Arcflash PBRHJG WMV 060509

ARC FLASH HAZARDS
Construction Safety
Association of Ontario
PB/RH -- March 3, 2009
Purpose of this Presentation

Introduction
to:
Hazard of arc flash

New CSA Standard on electrical safety
Arc flash prevention and protection
Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario
Five Main Topics

1. Introduction to arc flash
2. Arc flash injuries
3. Codes and standards
4. Protective clothing and equipment
5. Prevention
3
Topic 1
Introduction to Arc Flash
What is an Arc Flash Hazard?

. . . a dangerous condition associated with the
release of energy caused by an electric arc.
What is an Electric Arc?

An
electric arc is a short circuit through the air.
Characteristics of an Electric Arc

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 arcs current propels the arc away

from the power source.
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
What is Arc Blast?

1.
The flash causes an explosive expansion

of 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.
Video Clip 1 Arc Flash Demo
10
Arc Flash Events

Electric arc
Arc flash
Arc blast
Compliments of Salisbury Electrical

Safety L.L.C.
11
Forms of Arc Flash Energy

Noise
Expansion
Vaporization
Thermal
12
radiation
Topic 2 Arc Flash Injuries
13
Arc Flash Injuries

Electric
shock
Severe
burns
Blindness
Blast
injuries
Shrapnel wounds
Lung blast injuries
Ruptured eardrums
Pressure wave injuries
14
Severity Factors
1.
Power amount
of energy at the arc
2.
Distance of the
worker to the arc
3.
Time duration of
the arc exposure
15
Video Clip 2 Not Safe at 18 inches
16
Video Clip 3 Not Safe Working Near
17
Electric Shock Injury Burn
18
Severe Burns from Arc Flash
Arc flash
Sun
19
up to 35,000F
9,900F
% Survival
Probability of Surviving Burns
Age Range, Years

20
Blindness
Flash
of light is so intense it can

damage vision.
21
Shrapnel Wounds
Material and molten metal

can hit the body at over
700 miles per hour.
22
Blast Lung Injury (BLI)

Arc
blast can cause inhalation injuries.

For example:
Inhaling high temperature
copper vapour.
More than 100 toxic
substances can be found
in the fumes.
BLI + Burns = Greater chance of death
23
Hearing Damage
24
Arc blast at 2 feet
145 decibels
Jet engine at 200 feet
132 decibels
Pain threshold
130 decibels
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
25
Topic 3
Codes and Standards
26
Standards
US National Fire Protection Association

-Standard NFPA 70E
Canadian Standards Association

-Standard Z-462
Canadian Electrical Code

-Rule 2-306
US Occupational Safety &

Health Administration
27
Institute of Electrical &

Electronics Engineers
-Standard 1584
Occupational Health & Safety Act

-Applicable regulations
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
28
What is CSA Standard Z462?
29
The standard for workplace electrical

safety in Canada.
Harmonized with NFPA 70E.
CSA Standard Z462 addresses:
Electrical Safety Program
Arc Flash Hazard Analysis

Flash Protection Boundary
Fault Current Calculations
Arc Fault Clearing Time
Incident Energy Exposure
30
Required PPE
What is IEEE Standard 1584?

Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers
Offers
a method for performing arc

flash hazard calculations.
31
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.
32
Required Warning Label
33
Sample label that complies with CEC Rule 2-306.
Optional Warning Label
34
Topic 4 Protective Clothing

and Equipment
35
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.
36
What is a Calorie?
A calorie
is the amount of heat needed to raise

the temperature of one gram of water by 1C.
Thermal energy is measured in calories/cm.
1.2 calories/cm = Holding your finger
in the blue part of the
flame for one second.
37
FR Rated Clothing
Limit the Incident Energy level of the

arc flash to 1.2 cal/cm against the
workers 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.
38
Photo compliments of
Salisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.
Typical PPE Requirements

