Electrode Configuration and 2018 IEEE 1584
The most frequently asked question that I receive regarding the 2018 edition of IEEE 1584 is: “How do I determine the electrode configuration?” The 2002 edition was based on arc […]
Arc Flash, Second Degree Burns (My Wife and a Chili Cookoff)
Yes, you read the title correctly – Second degree burns, my wife and a chili cookoff! And it all took place at home. But, before I get into that story, […]
IEEE 1584 – Changes to the Next Edition
It has been sixteen long years since IEEE 1584 – IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations was first published in 2002. This standard was highly celebrated back then because […]
Don’t Automatically Reset a Circuit Breaker that Trips!
The circuit breaker just tripped. Production is down, alarms are sounding in the background. Panic time. For many, this scenario would mean quickly re-set the circuit breaker and “see what […]
IEEE 1584 Article In Australia’s Industrial Electrix Magazine
Introducing the next edition of IEEE 1584 to Australia via Industrial Electrix Magazine. A short summary of major changes to IEEE 1584 and the role of one of Australia’s leading […]
Zero-Sequence Impedance and Incident Energy
A question that I am often asked either on-line or in one of my arc flash training classes is in regards to incident energy calculations and line-ground short circuit current: […]
IEC 61482-2 Second Edition Just Released!
As the International Chair of IEC TC78 Live Working Committee, I am excited to announce the recent publication of the second edition of IEC Standard 61482-2 Live working – Protective […]
PCIC Conference – ANSI vs. IEC Short Calculations and Arc Flash Studies
The 65th Annual IEEE-PCIC Conference will be held this year in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 24-26. This year I will have both my “IEEE hat” and “IEC hat” on and […]
IEEE 1584 Status Update
I have been receiving many questions lately about the status of the next edition of the standard: IEEE 1584 – IEEE Guide for Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations. As Vice-Chair of the […]
40 cal/cm^2 Deleted – But Some Confusion Remains.
When the topic of incident energy above 40 calories per square centimeter (cal/cm^2) comes up, the discussion can be quite interesting. People will sometimes refer to the high values in terms […]
IEEE and IEC Standards Update
By Jim Phillips March has been a busy month for me with Standards Committee work. I just returned home from three weeks of travel that included IEEE Standards meetings in […]
Global Use of IEEE 1584
IEEE 1584 – It’s a Small World The world’s electrical systems do not discriminate when it comes to electrical safety. Electric shock, electrocution and arc flash hazards can occur anywhere […]
Arc Flash Labels – Information No Longer Required (maybe)
New Exception 130.5(H) Exception No. 2 – Arc Flash Label Information May Not Be Required. It is amazing how the requirements for arc flash labels have evolved with each new […]
IEEE Opens Its European Technology Center in Vienna, Austria
IEEE continues to expand its global presence with the opening of the European Technology Center in Vienna. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and official opening were just recently held on September 22. […]
IEC TC 78 Live Working Standards
By Jim Phillips, P.E.International Chairman IEC TC 78 As the International Chairman of IEC TC 78, a frequent question that I receive is “What is IEC TC 78?” IEC is […]
The 2017 NEC and Arc Flash
By Jim Phillips The 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) contains several changes regarding arc flash: 110.16(B) Arc-Flash Hazard Warning of Service Equipment 240.87 Arc Energy Reduction (Circuit Breakers) 240.67 Arc […]
2018 NFPA 70E Update – What’s New? What’s Changed?
Published: June 2017 By Jim Phillips Based on Jim’s article originally published in theMay 2017 Issue of Electrical Contractor Magazine. It is hard to imagine that three years have passed since I wrote […]
Keeping Skills Current with FREE Training
Published: May 2017 By Jim Phillips Part 2 of 2 Part Series There is an endless list of reasons for keeping your skills and knowledge up-to-date in the electrical industry. These days […]
Keeping Skills Current on a Limited Budget
2-Part Series Published: May 2017 By Jim Phillips Part #1 of a 2 Part Series: What if you had been stranded on a deserted island for the past five years? By the […]
What Could Go Wrong?
Creating An Electrically Safe Work Condition Published: April 2017 By: Jim Phillips “Kill the Circuit.” This phrase is a colorful way of saying, “De-energize the Circuit.” Easy enough — just […]
Arc Flash Study Top 10 FAQs Part #3
How Does Everyone Else Do This? By Jim Phillips 3-Part Series ARC FLASH LABELS What do you list on an arc flash label when the prospective incident energy is […]
Arc Flash Study Top 10 FAQs Part #2
How Does Everyone Else Do This? By Jim Phillips 3-Part Series ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRACTICES Does your company or client permit energized work where the incident energy is greater than […]
Arc Flash Study Top 10 FAQs Part #1
How Does Everyone Else Do This? By Jim Phillips 3-Part Series There are many frequently asked questions about performing an arc flash study (risk assessment) and understanding electrical safety […]
Forensic Electrical Engineering Blog #3
Past – Present – Future 3-Blog Series By Jim Phillips, P.E. Blog #3: Evolution in Forensic Electrical Engineering There has been much advancement in the field of forensic electrical […]
Forensic Electrical Engineering Blog #2
Forensic Electrical Engineering Past – Present – Future 3-Blog Series By Jim Phillips, P.E. History of Forensic Electrical Engineering Some historical articles suggest the field of electrical investigations began […]
Forensic Electrical Engineering Blog #1
Past – Present – Future 3-Blog Series By Jim Phillips, P.E. Blog #1: What is Forensic Electrical Engineering? Welcome to my 3-part blog series about the Past, Present and […]
Electrical Safety Training: It Will Save Your Life!
