Arc Flash Hazards: Construction Safety Association of Ontario

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

1
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 PB/RH -- March 3, 2009
2
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

4
What is an Arc Flash Hazard?
“. . . a dangerous condition associated with the
release of energy caused by an electric arc.”
5
What is an Electric Arc?
 An electric arc is a short circuit through the air.
6
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 arc’s current propels the arc away
from the power source.
7
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
8
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.
9
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 radiation
12
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 up to 35,000°F

Sun 9,900°F
19
Probability of Surviving Burns
100
80
% Survival
60
25% Body Burn
50% Body Burn
40 75% Body Burn
20
0
20+ 30+ 40+ 50+
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
Arc blast at 2 feet 145 decibels
Jet engine at 200 feet 132 decibels
Pain threshold 130 decibels
24
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
Institute of Electrical &

Electronics Engineers
Canadian Electrical Code -Standard 1584
-Rule 2-306
Occupational Health & Safety Act

US Occupational Safety & -Applicable regulations
Health Administration
27
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?
 The standard for workplace electrical

safety in Canada.
 “Harmonized” with NFPA 70E.
29
CSA Standard Z462 addresses:
 Electrical Safety Program

 Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
– Flash Protection Boundary
– Fault Current Calculations
– Arc Fault Clearing Time
– Incident Energy Exposure
 Required PPE
30
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
 Sample label that complies with CEC Rule 2-306.
33
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 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.
37
FR Rated Clothing
 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.
Photo compliments of
Salisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.
38
Typical PPE Requirements
Hazard/Risk Eye protection, ear canal Arc rated Face & Head Flash Suit
Category inserts, long sleeve shirt clothing Protection Hood
and pants
0 
1   
2   
3    
4    
39
Typical Protective Clothing
Hazard/Risk Required Minimum
Category
Clothing Description Clothing Arc Rating
0 Non-melting, flammable material Not applicable

with fabric weight of at least 4.5 oz/yd2
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, 25 calories/cm²
and Arc-rated flash suit, the layered system
must meet the required minimum rating.
4 Arc-rated FR shirt + FR pants or FR coveralls, 40 calories/cm²
and Arc-rated flash suit, the layered system
must meet the required minimum rating.
40
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. Photo compliments of
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. Salisbury Electrical Safety L.L.C.
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 a cover (bolted or hinged)
 Testing 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.
 Conduct a Flash Hazard Analysis to
determine the
 Flash Protection Boundary
 Incident Energy exposure
 Type and arc rating of PPE
50
CONTROLLING ARC FLASH HAZARDS
At the Source
 Reduce the fault clearing time.
 Reduce the short-circuit current.
 Improve equipment maintenance.
51
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 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.
53
At the Worker
 Energized electrical work permit

 Barriers
 Training and skills
 Job briefings
 PPE
 Tools
54
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.
55
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

1. Introduction to arc flash

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

 An electric arc is a short circuit through the air.

 An electric arc will oscillate and escalate if

 Dust, impurities, corrosion, condensation, animals

 Spark discharge from:

 Over-voltages across narrow gaps

 Failure of insulating materials

1. The flash causes an explosive expansion

2. The blast produces dangerous:

Electric arc Arc flash Arc blast

Compliments of Salisbury Electrical

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Arc flash up to 35,000°F

 Flash of light is so intense it can

Material and molten metal

Arc blast can cause inhalation injuries.

BLI + Burns = Greater chance of death

Arc blast at 2 feet 145 decibels

Jet engine at 200 feet 132 decibels

Pain threshold 130 decibels

Arc blast can throw a worker:

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

Canadian Standards Association

Institute of Electrical &

Occupational Health & Safety Act

National Fire Protection Association

“Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”

 The standard for workplace electrical

 Electrical Safety Program

Institute of Electrical and Electronics

Offers a method for performing arc

Canadian Electrical Code

“Rule 2-306 Shock and Flash Protection”

 Sample label that complies with CEC Rule 2-306.

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

 Protects a worker from receiving severe

 A calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise

1.2 calories/cm² = Holding your finger

 Limit the ‘Incident Energy’ level of the

0 Non-melting, flammable material Not applicable

 Synthetic clothing that melts shall not

 Required minimum clothing:

 Increases level of protection.

 May be lighter than a single

 Manufacturer must provide

 Tell the supplier that you need

Not all FR clothing is tested to ASTM F1506

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

 Operating a switch or circuit breaker

If work must be done on or near

 Reduce the fault clearing time.

 Reduce the short-circuit current.

 Improve equipment maintenance.

 Use flash-resistant equipment.

These disconnect switch-plugs have been

 Increase the working distance.

 Energized electrical work permit

PB/RH -- March 3, 2009

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