What is an arc flash?

Arc flash typically occurs when the electrical insulation or isolation between live conductors is severed or can no longer withstand the applied voltage. Near the high power electrical equipment, the short-circuit power available is high and consequently so is the energy associated with the electrical arc in case of a fault.
In Europe, regulation and standardization are mainly aimed at protecting workers against the risks of direct contact during work and interventions on and near electrical installations. The risks in the case of electric arc and the means to prevent them are mentioned but not developed.The effects of the electric arc:

The electric arc produces intense light and heat, high noise, high overpressure
Heat and splashes of molten metal can cause lethal burns
Noise can lead to permanent or temporary hearing loss, a flash of vision disorders
The overpressure can open and project the doors of electrical cabinets or cause falls during work at height
In addition to personal injury, an arc flash can result in serious damage to electrical equipment. which can cause disruption to electrical systems in manufacturing and process industry environments or tertiary buildings. The cost of downtime can be considerable. elec calc™ Arc Flash module provides the professionals of the electrical industry with a fundamental tool in the sector, as the user will be able to develop its safety analysis in the vicinity of switchboards and panels. By design, elec calc™ has almost all the data allowing the calculation of the figures of the arc flash, from which the user will be able to elaborate his security analysis near the tables and boxes.

1. Arc Flash
An essential factor for safety

2. INDEX
1.What is an Arc Flash?
2.The effects of the electric arc
3.Risk assessment and arc flash analysis
4.eleccalc™ Arc Flash module
Arc Flash

3. 1. What is an Arc Flash?
Arc Flash

4. Arc Flash is a dangerous condition associated with
the release of energy caused by an electrical arc.
Arc Flash

5. Arcflashtypicallyoccurswhentheelectrical
insulationorisolationbetweenlive
conductorsisseveredorcannolonger
withstandtheappliedvoltage.
Nearthehighpowerelectricalequipment,the
short-circuitpoweravailableishighand
consequentlysoistheenergyassociatedwith
theelectricalarcincaseofafault.
Arc Flash
1
2
3

6. InEurope,regulationandstandardization
aremainlyaimedatprotectingworkers
againsttherisksofdirectcontactduring
workandinterventionsonandnear
electricalinstallations.Therisksinthecase
ofelectricarcandthemeanstoprevent
themarementionedbutnotdeveloped.
Arc Flash

7. Insomecountries,particularlyinNorth
America,theserisksarebettertakeninto
accountforhuman,materialandfinancial
aspects,andregulationsaremuchmore
stringentinthisarea.
Arc Flash

8. 2. The effects of the electric arc
Arc Flash

9. The electric arc produces
intense lightand heat, high
noise, high overpressure
Arc Flash
1
2
3

10. Heat and splashes of molten
metal can cause lethal burns
Arc Flash

11. Noise can lead to permanent
or temporary hearing loss, a
flash of vision disorders
Arc Flash

12. The overpressurecan open and
project the doors of electrical cabinets
or cause falls during work at height
Arc Flash

13. 3. Risk assessment and arc flash analysis
Arc Flash

14. Arc Flash
Thereisnomethodofanalysis
andriskassessmentbyIECor
Europeanstandards.

15. Arc Flash
In contrast, the United States
has the following documents:
NFPA70E(StandardforElectricalSafetyintheWorkplace)takes
intoaccountallelectricalrisksincludingthoseduetoelectricarcs
recommendsPPE(PersonalProtectiveEquipment)tobeused
dependingonthelevelofrisk.
IEEE1584-2002(GuideforPerformingArc-FlashHazard
Calculations)givesthemethodstocalculatetheincidentenergyin
caseofelectricarcandallowsdetermininganarcflashprotection
boundary.

16. 4. eleccalc™ Arc Flash module
Arc Flash

17. Arc Flash

18. Arc Flash
Risk management
and prevention
have always been
important aspects of
the safety programs
within the electrical
industry.
The correct
assessment of the
risk level of the arc
flash can help reduce
downtime and ensure
a safer working
environment.

19. Arc Flash
Thearcflashmoduleprovidesthe
professionalsoftheelectricalindustry
withafundamentaltoolinthesector,
astheuserwillbeabletodevelopits
safetyanalysisinthevicinityof
switchboardsandpanels.
Thecorrectassessmentof
therisklevelofthearcflash
canhelpreducedowntime
andensureasaferworking
environment.

20. Arc Flash
Bydesign,eleccalc™hasalmostall
thedataallowingthecalculationofthe
figuresofthearcflash,fromwhichthe
userwillbeabletoelaboratehis
securityanalysisnearthetablesand
boxes.

21. Arc Flash
❑Itcalculatesthecorrespondingcut-off
timesoftheconcernedprotective
devices.
❑Specificdataoftheequipmentcanbe
completedormodifiedbytheuser
throughasimpleinterface.

22. Arc Flash
Fromtheoperatingmodesdescribedina
project,eleccalc™determinesthe
maximumandminimumthree-phase
short-circuitcurrentsthatcanoccurona
distributor.

23. Arc Flash
Thefollowingresultsareprovided
accordingtothecalculationmethodsof
theIEEE1584-2002guide(empirically
derivedmodelormethodofLee
dependinguponthecharacteristicsof
theinstallation):

24. Arc Flash
•Themaximumincidentenergyatthe
workingdistance
•Theprotectionboundaryforthe
boundaryenergy
•Thegloveclass(PPE)tobeusedto
preventtheriskofelectricshock(IEC
60903andASTMD120)

25. Arc Flash
Warning labels

26. Arc Flash
eleccalc™allowstheeditionofthe
labelstobeaffixedontheconcerned
equipmentortheexportofthe
correspondingresultstomakepossible
thecustomizationofthelabels.

27. Arc Flash
Theformatofthelabelisconsistentwith
therecommendationsofthedocument
NFPA70E(edition2018).
Inaddition,eleccalc™monitorsthe
evolutionsoftheinstallationand
preventstheobsolescenceofpreviously
publishedlabels.

28. Trace Software International commits itself to conceive software solutions
capable of guaranteeing electrical safety and system protection.
More than 30 years of experience in the industrial engineering sector has
allowed us to guarantee the highest standards of quality and reliability, as well
as the complement of local and international regulations in terms of safety.
Technical Support

29. Since 1987,Trace Software Internationalhas been committed to the
development of software solutions and services dedicated to the industrial
engineering, with a unique expertise in the design of electrical installations.
www.trace-software.com

30. Trace Software France
Parc Eco-Normandie
76430 Saint Romain de ColboscFrance
[email protected]
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08006 Barcelona –Spain
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