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 […]
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 greater […]
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 40 […]
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 […]
Question: Hello, At one facility I find that the condensation gathers on the inside surface of an enclosure, which can cause the rusting, short circuits, and breakdowns in electric and […]
Question: Hello, good afternoon. Does the standard contain new information to consider for arc flash analysis? Thank you Answer: No because we’re still on the 2002 edition. The new […]
It’s no secret that the United States is a very litigious country. Sometimes the more “interesting” interpretations that people use regarding codes, standards, design etc. tend to be more influenced […]
Our interest in determining accurate onset to second degree burn energy and its significance in computing the arc flash boundary is focused on the prevention of injury to the skin […]
According to the 2015 Edition of NFPA 70E 130.5(2), The arc flash risk assessment “…shall be reviewed periodically, at intervals not to exceed 5 years, to account for changes in […]
I have been looking into the adjusted pickup method and associated shift factors used when multiple source bus configurations are being coordinated [ex. parallel generator systems two or more] and […]
Our company in the past 2 years has implemented an electrical safety and control of hazardous energy program for employees world-wide. Our daily work-wear clothing minimum requirement is non-melting clothing, […]
Personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for arc flash is not always designed for arc flash exposure. The purpose of this paper is to warn of the dangers posed by using […]
Best Practices for a Safe Return-to-Service Following a Maintenance Outage Charles M. McClung, MarTek Limited Russell R. Safreed, PE, MarTek Limited Abstract Returning electrical equipment to service after a planned […]
The following is an article that I wrote a few years ago listing the major changes for the 2015 edition. It was originally published in the May 2014 issue of Electrical […]
Making Sense of the NumbersUtility Company Short-circuit Data For Arc Flash Studies Electrical Contractor Magazine – November 2012Jim Phillips, P.E. One of the first steps in performing an arc flash […]
Question of the Week Some equipment may have multiple arc flash labels for a variety of reasons. Different operating configurations Equipment is long/large – including busway Equipment has different incident […]
Recently a Fortune 500 company called asking if service technicians were “certified” to work on 4160 V equipment. This isn’t in the context of say the New Brunswick province where […]
Weekly Question: This week’s question was submitted from one of our forum members. I will post it here When locking out or resetting a tripped breaker on a CAT 4 […]
In looking at the latest edition [7th] of UL 1008 for transfer switches I came across the following: “The circuit breaker must include an instantaneous trip response and shall not […]
Question: Everyone, I got this question from a client. He asked if it’s necessary to have their hot sticks tested? Understand this company has nothing higher than 480 volts on […]
Is there any information on what a regenerative drive will allow a motor to contribute to an upstream fault? I know ANSI has some standards for motor contributions based on […]
In the NFPA 70E-2015 Handbook, page 122, 130.5(D) states incident energy or PPE category shall be on the equipment arc flash label, but not both. Yet when reviewing Annex H […]
Question: What are you guys recommending to reduce incident energy levels on fire pump controllers fed directly from the secondary side of utility transformers? Answer: Can’t be done. This is a […]
Recently, a client asked if there was something I could point to in the NFPA 70E Standard that specifically prevented a qualified electrician from working on a disconnect after it […]
I believe it to physically impossible to sustain an arc flash at 120 V but can someone point me to the proof? Can someone indicate where a code specifically states […]
NFPA 70E requires that an Arc Flash Risk Assessment be updated when a major modification or renovation takes place. It shall be reviewed periodically, at intervals not to exceed 5 […]
1910.269 requires arc flash protection for hands with exceptions when wearing leather protectors over rubber gloves, and when wearing heavy duty work gloves. The workers state that sticks should be […]
Could i use the (DB) empirically derived model equation of IEEE Std 1584-2002 to calculate the Flash-protection boundary (for box configurations) and the Lee (DB) equation (for open air configurations)? […]
Came across this today while surveying. The original drawing shows this panel with a 100A branch mounted main. Well, someone needed that breaker for another panel and removed it and […]