Performing electrical work without being properly trained can be deadly. I have seen this hold true during numerous investigations.
Many companies proactively provide employee training and refresher courses at least every 3-years. Some companies use shorter intervals for refresher training. However, for others, training is not thorough or a low priority. Some simply just want to check training off their to-do lists without much regard to safety for self or employees. In the end, does it matter?
2018 NFPA 70E – 40 cal/cm2 Threshold (may be) Deleted
Finally! The 40 cal/cm2 threshold my finally be deleted. The For many years, the 40 cal/cm2 threshold that is part of Informational Note 3 presently found in the 2015 Edition […]
Utility Short Circuit Current Data, Arc Flash and Change
Webinar – Utility Short Circuit Current Data, Arc Flash Studies and Changeby Jim Phillips, P.E. [See more about Jim Phillips] It goes up, it goes down, sometimes it is thought […]
Specifying Arc Flash Studies and IEEE 1584.1
An arc flash study can be a bit complicated if you are new to this field. Knowing where to begin, what to include, how far to go, how to use […]
NFPA 70E – Qualified Workers
“Raise your right hand” Pretty intimidating words – especially if they are said in a court room and the trial is about an injury or death. – and you are […]
NFPA 70E – 2015 Edition – Update of Changes
NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, was first published in 1979 and consisted of only one part, The 2015 Edition marks the tenth edition to NFPA […]
Global Use of IEEE 1584
The surface area of the earth is approximately 197 million square miles, and IEEE 1584—IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations has been covering more of it every day since […]
IEEE 1584 Revision Update – 201X Edition
IEEE 1584 – Where It All Began – 2002 A lot has happened since 2002 when IEEE 1584 – IEEE Guide for Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations was first published. The development […]
Happy August 11! (and call before you dig)
Today is a special day. August 11 – Also known as 8 11 (unless you use the format day/month) What is so special about 811? 8-1-1 is the telephone number that […]
Arc Flash Labels – Simplified!
“What do you mean we need to relabel the electrical equipment? Didn’t we just do this a few years ago?” This is a pretty common response when addressing the requirements […]
Electric Shock – It CAN Happen to Anyone – Like Me!
Electric shock happens to more people than they care to admit. In almost every NFPA 70E / electrical safety training class that I conduct, I ask the group “how many […]
Wind and Solar Electrical Safety
Wind and Solar Electrical Safety – Rising to the Occasion – A few months ago I was driving home from the Los Angeles area and suddenly found myself surrounded by […]
Working Distance Mistakes in an Arc Flash Study
The term “working distance” appears 20 times in the 2012 Edition of NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. It appears 12 more times in the annexes. The […]
NFPA 70E Major Updates for the 2012 Edition – Part 2.
Although beginning with an erratic schedule with revisions to NFPA 70E being spaced anywhere from 2 to 5 years apart, this very important electrical safety standard is now on a […]
How to Perform an Arc Flash Study
What started as a slow drip a decade ago has turned into something more like a tidal wave. I’m not talking about a leaky faucet or a failing dam; I […]
Arc Flash Hazard Calculation Studies
In the earlier years of NFPA 70E and the emergence of arc flash protection requirements, many people would use the NFPA 70E Hazard/Risk Tables to determine what arc rated PPE […]
Arc Flash Training – Keeping Skills Current in a Down Economy
Electrical Power Training and Arc Flash Training remain even more important in a down economy. What if you had been stranded on a deserted island for the past five years? […]
Using Correct Electric Utility Data for an Arc Flash Study
One of the first steps in performing an arc flash calculation study is to request short-circuit data from the electric utility company. This kind of request is pretty routine, and […]
Arc Blast and 40 calories/centimeter squared
You look at the arc flash warning label and scratch your head. Danger! No PPE Category Found. No personal protective equipment (PPE) category? Now what? This type of language is […]
Coordination and NEC 240.87
NEC 240.87 has addressed a potentially hazardous situation beginning with the 2011 edition. When selective coordination is critical, e.g., minimizing the extent of an outage, a common design practice is to use […]
IEEE 1584 – 125 kVA Transformer / Less than 240 Volts Exception
One sentence in the IEEE 1584 Standard, IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations, frequently has people scratching their heads: Equipment below 240V need not be considered unless it involves […]
IEEE 1584 Two Second Rule
A lot can happen in two seconds. What may seem like the blink of an eye can feel like an eternity, especially during an arc flash. When calculating the incident […]
How to Perform an Arc Flash Calculation Study
This article by Jim Phillips provides an overview of how to perform an arc flash study. It was originally presented at the 2010 NETA Conference. InterNational Electrical Testing Association. Arc […]
Predicting the Arc Flash Duration