Hazard/Risk Eye protection, ear canal
Category
inserts, long sleeve shirt
and pants
0
1
2
3
4
39
Arc rated
clothing
Face & Head

Protection
Flash Suit
Hood
Typical Protective Clothing

Hazard/Risk
Category
40
Clothing Description
Required Minimum
Clothing Arc Rating
Non-melting, flammable material

with fabric weight of at least 4.5 oz/yd2
Not applicable
1
2
3
Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls
4 calories/cm
Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls
8 calories/cm
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/cm
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/cm
Synthetic Clothing
Synthetic
clothing that melts shall not

be worn, such as:
Acetate
Nylon
Polyester
Polypropylene
Spandex.
41
Arc Flash Rated PPE

Required
minimum clothing:
Non-melting, flammable material,

Fabric weight of at least 4.5 oz/yd.
PPE
must also provide

arc flash protection:
Face shield
Gloves, etc.
42
Video Clip 4 100% Cotton Clothing
43
Video Clip 5 Polyester/Cotton Clothing
44
Video Clip 6 FR Clothing
45
FR Clothing Can Be Layered

Increases
level of protection.
May
be lighter than a single

heavy garment.
Manufacturer
must provide
the new combined arc rating
afforded by layering.
46
When Purchasing PPE

Tell
the supplier that you need

arc flash rated PPE and clothing.
PPE must have some resistance to:
Flame
Ignition
Melting.
obtain PPE from a known and
trusted supplier.
Not all FR clothing is tested to ASTM F1506
47
Topic 5 Prevention
48
Tasks with Potential for Arc Flash

Operating
a switch or circuit breaker
Inserting
or removing a circuit breaker
Opening
an enclosure door
Removing
Testing
a cover (bolted or hinged)
for voltage
In each task:
Worker is interacting with energized equipment.

49
Arc Flash Hazard Analysis

If work must be done on or near
energized electrical equipment,
identify the potential for arc flash.
50
Conduct a Flash Hazard Analysis to

determine the
Flash Protection Boundary
Incident Energy exposure
Type and arc rating of PPE
CONTROLLING ARC FLASH HAZARDS
At the Source
51
Reduce
the fault clearing time.
Reduce
the short-circuit current.
Improve
equipment maintenance.
At the Source
Use flash-resistant equipment.
These disconnect switch-plugs have been

designed with built-in flash-protection.
Photos courtesy of Meltric Corporation
52
Along the Path

Increase
Reduce
the working distance.
the energy exposure.
Use
hinged doors instead of bolted

doors to eliminate the risk of bolts
falling into the panel.
Work
53
de-energized.
At the Worker
Energized
electrical work permit
Barriers
Training
Job
and skills
briefings
PPE
Tools
54
Prevention Summary
55
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.
ARC FLASH HAZARDS

It is ALWAYS
preferable to work on
de-energized equipment.
56

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ARC FLASH HAZARDS

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Purpose of this Presentation

Hazard of arc flash

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Five Main Topics

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

What is an Arc Flash Hazard?

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

What is an Electric Arc?

electric arc is a short circuit through the air.

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Characteristics of an Electric Arc

electric arc will oscillate and escalate if

electric arc can engulf a

electric arcs current propels the arc away

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

What Causes Arc Flash?

Dust, impurities, corrosion, condensation, animals

Spark discharge from:

Over-voltages across narrow gaps

Failure of insulating materials

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

What is Arc Blast?

The flash causes an explosive expansion

The blast produces dangerous:

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Video Clip 1 Arc Flash Demo

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Arc Flash Events

Compliments of Salisbury Electrical

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Forms of Arc Flash Energy

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Topic 2 Arc Flash Injuries

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Arc Flash Injuries

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Video Clip 2 Not Safe at 18 inches

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Video Clip 3 Not Safe Working Near

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Electric Shock Injury Burn

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Severe Burns from Arc Flash

Arc Flash Hazards -- Construction Safety Association of Ontario