Arc Flash Analysis

Arc Flash Analysis, 1-Line Drawings, Sign Requirements

Arc Flash Analysis one of the most difficult requirements of NFPA 70E. We can help by showing you cost saving methods that will make this an task easier

Arc Flash Analysis, 1-Line Drawings, & Signs

Requirements

OSHA, NFPA 70, and NFPA 70E all require OWNER(S) of Service Equipment and any other Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers that are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized to be field marked with specific signs. These signs require a lot of information to inform people of the dangers, the level of energy release possible, the safe approach distances, and a way to know what PPE is required to protect a worker.

One exception for dwelling units

Arc Flash Analysis

An Arc Flash Analysis is considered, by most professionals, the most accurate method of determining the hazard levels at a given point for electrical conductors or circuit parts. There are other methods, however they have limitations and do not always provide the details needed.

This method also produces a 1-Line Diagram of the electrical system. A 1-Line Diagram is a great tool for LOTO and planning for     moves, changes, and additions. NFPA 70E requires the method of calculating and the data to support the information for the     labels to be documented. Computer software based Arc Flash Analysis puts all this information on a disk that can be easily copied for redundant records. If changes are made in the system, this method makes updating drawing and signs as necessary less expensive and fast.

Procedures

We use commercially available software like EasyPower®, or SKM. We believe these to be the best and most popular in the industry. The advantages to these are many, however the biggest advantage is; if you have your analysis completed by a company that is using their proprietary software; you just became their captive customer. When you need anything changed or updated you must go back to them for these changes. If they go out of this business or if their prices are too high you or whomever you hire will have to start all over manually collecting the information and putting it into available software. This would cost you a lot of unnecessary expenses. We provide our customers a copy of their data on a CD. You paid for it, we think you should have it. The CD we provide can be used by you or anyone with the same software. We do not hold our customers captive. We want you to stay with us because of our good service and fair pricing.

STEPS

  • Step 1
    • The first step is to gather information about the electrical distribution system. If you have current drawings, we may be able to do a lot of the work from them. Typically newer facilities will have current one-line drawings, floor plains, equipment plans, and possibly construction documents and/or specifications. Older companies may not have much in the way of drawings or other information. Unfortunately some of what they do may not be accurate. In these cases we will need to make an On-Site- Inspection.
  • Step 2
    • We model the distribution system as a one-line drawing on our computers. Then we add the detail information for each piece of equipment, the over current protection, breaker settings, fuse sizes, wire size and length of wire and more. Once this information is complete, we check for any issues that could be hiding in the distribution system. We will note any such issues as part of a Mitigation Report you will receive with your final report. Once all the information is complete and verified, we cause the system calculate the incident energy and flash protection boundaries for the system at each accessible point. This information is required for the signs required on your equipment.
  • Step 3
    • We print the signs for your equipment. The signs we print are suitable for 5-years of outdoor use. The signs are then installed on your equipment.
  • Step 4
    • At this point we provide a training session to explain what was done, why, how it affects them, and what people need to do about it.

Congratulations

At this point; you have just completed one of the most difficult portions of your electrical safety program.

COST

As you may have already guessed this is an extensive process that can involve many variables. Also there are rarely two places    exactly alike. Therefore, finding an easy method to price this work is difficult. Nevertheless, we will attempt to give you a method   of developing a budget for your facility. Many companies price Arc Flash Analysis work based on points. A point may be defined as any equipment or termination requiring calculations for a sign or signs.

Average prices can very per point from $100.00 to over $200.00 per point. The location of the equipment, difficulty in reaching the equipment, current drawings, information on the equipment, age of the equipment, the wiring methods used, the ability to access the equipment, safety issues and more.

If our customer agrees to provide a qualified person who are familiar with the buildings electrical system to assist in gathering information our price is normally in the…

$65.00 to $85.00 per point range

This is not an exact answer to the cost question, but we hope it helps you to be able to estimate a cost for your budget until you obtain firm quotes from qualified providers.