Many safety labels use either Caution, Warning or Danger with a specific color associated with it. The U.S. National Electrical Code and NFPA 70E both reference ANSI Z535 to provide […]
Good Morning All, I am from the Safety Office and our organization prohibits working on electrical components/systems above 600V. I have a situation that I need advice on. Here is […]
It always seems as if we are kicking the dead horse on arc flash labels but I was just interested in your opinion of how to label a piece of […]
This week’s question is very subjective and is based on all kinds of variables such as lighting, eye sight etc. For an average person under normal conditions: What is the […]
I’ve known about these switches in this old house for at least 15 years but never took any pics. I was over there today and thought I would share to […]
The NEC requires that where a circuit breaker’s highest continuous current trip setting is rated or can be adjusted to 1200 Amps or higher, a method for reducing the arc […]
Here is the situation: It is a municipal system, very rural, and has long single phase runs with low fault current. For example: 2400 delta single phase lateral ends up […]
Hi all. As I continue to slog through my list of 104 buildings on campus I need to do studies on I discovered yet another over-dutied situation yesterday. Common scenario, […]
This week’s “Question of the week” is coming from Frankfurt, Germany. This week I have the privilege of attending the International Electrotechincal Commission’s 80th General Meeting as the International Chairman […]
We have gone to wearing cotton HRC2 (8.6 cal/cm2) uniforms and about 10% of the employees have found the clothing to cause burning and itching with at least one case […]
I’d like to hear how some of you are handling Air Conditioner motor contributions in your models. I’m working off a one-line to build the model (while the site is […]
OSHA and NFPA 70E refer to a Simple LOTO as involving only one person/conductors/circuit part(s). A Complex LOTO is when there are conditions such as more than one person/circuit/shift/source involved […]
I guess this directed at IEEE 1584 Committee members (Jim) and I know you can’t say too much but is overdutied breakers/equipment going to addressed in the new IEEE 1584? […]
I will be updating arc flash labels on numerous working locations which means the old label has to be removed and a new one applied. By design these labels are […]
I’m pushing through the brilliant book “Industrial Power System Grounding Design Handbook” by Dunki-Jacobs and Co. In it, the authors indicate that copper is endothermic (absorbs energy when converting from […]
All – I found this installation the other day while in an area I am not officially in charge of. I called the person in charge and recommended he have […]
As a electrical engineer who performs arc flash studies and investigates electrical accidents I have come across a company who is faking their arc flash studies. They go into companies […]
Hi, As per NFPA 70E, we have 3 boundaries to mark(AFB, limited and restricted). It is easy to mark and follow only one boundary which is greater than two. Sometimes […]
The industrial plant I work in has a policy that you must have long sleeves when inside an electrical room. Yesterday we had our annual “cold day”, where all turbine […]
Hello everyone, The application range for the empirical method is clearly defined : 208V to 15kV and a bolted fault current between 700A and 106kA. But for the theoretical method, […]
What is the practice for the use of arc detection relay trip time in the arc incident energy calculations? NFPA-70E recognized arc detection relay but kept under “Other Methods” as […]
AS I understand it in NFPA 70 E 130.7 table any Panel 240 volts and below require Category 1 PPE. Also NFPA says any voltage 120 volts Phase to Phase […]
We’ll call this a hypothetical question. Say you are running a short circuit and arc flash study on a 50 year old building as part of a multi-building study. You […]
Just Curious – Have you ever read IEEE 1584 – IEEE Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations? -All of it -Some of it -No Click to ANSWER.
I was asked to evaluate some “newer” bus duct technology that are finger safe, use a turn and lock connection or similar methods without turning off the power. It seems […]
Hi All. I know I’ve seen a picture or two of your typical oil filled pad mounted transformer that had fuses or a breaker installed right off the paddles on […]
Looking at the IE calculation there is a variable for grounding depending on what type system you have installed, and noticed that the grounding type can have a significant effect […]
One of the forum member’s posts prompted this weeks question of the week. It is about grounding, more specifically – high and low resistance grounding. (some may use reactance grounding). […]
How does one calculate the normal operating current of a load from the MCA rating, given that is all you have. Thanks. CLICK to Answer.
