Technical Articles

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 energy as part of an arc flash study, sometimes the IEEE 1584 equations can produce unusually large values. Although many variables are included in these calculations, the two most significant are the magnitude of arcing short-circuit current and the duration of the arc flash. Question 1: How long? The duration

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 something you do not want to discover from a field test (accidental or intentional this means the only alternative is to predict it from calculations) Beginning with the 2007 NESC, The Arc Flash Requirements are:

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 words Warning! Arc Flash and Shock Hazard It actually holds a lot of very specific information that can be used when preparing for work where electrical hazards may exist.