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ARC FLASH HAZARDS

Construction SafetyAssociation of Ontario

2 PB/RH -- March 3, 2009Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

Purpose of this Presentation

Introduction to:

– Hazard of arc flash

– New CSA Standard on electrical safety

– Arc flash prevention and protection

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Five Main Topics

1. Introduction to arc flash

2. Arc flash injuries

3. Codes and standards

4. Protective clothing and equipment

5. Prevention

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Topic 1 – Topic 1 – Introduction to Arc FlashIntroduction to Arc Flash

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What is an Arc Flash Hazard?

“. . . a dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc.”

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What is an Electric Arc?

An electric arc is a short circuit through the air.

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An electric arc will oscillate and escalate if not constrained.

A single-phase electric arc can engulf a second or third conductor in only two cycles.

An electric arc’s current propels the arc away from the power source.

Characteristics of an Electric Arc

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What Causes Arc Flash?

Dust, impurities, corrosion, condensation, animals

Spark discharge from:

– Accidental touching

– Dropping tools

Over-voltages across narrow gaps

Failure of insulating materials

Equipment failure

9 PB/RH -- March 3, 2009Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

What is Arc Blast?

1. The flash causes an explosive expansionof air and metal.

– For example: When copper vapourizes it expands by a factor of 67,000.

2. The blast produces dangerous:

– Pressure waves

– Sound waves

– Molten steel and shrapnel.

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Video Clip 1 – Arc Flash DemoVideo Clip 1 – Arc Flash Demo

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Electric arc Arc flash Arc blast

Arc Flash Events

Compliments of Salisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.

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Forms of Arc Flash Energy

Noise

Expansion

Vaporization

Thermal radiation

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Topic 2 – Arc Flash InjuriesTopic 2 – Arc Flash Injuries

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14 PB/RH -- March 3, 2009Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

Arc Flash Injuries

Electric shock

Severe burns

Blindness

Blast injuries

– Shrapnel wounds

– Lung blast injuries

– Ruptured eardrums

– Pressure wave injuries

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1. Power – amount of energy at the arc

2. Distance – of the worker to the arc

3. Time – duration of the arc exposure

Severity Factors

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Video Clip 2 – “Not Safe at 18 inches”

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Video Clip 3 – “Not Safe Working Near”

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Electric Shock Injury – Burn

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Severe Burns from Arc Flash

Arc flash up to 35,000°F

Sun 9,900°F

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Probability of Surviving Burns

0

20

40

60

80

100

20+ 30+ 40+ 50+

25% Body Burn

50% Body Burn

75% Body Burn

% S

urv

ival

Age Range, Years

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Blindness

Flash of light is so intense it can damage vision.

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Shrapnel Wounds

Material and molten metal can hit the body at over

700 miles per hour.

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Blast Lung Injury (BLI)

Arc blast can cause inhalation injuries.For example:– Inhaling high temperature

copper vapour.– More than 100 toxic

substances can be foundin the fumes.

BLI + Burns = Greater chance of death

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Hearing Damage

Arc blast at 2 feet 145 decibels

Jet engine at 200 feet 132 decibels

Pain threshold 130 decibels

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Pressure Wave Injuries

Arc blast can throw a worker:– Off a ladder– Into nearby walls or equipment.

2000 lbs/ft2 pressure on the body can cause:– Concussion– Collapsed lungs– Other internal injuries

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Topic 3 – Topic 3 – Codes and StandardsCodes and Standards

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Standards

US Occupational Safety & Health Administration

US National Fire Protection Association -Standard NFPA 70E

Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers -Standard 1584

Canadian Standards Association -Standard Z-462

Occupational Health & Safety Act -Applicable regulations

Canadian Electrical Code -Rule 2-306

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What is NFPA 70E?

National Fire Protection Association

“Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”

• Standard for electrical safety in United Sates

• “Harmonized” with CSA Z462

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What is CSA Standard Z462?

The standard for workplace electrical safety in Canada.

“Harmonized” with NFPA 70E.PB/RH -- March 3, 2009Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

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Electrical Safety Program

Arc Flash Hazard Analysis

– Flash Protection Boundary

– Fault Current Calculations

– Arc Fault Clearing Time

– Incident Energy Exposure

Required PPE

CSA Standard Z462 addresses:

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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Offers a method for performing arc flash hazard calculations.

What is IEEE Standard 1584?

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What is CEC Rule 2-306?

Canadian Electrical Code

“Rule 2-306 Shock and Flash Protection” A requirement for field-marking electrical

equipment to warn persons of potential electric shock and arc flash hazards.

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Sample label that complies with CEC Rule 2-306.

