The National Electric Safety Code-2007 edition requires electric utilities to perform an assessment to determine potential electric arc exposures. The NFPA-70E is the standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace which requires the identification of an arc flash protection boundary. The arc flash protection boundary is the distance at which the incident energy levels are measured at 1.2 cal/cm2.

SET Solutions can provide a systematic approach to electric utilities to ensure arc hazards are identified and abated. Arc flash will be approached through the completion of an arc flash hazard assessment and the development of an arc flash implementation plan.

An arc flash hazard assessment is basically an extension of a protective coordination study. Two main determinants of arc flash incident energy are available bolted fault current and protective device clearing time. To compute incident energy, a system model must be developed with sufficient detail to conduct a fault current analysis (source & line impedance, spacing, and connectivity), with protective device data sufficient to determine the time required for the protecting device (TCC curves, ratings, settings, and location) to clear the fault current. All work will be performed under the supervision of a qualified professional engineer and the final report will be sealed by the supervising professional engineer.

SET Solutions, will develop an arc hazard implementation plan and provide training for employees concerning arc flash hazards, engineering controls, administrative controls, work rules and PPE required to perform work safely. The implementation plan will include the following:

• Job descriptions with arc hazards
  To ensure an overall compliance strategy is developed a review of employees with arc exposures will be performed. This includes development of arc flash boundaries for employees who may not specifically be working on energized parts.
• Work procedures with arc exposures
  SET Solutions will work with your utility to identify procedures with arc hazards. Once identified, processes and or procedures to minimize and/or eliminate the hazards will be developed as reasonable under the utility’s guidance. Reducing and eliminating arc exposures must be completed before developing a PPE compliance program. All work performed energized will be evaluated to ensure arc hazards have been eliminated or at least minimized. The development of written procedures will be completed as identified.
• PPE/Safety Equipment Matrix Development
  SET Solutions will work with your utility to develop a PPE/safety equipment matrix for identified work exposures.
• Provide Arc Flash Training
  SET Solutions will provide on-site arc flash training specifically targeting the developed arc flash implementation plan. Training will not be generic but rather specific for the utility.