The CSA Z462 Technical Committee met on October 27, 2020 and final ballot vote for the 2021 Edition completed. We should see published by end of January 2021. This time around CSA Z462 has deviated from NFPA 70E 2021 Edition, some key differences are:

1. New Arc Flash PPE Category 5, Min. 75 cal/cm2.
2. New alternate Table V.1 to Table 6A for the arc flash PPE category method.
3. Content of Clause changes may not match NFPA 70E Articles content.

There are more changes. I will be issuing a Differences document in the near future.

I am a founding member, first past Vice-Chair, voting member, and working group leader of Clause 4.1 and the Annexes of the CSA Z462 Technical Committee.

Thanks for that information Terry. I have come across CSA Z462 in Europe so its good to know about any significant differences with NFPA 70E.

Mike

That is too bad that the committee deviated from NFPA 70E. Now all power study software companies will have to race and implement a Canadian version for their Arc Flash modules. Why must we continue to over engineer and complicate things!

CSA Z462 has not direct relationship to the arc flash hazard incident energy analysis studies, they are based on IEEE 1584 2018 Edition for 208VAC to 15kV. No impact on the power system software. The power system software should NOT have any correlation between incident energy and HRC, Arc Flash PPE Category, CT #, Level "letter" etc.. The employer defines in their Electrical Safety Program what arc flash PPE the employer has procured. P.Eng. or PE issued reports should NOT include any recommendations on PPE, policies, practice etc. The report issued is a technical report and should only include incident energy calculations at the working distance and the calculated arc flash boundary.

MIke if you email me at [email protected] I can provide a more detailed document that reviews the changes and updates. Unfortunately yes CSA Z462 and NFPA 70E will not be technically harmonized for 2021 in some specific content.