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 […]
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 #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 […]
Evaluation of Onset to Second Degree Burn Energy in Arc Flash
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 […]
Include Date on Arc Flash Label?
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 […]
2015 NFPA 70E Changes
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 […]
Arc Flash Labels-PPE Category
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 […]
Work on an energized disconnect
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 […]
ANSI Z535 – Series of Standards for Safety Signs and Tags
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 […]
Lock Out / Tag Out Simple vs. Complex
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 […]
AF Boundary Marking
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 […]
Arc flash detection relay
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 […]
NFPA 70E
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 […]
NFPA 70E and Improved Electrical Maintenance
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 […]
2015 NFPA 70E – 10 Item Check Up
With the 2015 Edition of NFPA 70E being published and all of the changes that it brings, it is time to review your arc flash study, labels and overall practices. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