Determining the arc flash duration is the most important piece of information in predicting its severity. The arc flash duration is usually dependent on how fast an upstream protective device will […]
Get Ahead of It! – NESC Arc Flash Requirements
The NESC’s Arc Flash Requirements first appeared in the 2007 Edition. Determining how much incident energy could be available at a piece of equipment or location on a line is […]
Simplifying Arc Flash Studies – Select the Arc Rating First
Begin at the End – What Answer Would You like to Have? Simplifying the arc flash study – Would you like to know a little secret about how to simplify an […]
Reduce Arc Flash Accidents Using Totally Integrated Automation
Several years ago Henry was the maintenance manager at a large manufacturing facility. He was married, had a very upbeat personality, a good position at the company, and was pleasant […]
Arc Flash Warning Labels
Read the label? Use as directed? It sounds like I’m reading a prescription bottle. However, the warning label produced from an arc flash calculation study contains more than just the […]
U.K. Article – Arc Flash – Not Just an Electrocution Hazard – Part 3
Arc Flash – The need for risk assessment is embodied in European Law through directive 89/391 and is transposed into UK Law through Management of Health and Safety at Work […]
U.K. Article – Arc Flash – Not Just an Electrocution Hazard – Part 2
Arc Flash – Working safely in accordance with the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is about decision making. This includes the decision to work live in the […]
U.K. Article – Arc Flash – Not Just an Electrocution Hazard – Part 1
Arc Flash Hazard – Working safely in accordance with the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is about decision making. This includes the decision to work live in […]
How Did We Get Here? The History of Electrical Safety
It seems like the more you attempt to learn about arc flash and electrical safety, the more confusing it becomes. A mixture of letters such as OSHA, NFPA 70E, NEC, […]
How to Perform an Arc Flash Study in 12 Steps – Part 3 of 3
This is the third article in a three part series about how to perform an arc flash study that was published in the December 2007 Edition of NFPA’s NEC Digest Magazine. The […]
How to Perform an Arc Flash Study in 12 Steps – Part 2 of 3
Arc Flash – This is the second article in a three part series about how to perform an arc flash study that was published in the October 2007 Edition of […]
How to Perform an Arc Flash Study in 12 Steps – Part 1 of 3
This is the first article in a three part series about how to perform an arc flash study that was published in the August 2007 Edition of NFPA’s NEC Digest […]
Three – Two – One – Liftoff! Behind the Scenes at the Kennedy Space Center
Like many kids growing up in the 1960’s, I was obsessed with America’s space program. I would watch launches and ultimately the moon landing on television, build and fly model […]
Behind the Scenes – Ethanol Production
Recently, I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of an ethanol production facility and see that power distribution system as well as see how it all works. Electricity requirements […]
Arc Flash – Unplugged
Arc Flash – Dynamite, gasoline, gunpowder and electricity: What do these have in common? Each one can explode. Something as simple as the slip of a screwdriver can cause the […]
United Kingdom Article – Fear of Flashover
This article by Jim Phillips of the U.S. and Mike Frain of the U.K. elevated the awareness of the electrical flashover (arc flash) hazard in Europe to a new level. […]
Surf’s Up – Broadband Over Power Lines
Are we on the edge of another technological tidal wave or will this just be a small ripple in the pond? Surfing the internet is once again beginning to move […]
Dress for Success – PPE Selection
NFPA 70E has given a whole new meaning to the phrase “dress for success.” Correct PPE selection can make the difference if the very rare but potentially deadly arc-flash occurs. This […]
Electromagnetic Compatibility of Variable Frequency Drives
Every electrical component can produce EMI when energized. Electromagnetic compatibility issues in the form of Electromagnetic interference is caused by the voltage and current in the form of electric and […]
Snow Job! Behind the Scenes – Ski Resort Electrical System
Every November the snow making equipment at your favorite ski resort is expected to start up flawlessly. The pumps, compressors, mechanical and electrical systems are good to go. The lifts […]
NEC and Hazardous Locations
The NEC defines a “Hazardous Location” as a location “where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or […]
Grounding Power Distribution Systems
The NEC contains specific articles that dictate when you shall ground, when you shall not ground, and when you are permitted – but not required – to ground. These code […]
OSHA, NEC, NFPA – Pieces of the Puzzle
The next time you are near the bulletin board at work, look for the poster that has the words “It’s the Law” and “OSHA” on it. It has probably been […]
Testing for Improved Power Distribution Reliability
Those responsible for a facility’s operation hear the same thing over and over again – reduce costs and improve productivity. Much attention has been given to reducing raw material and […]
