E compliant. One job involves installing three new 65hp, 480v soft starters on pump motors. The job can be done with the controls and starters in a multi-door panel or with a separate control panel and the starters in an MCC. What are some opinions on the approach when considering arc flash. Would the entire multi-door panel have to be de-energized to work on one starter? Interested in any thoughts or opinions based on your experience.

We have a few MCC's in our industrial plants, but it is more common to find the multi-door panels with motor starters inside. Most of our panels calculate to be cat 0 as far as arc flash is concerned. We do require that the entire multi-door panel be de-energized or an energized work permit be issued to work in any part of the panel. Appropriate PPE should be worn if panel is energized. If troubleshooting, we forego the permit but still wear the PPE.