Required Warning Label

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Optional Warning Label

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Topic 4 – Protective ClothingTopic 4 – Protective Clothingand Equipmentand Equipment

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Flame-Resistant (FR) Clothing

Protects a worker from receiving severe burns if the worker is exposed to a flame.

Is self-extinguishing when the source of the flame is removed.

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What is a Calorie?

A calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1°C.

Thermal energy is measured in calories/cm².

1.2 calories/cm² = Holding your finger

in the blue part of the

flame for one second.

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Limit the ‘Incident Energy’ level of the

arc flash to 1.2 cal/cm² against the

worker’s chest. Look for a label that states:

– 1506 approval (ASTM F1506)

– Arc rating of the garment. All materials in the garment

should be FR Rated:

– Thread

– Buttons

– Insulation

– Zippers, etc.

FR Rated Clothing

Photo compliments ofSalisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.

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Typical PPE Requirements

Hazard/RiskCategory

Eye protection, ear canal inserts, long sleeve shirt

and pants

Arc rated clothing

Face & Head Protection

Flash Suit Hood

0 1 2 3 4

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Typical Protective Clothing

Hazard/Risk Category Clothing Description Required Minimum

Clothing Arc Rating

0 Non-melting, flammable materialwith fabric weight of at least 4.5 oz/yd2

Not applicable

1 Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls 4 calories/cm²

2 Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls 8 calories/cm²

3 Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls, and Arc-rated flash suit, the layered system must meet the required minimum rating.

25 calories/cm²

4 Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls, and Arc-rated flash suit, the layered system must meet the required minimum rating.

40 calories/cm²

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Synthetic Clothing

Synthetic clothing that melts shall not be worn, such as:– Acetate– Nylon– Polyester– Polypropylene– Spandex.

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Arc Flash Rated PPE

Required minimum clothing:– Non-melting, flammable material,

– Fabric weight of at least 4.5 oz/yd.

PPE must also providearc flash protection:– Face shield

– Gloves, etc.

Photo compliments ofSalisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.

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Video Clip 4 – 100% Cotton Clothing

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Video Clip 5 – Polyester/Cotton Clothing

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Video Clip 6 – FR Clothing

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Increases level of protection.

May be lighter than a singleheavy garment.

Manufacturer must providethe new combined arc ratingafforded by layering.

FR Clothing Can Be Layered

Photo compliments ofSalisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.

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Tell the supplier that you needarc flash rated PPE and clothing.

PPE must have some resistance to:– Flame– Ignition– Melting.

obtain PPE from a known and

trusted supplier.

When Purchasing PPE

Not all FR clothing is tested to ASTM F1506

Photo compliments ofSalisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.

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Topic 5 – PreventionTopic 5 – Prevention

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49 PB/RH -- March 3, 2009Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

Tasks with Potential for Arc Flash

Operating a switch or circuit breaker

Inserting or removing a circuit breaker

Opening an enclosure door

Removing a cover (bolted or hinged)

Testing for voltage

In each task:

Worker is interacting with energized equipment.

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Conduct a Flash Hazard Analysis to determine the

Flash Protection Boundary Incident Energy exposure Type and arc rating of PPE

If work must be done on or near energized electrical equipment,

identify the potential for arc flash.

Arc Flash Hazard Analysis

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Reduce the fault clearing time.

Reduce the short-circuit current.

Improve equipment maintenance.

CONTROLLING ARC FLASH HAZARDS

At the Source

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Use flash-resistant equipment.

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

CONTROLLING ARC FLASH HAZARDS

At the Source

These disconnect switch-plugs have beendesigned with built-in flash-protection.

Photos courtesy of Meltric Corporation

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Increase the working distance.

Reduce the energy exposure.

Use hinged doors instead of bolted doors to eliminate the risk of bolts falling into the panel.

Work de-energized.

CONTROLLING ARC FLASH HAZARDS

Along the Path

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Energized electrical work permit

Barriers

Training and skills

Job briefings

PPE

Tools

CONTROLLING ARC FLASH HAZARDS

At the Worker

Photo compliments ofSalisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.

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Prevention Summary

1. Include Electrical Safety in your Occupational Health and Safety Management Program.

2. Use an electrical work permit system.

3. Conduct regular equipment maintenance and label equipment that poses a flash hazard.

4. Confirm single-line diagrams for accuracy and available fault current.

5. Maintain documentation process.

6. Provide training and job briefings.

7. Conduct periodic safety audits.

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ARC FLASH HAZARDSARC FLASH HAZARDS

It is ALWAYS

preferable to work on

de-energized equipment.

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