Arc Flash Risk Assessment (Study)

The National Fire Protection Association Guidelines (NFPA 70E) require facility owners to perform an arc flash risk assessment prior to allowing a worker or contractor to perform a task on energized equipment. The arc flash risk assessment identifies the presence and location of potential hazards and provides recommendations for PPE, boundaries for limited and restricted approaches, recommendations for flash protection, and safe work practices.

Arc Flash Hazard Labeling Plan

Electrical inspectors are now enforcing the new labeling requirement published in the National Electrical Code (NEC 110.16) that states a warning label must be placed on electrical equipment that may remain energized during maintenance or repair. ERS can assist with compliance during each phase of an arc flash risk assessment. In the initial phase, ERS supplies the labels and can also assist in applying the appropriate warning labels and signs.

Site Review / Compliance Assessment

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is diligent in enforcing the NFPA 70E Guidelines. To ensure compliance ERS can determine the necessary steps to fulfill the more general statements in the OSHA standards. We conduct a comprehensive assessment at your facility to identify areas of risk and non-compliance. A plan is then formulated to bring your facility into compliance in the most efficient way possible.

Mitigation Services

ERS' technical staff can conduct a design review of your electrical distribution system to identify areas to reduce potential arc flash hazards. Several areas are evaluated including fault levels, exposure times, remote operations, remote racking, and system grounding. Employing special devices and altering current design can significantly reduce fault levels, arcing time, arc incident energy, and arc blast force. Conducting a design review is the most effective way to uncover potential hazards so these types of solutions can be employed.

Single-Line Diagrams

NFPA 70E requirements mandate accurate, up-to-date single-line diagrams. These documents are essential for documenting, troubleshooting, and communicating information about your power systems. To meet these requirements, ERS can conduct a comprehensive site survey that is essential to develop or to update existing single-line diagrams or complete electrical system drawings.

Short Circuit and Coordination Studies

Arc Flash calculations should be completed in conjunction with short circuit calculations and protective device coordination to achieve the most accurate Arc Flash Hazard results. Short circuit and coordination studies verify protective devices and arc hazard ratings, calculate momentary interrupting and relay currents, establish settings for all types of protective devices, and coordinate your entire power distribution system to minimize downtime. ERS specializes in conducting these studies that provide critical information you need to ensure compliance with NFPA and OSHA requirements.

Preventive Maintenance

ERS can assist in developing a preventive maintenance program to specifically address arc flash hazards. Our optimized preventive maintenance program evaluates the equipment’s condition and determines the most cost-effective and manageable solution to ensure your protective devices operate properly, safely, and reliably–eliminating prolonged exposure to arc flash, which could result in disabling injuries or death.

Training

An effective arc flash training program should provide workers the knowledge and understanding of the existence, nature, causes, and methods to prevent electrical hazards. ERS' arc flash training program includes training on arc flash awareness, standards and codes, understanding of arc flash quantities, selection and use of appropriate PPE, reading and following warning signs and labels, methods to reduce risk while working on live exposed parts, arc flash hazard assessment, and documentation.

Personal Protective Equipment Plan

ERS' Personal Protective Equipment Plan addresses all OSHA standards regarding PPE to ensure compliance. Based on the findings of the arc flash analysis, ERS will provide PPE category requirement and recommendations. We can also assist in the selection and supply of recommended equipment on which workers will be trained. Our team will address when the PPE is necessary and what equipment is needed. ERS' approach covers how PPE should be worn, maintained, and disposed of after the equipment life has expired.

Documentation

Proper documentation ensures compliance with OSHA and NFPA standards and facilitates investigation should an arc flash related injury occur. Thorough documentation is one of ERS' strengths. Our arc flash compliance plan consists of a customized written report that includes the result of the arc flash analysis, updated single-line drawings on electrical systems, signs and labels on equipment and hazardous areas. Also included in the documentation are the type, name/ID, incident energy at working distances, flash protection boundary, hazard/risk category, and other pertinent information such as voltage, available fault current, protective device description and its trip time, arc gap, and current. Documentation can also be provided as part of the safety program and documentation of training provided to workers.

• Improved regulatory compliance results from performing arc flash hazard analysis in accordance with industry guidelines
• Improved worker safety is achieved by identifying potential hazards and implementing recommendations to mitigate risk

• Greater productivity occurs by reducing business disruption and lost man hours that can result from arc flash incidents
• Enhanced system performance results from improved maintenance practices and preventing equipment damage

• Deep infrastructure expertise across the entire electrical system from generation and transmission to distribution and secondary distribution infrastructures
• Technical knowledge base from 100,000 completed projects supporting ~400,000 pieces of equipment
• Documented quality program to ensure standardized and consistent service delivery everywhere you operate
• Superior safety ratings, safe work practices, and award-winning safety programs
• Industry-leading customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Score
• Nationwide staff of registered professional engineers
• A leader in staffing Level 3 & 4 InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) certified technicians

• Longevity of qualified technical resources
• Founding member of InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA)
• Participate and lead standards development including NFPA, IEEE, and NETA
• Customer resolution center available 24x7x365 for emergency support
• Comprehensive test equipment calibration program'
• Standardized data acquisition tool deployed across our global service organization, ensuring consistent, standardized data collection across each equipment type anywhere in the world
• State-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic software and tools
• Easy-to-read technical reports, compatible with NFPA and NETA standards

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