All, it appears that some discussion indicate that UL 891 Switchboards probably will not provide enough ready barriers to stop an arc flash from propagating to the main section and disabling the Main PD. Yet with the NEC requirement that 1200A and larger main breakers have RELT and the labeled PPE be able to rely on it, if a manufacturer/UL shop provides a RELT on their main breaker are they indicating their switchboard will provide downstream section flash isolation? Thus UL891 Switchboards that are now required to have RELT do have adequate isolation from downstream sections to the main section?

Unless there is a barrier between the main and feeder sections...my opinion is the arc reduction switch is worthless. Our design engineering group installed some new equipment with them and in many cases there is no barrier or isolation. Would love to hear others comments.

Mike

I agree with Mike. Unless there is substantial barrier between the main breaker with a RELT or the main breaker is mounted in a separate enclosure, there are no benefits to the RELT.

This has bothered me for several years now. I've tried to get an informational note added to NFPA 70 to inform users that some arc reduction technology like RELT may provide a false sense of safety. Without adequate barriers, if a main with RELT is in the same enclosure as other breakers then it's benefits cannot be realized at that panel. If, activating RELT creates miscoordination then there may be benefits but only to the downstream equipment. Better guidance should be given. Better engineering should be applied. These devices should be used properly along with written safe work practices.

Unfortunately manufactures and others seemingly mandate the addition of RELT with little thought given to the application.

This is a training issue.
While the RELT is unlikely to help at the point where it is installed it can be used to mitigate issue with downstream equipment.

Arc Flash training needs to emphasize devices cannot 'protect' themselves. They only protect downstream locations.