Written by Steve Hudgik

Conducting an arc flash analysis and

hazard study is the cornerstone for
worker safety when working with live
equipment.
The study requires electrical engineering expertise and an in-depth knowledge of a facility's electrical system.
The purpose of an arc flash hazard study is to determine the location and severity of arc flash hazards and to
suggest appropriate courses of action to minimize them.
IEEE 1584 provides guidance on performing an arc flash study. Other methods exist as well, including
calculations based on the formulas presented in NFPA 70E. All of the various methods for performing an arc
flash study have certain similarities. In general, an arc flash study consists of the following steps:
1. Collect system data including, for example, available maximum and minimum short circuit currents from
the utility, protective device time-current curves, conductor characteristics (such as length, size, and
material), motor impedance, equipment grounding states, system voltages, and so forth. Data collection
requires review of existing documentation--drawings, equipment specifications, short-circuit and
coordination studies--followed by collecting data by hand to fill in any gaps. The data collection process is
likely to be the most time-consuming and difficult portion of an arc flash hazard study.
2. Model the system. After data has been assembled into an accurate and up-to-date one-line diagram, it is
necessary to identify any variant modes of operation--alternative power sources, emergency or
maintenance modes, effects of opening or closing ties, use of generators, shut-down of large motors, and
so forth. Each mode of operation should be analyzed to determine if it results in hazard conditions that
differ significantly from normal operations.
3. Determine arcing fault currents for each piece of equipment from bolted fault current data, gap size,
and other data. IEEE 1584 presents formulas for determining arcing fault currents, which are often around
50% of the bolted fault current values. Although most short-circuit analyses focus on single-phase events,
it is conservative to calculate three-phase values for arc fault currents.
4. Determine fault-clearing times using the time-current curves of upstream protective devices. IEEE 1584
recommends calculating fault-clearing times based on both 100% and 85% of the calculated arc fault
current, in order to account for possible fluctuations. If the arc fault current falls in the steep portion of a
protective device's time-current curve, a small decrease in current can cause a significant increase in
clearing time. This in turn can greatly affect incident energy. The worst-case scenario should be used for
subsequent calculations.
5. Calculate incident energy using either the empirical formulas presented in IEEE 1584 or the theoretical
formulas of NFPA 70E. In practice, the IEEE formulas are considered more accurate, while the NFPA 70E
formulas produce relatively conservative results. Actual incident energy levels depend on a range of
environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and equipment geometry, in addition to the
values used in the equations. In order to calculate incident energy, a working distance must be assumed.
This is the distance from the arc to a worker's face or chest. 18 inches is the most commonly assumed
working distance, but more precise working distances should be used when available. IEEE 1584 Table 3
presents working usual distances for various types of equipment.
6. Calculate arc flash protection boundaries, the distance at which incident energy is 1.2 cal/cm
2
. This is
the energy needed to cause second-degree burns. NFPA 70E provides three acceptable methods for
determining these boundaries:
o Using NFPA 70E tables 220.2(B)(2) and 220.6(B)(9)
o Using the formulas in NFPA 70E Annex B
o Using the formulas in IEEE 1584


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The data collected and calculated in the course of the study is put to various uses, including
printing warning labels for equipment, determining required PPE, and training workers. Data may also be
analyzed in order to optimize the system itself by modifying or replacing protective devices or making other
changes to the system architecture.
Performing an arc flash study by hand is a forbidding task. However, arc flash software is commercially
available to greatly decrease the work required, and to allow easy integration of arc flash information with other
aspects of a facility's electrical safety program. We present links to some firms offering arc flash software on
our Other Resources page.
The information presented in this document was obtained from sources that we deem
reliable; Graphic Products does not guarantee accuracy or completeness. Graphic
Products, Inc. makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied.
Users of this document should consult municipal, state, and federal code and/or verify all
information with the appropriate regulatory agency.


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