Arc Flash Study Standards & Compliance

ARC Flash Study Analysis

The data from the facility as per the documents and records is collected so as to ensure all the equipment in the facility are included. The documentation as built in electrical drawings enables to identify the possible hazardous equipment.
A field inspection team from VB Engineering conducts the survey in detail. A technical and well experienced team identifies any additional equipment that might be not included in the records and documents. Also a field inspection helps in acquiring in detail with all the devices feeders, circuit breakers, protective devices, motors, generators, name plate details of all the equipment, types, sizes, time settings, cables and their properties, impedances, X/R ratios, transformer tap changers, transformer KVA/MVA ratings, types of loads, loading information, types of conductors, air gap distance between the conductors, types of electrodes employed, types of enclosures and all other data on field is collected.
An onsite data collection helps in Arc Flash Hazard Analysis with more practical scenarios as the physical verification encompasses
the details like the working environment, deterioration of the equipment, accumulation of dirt and dust, possibility of humidity and thus moisture accumulation, loose contacts, maintenance levels of the equipment, any infestation of rodents etc., proper functioning of connectors, clamps and other switch gear possibility of any wear and tear over the period of operations. With this thorough data at hand leads to identify any unused or unintended protective devices or switch gear present, equipment rated above the actual load requirements, equipment running on overloaded conditions such that they can be removed or replaced by other equipment and get the job done and also in identifying the call for new equipment and improve the system reliability, and productivity of the facility.

Develop Single line Diagram

From the data acquired check if the facility is equipped with electrical drawings and if not develop new drawings. VB Engineering develops the single line diagrams implementing the trending software like ETAP, Easy Power, TANTRA, SKM power tools. The detailed field survey takes the plunge for easy availability of all the information to be depicted in the diagrams. The single line diagrams help in depicting all the loads, feeders, switch gear, circuit breakers, protective relays, MCCs and other loads and their interconnection.

Arc Flash Hazard Solutions and Report

With the real time data obtained by field survey and electrical drawings, the protective relays and the time settings of all the relays at each equipment is considered. Calculate the Arc Flash Hazard Analysis with the most probable assumptions of the Arc Flash Hazard at each equipment and conduct Short circuit coordination study. The short circuit currents are determined at each equipment. Branch currents that contribute to the arc currents are calculated. The duty ratings, relay tripping times, fault clearing time of the protective devices along with the time current curves helps in arbitrating the short circuit coordination study at each equipment. At VB Engineering with the aid of SKM Power tools, Easy Power, Arc Pro and other software taking into account the current operating practices and the possible assumptions of Arc Flash Risk Short Circuit analysis and short circuit coordination of the protective devices is evaluated. The coordinated protective device operation is desirable. The short circuit coordination study suggests the settings for the protective devices to be decisive which protective devices i.e., upstream or downstream, protective devices are to operate for the given arc fault current.

Arc Flash Calculation

From the short circuit analysis Arc Flash calculation is carried about. IEEE 1584-2018 and NFPA have suggested calculation models and methods for Arc Flash Calculation. Arc Flash Calculation is to determine the incident energy and arc fault current from the data at the facility. Incident energy is the released during an arc flash per unit area on a surface. Incident energy is the key value in determining the arc flash hazard analysis. Incident energy is directly proportional to the bolted fault current and inversely proportional to the distance of operation from the point of arc flash squared. Thus, the incident and normalized incident energy calculations are significant in determination of Arc Flash Hazard Analysis, Arc flash calculation and arc flash hazard assessment. With SKM power tools, a large number of buses can be evaluated and Arc Flash calculation is determined. The incident energy calculation is also pragmatic in determination of the arc flash boundaries.

Arc Flash Survey report

Documentation of all the calculations, Arc Flash risk assessments, Arc Flash Survey Report is prepared. Arc Flash Hazard Analysis suggests the required Arc Flash Hazard Labelling at the anticipated Arc Flash equipment. The labels are to comply with OSHA, NFPA 70 E, ANSI safety regulations clearly indicating the Hazard category, incident energy, Arc Flash boundary details and the required PPE. At VB Engineering we prepare Arc Flash Hazard Labels that are clearly visible and understood by the operating personnel so as to create awareness in the operating personnel that they are in the hazard zone and are to comply with the PPE requirements. Failure of such practices is found to be one of the major causes of injuries in Arc Flash incidents. In an attempt to increase the awareness among the operating personnel the management has to avail our services of Arc Flash training to the working professionals. Arc Flash study cost with following all these considerations corroborate to be an opposite of extra expense and turns to be a beneficial investment on part of the management. A cost effective Arc Flash survey report is formulated by VB Engineering in consensus to the company's size, complexity and monetary considerations of the facility. The Arc Flash Study Cost with VB Engineering is a cost effective and balances with the increased productivity owing to less outages in the system and prevention of extra expenses like fines, insurance claims, hospital expenses and damaged equipment replacement and repairs.
A detailed Arc Flash Study Report is catalogued meeting the arc flash study requirements and suggestions for the effective use of the loads, energy sources, protective devices, tap changers: to install new devices or make necessary repairs and other operating practices. Contact our consultant for Arc Flash study at your facility today!

The damages caused by an Arc Flash can be minimised, working personnel can be made to be prepared for the actions to be taken in an incident of Arc Flash through a systematic Arc Flash Hazard Analysis. VB Engineering is one of the world renowned Arc Flash Study companies in Arc Flash Hazard Analysis, Arc Flash Risk Assessment complying with the international standards of regulations and safety guidelines proposed by OSHA, NFPA,IEC, IEEE 1584. Arc Flash is an incident where an arcing fault or short circuit or other faults cause injuries not just an electric shock but also severe burns, fatal injuries, damage the working personnel's eyesight, hearing ability, and a traumatic experience leading to PTSD in few incidents and even cause fatal injuries. Arc Flash Hazard also leads to damage on the part of equipment, a chain of failures of other equipment, property damage of high value and may even lead to dangerous accidents when the arc flash occurs in a highly flammable facility. Ans as such among the other electrical mishaps at a facility, Arc Flash Hazard is a pivotal concern to be addressed.