An arc flash is a violent release of electrical energy through the air. It produces extreme heat, blinding light, and a high-pressure blast wave known as an arc blast. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the temperatures of an electric arc can exceed 35,000 °F (19,400 °C). ITI Technical College teaches students about arc flash safety, its hazards, and related safety procedures in its Electrical Technology Certificate. Contact us today for more information.
Arc Flash Safety: Accidents, Injuries, And Fatalities
Arc flashes and other electrical hazards can cause severe burns, injuries, and fatalities across the United States. Students at ITI Technical College learn the key arc flash safety facts that follow:
- Workplace Fatalities: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 142 workers died from exposure to electricity in 2023. In addition, 130 workers died from this cause in 2024. These totals include all types of electrical exposure, not only arc flashes.
- Extreme Heat And Force: An electric arc can create intense heat, bright light, and a pressure wave called an arc blast. All of this can happen within a fraction of a second.
- Safe Work Practices: Workers who follow safe work practices lower their exposure to these hazards. They also wear arc-rated personal protective equipment (PPE) and understand equipment warning labels.
What Is NFPA 70E?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. The standard describes safe work practices, risk assessments, and PPE requirements. These practices help protect workers from electric shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast. NFPA 70, known as the National Electrical Code (NEC), addresses how electrical systems are installed. In contrast, NFPA 70E addresses how workers safely work on or near those systems. The Electrical Technology Certificate at ITI Technical College includes the NEC and safety practices among its areas of study.
OSHA And NFPA 70E: How They Work Together
OSHA sets legal requirements for electrical safety training in standards such as 29 CFR 1910.332. However, it does not have a standard named for arc flash. OSHA states that its existing regulations require employers to assess electric-arc hazards. The regulations, though, do not specify the components of the assessment. Also, OSHA has not incorporated NFPA 70E by reference. Still, it points to NFPA 70E for items such as arc flash boundaries and PPE categories. ITI Technical College students can learn how these two sources relate as they study safety practices.Students at ITI Technical College apply classroom work to actual equipment in the laboratory. Their studies include these topics:
- AC and DC motors and motor controls
- Switch relay systems and transformers
- Solid-state logic and control functions
- Safety practices and lighting systems
- The National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Blueprint reading
Arc Flash Boundary Explained
NFPA 70E defines the arc flash boundary as a distance from an exposed energized part. At this distance, the incident energy reaches 1.2 cal/cm² (5.02 J/cm²). OSHA explains that a worker without appropriate PPE could receive second-degree burns at this boundary. Safety practices are part of the studies in the Electrical Technology Certificate at ITI Technical College. Key points about arc flash boundaries include:- Not A Fixed Distance: The arc flash boundary changes with the equipment, the available fault current, and the time a protective device takes to clear a fault. Therefore, one distance does not fit every panel.
- Different From Shock Boundaries: OSHA explains that the arc flash boundary does not have a direct relationship with the shock approach boundaries. As a result, it can fall inside or outside of them.
- PPE And Supervision: An unqualified person may cross the arc flash boundary only while wearing appropriate arc-rated PPE. In addition, a qualified employee must provide close supervision.
Risk Assessments And Labels In Arc Flash Safety
Employers perform arc flash risk assessments to identify hazards and estimate the likelihood and severity of injury. These assessments also set safe working boundaries. NFPA 70E calls for the assessments to get a review at least every five years. Furthermore, it calls for warning labels on equipment that workers may need to examine while energized. NFPA revises the standard on a regular cycle, so technicians always need the current edition. Technicians and managers commonly complete the steps below. Students at ITI Technical College can learn about them as they build their electrical knowledge:
- Data Collection And Field Survey: Gather single-line diagrams, conductor lengths, ampacities, and overcurrent protective device ratings.
- System Modeling: Model the electrical distribution system with power analysis software.
- Incident Energy Calculations: Calculate the available fault current and the incident energy in cal/cm² with methods such as IEEE 1584.
- Boundary And PPE Determination: Establish the arc flash boundary, where incident energy falls to 1.2 cal/cm². Then select appropriate arc-rated PPE.
- Labeling And Documentation: Apply warning labels to equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers. Finally, review the documentation at least every five years.
Start Your Path With ITI Technical College
Earning an Electrical Technology Certificate at ITI Technical College can update your current job skills. It can also prepare you for a new career. Check out our application process, and explore what we have to offer. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.
Program availability, length, and outcomes vary. ITI Technical College does not guarantee employment or salary.
Disclosure:
For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website: https://iticollege.edu/disclosures/
