Arc Flash Analysis

An arc flash analysis or arc flash assessment identifies code or electrical safety violations in your facility. The assessment determines the incident energy to which a worker may be exposed and how to protect the worker from an arc flash accident and other electrical hazards. An Arc Flash study is a risk assessment of a workplace environment that determines Arc Flash hazards. An expert in electrical safety conducts an assessment to ensure that a company understands the risks their workplace poses to their team and how to protect against them. An arc flash study is important because without it your workers (either your employees or contractors) have no practical way of knowing how hazardous the equipment is that they are working on. Electrical safety (all safety for that matter) comes down to understanding two things. Hazard and risk. NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, Article 130.5 states that a study needs to be done when there is a significant change in the electrical system or “reviewed for accuracy at intervals not to exceed 5 years”.

PPE Category 1: Minimum Arc Rating 4 cal/cm2

Required Clothing: Long Sleeve Shirt (or Jacket) and Pants or AR Coverall with minimum arc rating of 4 cal/cm2
Required Face and Head Protection: Face Shield (with “wrap around” guarding…i.e balaclava) or Arc Flash Suit Hood
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner
In addition to AR clothing, the following products are required or to be used as needed:

Required Hand Protection: Heavy-Duty Leather Gloves
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles), Hearing Protection
Footwear: Leather Footwear (as needed)

PPE Category 2: Minimum Arc Rating 8 cal/cm2

Required Clothing: Arc Rated Long Sleeve Shirt and Pants or Arc Rated Coverall with minimum arc rating of 8 cal/cm2
Required AR Face and Head Protection: Arc Rated Arc Flash Suit Hood or AR Face Shield, Sock Hood/Balaclava with minimum arc rating of 8 cal/cm2
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner
In addition to AR clothing, the following products are required or to be used as needed:

Required Hand Protection: Heavy-Duty Leather Gloves
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles), Hearing Protection

PPE Category 3: Minimum Arc Rating 25 cal/cm2

PPE Category 3 and 4 require additional layers of PPE. Arc flash suit hoods are required and rubber insulating gloves & leather protectors or arc rated gloves are required. For PPE Category 3; workers need the following clothing:

Required Clothing: Arc Rated Flash Suit Jacket and AR pant or AR coverall with minimum arc rating of 25 cal/cm2
Required AR Face and Head Protection: Arc Rated Flash Suit Hood with minimum arc rating of 25 cal/cm2
Required AR Hand Protection: Rubber insulating gloves & leather protectors or arc rated gloves
Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection 

PPE Category 4: Minimum Arc Rating 40 cal/cm2

The final PPE Category requires AR clothing with a minimum rating of 40 cal/cm2.

Required Clothing: Arc Rated Flash Suit Jacket and AR pant or AR coverall with minimum arc rating of 40 cal/cm2
Required AR Face and Head Protection: Arc Rated Flash Suit Hood with minimum arc rating of 40 cal/cm2
Required AR Hand Protection: Rubber insulating gloves & leather protectors or arc rated gloves
As Needed: Arc Rated Jacket, Rainwear, Parka, Hard Hat Liner

Additional PPE: Hard Hat, Eye Protection (Glasses, Goggles), Hearing Protection