Anyone ever heard of a preload indicating washer? Looks very simple. It’s a washer that crushes when the fastener reaches 80% of yield. According to Sandia Report SAND2008-0771 they are […]
Don’t mean to beat this topic to death. Well, yeah, I guess I do, but since I had another example of being over dutied/under rated come up today I thought […]
The duration of an arc flash can be greatly affected by the condition of electrical protective devices – i.e. circuit breakers, relays etc. NFPA 70E has been placing an increased […]
One more question about series ratings. NEC 240.86 addresses series ratings “Selected Under Engineering Supervision in Existing Systems” and “Tested Combinations” Please refer to last week’s post and NEC 240.86 […]
The question of the week on racking in medium voltage breakers got me thinking about this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdQR7-Ap6YQ and what else could be done to prevent it from happening again. […]
The National Electrical Code article 240.86 addresses series ratings with the following: Where a circuit breaker is used on a circuit having an available fault current higher than the marked […]
I have heard a rumour that IEEE1584 are up to their old tricks again. Back in 2012 it was to introduce royalties for use of the equations. This time I […]
Hi. I currently work as an Engineer in the energy management field. I would like to branch off in to doing Arc Flash, Short Circuit and Coordination Studies. How would […]
Has anyone found a way to run ArcPro on Windows 10? I cannot even install it on Windows 10. Not sure about any 3rd party programs that could emulate a […]
Hello What is the optimal X factor for disconnect switches. I assumed it is 2 because that’s the default value that ETAP gives you. Am I correct for assuming this? […]
There is a long and well documented fight between the NSPE as the “political arm” of professional engineering and various industry groups which have all but made “industrial exemption” here […]
I repair UL listed appliances that are sometimes directly wired into a fused or unfused disconnect box if they exceed 50A. Sometimes I need to test the voltage on both […]
This week’s question is a continuation of last week’s topic regarding overcurrent devices that do not have an adequate interrupting rating. When the calculated short circuit current is greater than […]
Hi All, To put my question in context, I train Industrial Maintenance and Construction Electricians at a Community College. Some of the students are new to the field and are […]
I will start by stating that I am not 100% familiar with these types of systems [Fiber Optic Light Detecting]. In recent MV switchgear submittal the manufacturer [I assume at […]
It has been a while since a question of the week was asked about the Arc Flash Boundary. This is the distance from a prospective arc flash where the incident […]
I have started working at a manufacturing plant where the past practice is to put <1.2 cal on their arc flash labels. The thought being that any run less than […]
No secret, there has been quite an increase in the use of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This week’s question is pretty simple: Does your company/client(s) have photovoltaic systems installed? Yes No […]
Here is a photo that is a not so subtle reminder about the importance of electrical safety. Tombstone Photo READ MORE
Here is a photo of an improvised global receptacle adapter. Improvised International (Australia) Power Adapter Photo READ MORE
I recently came across a previous study that was completed for a facility that assumed a specific type of conduit [non-metallic/magnetic; PVC] vs what was actually installed [Rigid Meal Conduit], […]
Harmonic Correction Unit? Would a Harmonic Correction Unit impact the incident energy during an arc flash in an MCC line-up? READ ANSWER
Can someone explain incident energy normalized, what is it and how it is obtained .Utilizing the Incident Energy at Working Distance -Empirically Derived Equation -NFPA 70E-D4.3, En = incident energy […]
Hi all. I have a pad mounted transformer with internal primary side 15KV rated fuses. There are two types in series. One is an expulsion fuse GE# 9F54WLD303 and one […]
People seem to love to watch videos of electrical explosions. One type of failure is when a protective device is applied beyond its interrupting rating and catastrophically fails (explodes) when […]
Webinar – Utility Short Circuit Current Data, Arc Flash Studies and Change by Jim Phillips, P.E. [See more about Jim Phillips] It goes up, it goes down, sometimes it is […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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