Do you own or manage a facility with equipment greater than 50 volts that has not been assessed in the past five years? If you have not made modifications or upgrades to your equipment within those five years, you may be required to have an arc flash study—also called an arc flash assessment. 

Here is more information on arc flashes, what an arc flash study does, and why you need one to keep your building and your team safe. 

What are Arc Flashes?

An arc flash is the heat and light that is produced from something called an arc fault. An arc fault is created by corroded or loose wiring and leads to high levels of heat that can ignite surrounding wood framing or insulation. Arc flashes and arc blasts are explosions that can injure anyone nearby as well as damage the building or its contents. 

The Dangers of Arc Flashes 

Arc flash temperatures can reach up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature high enough to burn the skin, cause eye and lung damage, ignite clothing, or even melt metal. This makes arc flashes a significant workplace hazard that needs to be mitigated by business owners, facility managers, or safety professionals. 

The Importance of an Arc Flash Study 

One of the ways to prevent arc faults—and, in turn, arc flashes and blasts—is to get an arc flash study. These electrical engineering analyses take an in-depth look at a facility’s electrical distribution system and determine how hot an explosion could potentially get when a worker interacts with the system.  

The study provides the information necessary to label equipment with the level of ‘incident energy’ it produces. The labels make it easy for workers to know how hazardous each piece of equipment is so they can take the proper precautions. 

Arc Flash Training is Key

An arc flash study won’t do much good if workers are not trained properly. Part of arc flash training is understanding incident energy, the dangers it presents, and how to manage each piece of equipment based on its label. Arc flash training also includes what type of protective equipment to wear, how to take safety precautions, ways to control arc flash hazards, types of arc flashes, and risk assessment procedures. 

Arc flash training is required for workers who are exposed to electrical hazards including electrical technicians, electrical and mechanical engineers, maintenance technicians, and electricians. It’s also valuable for plant and facility supervisors, building managers, building owners, and safety managers who are working with those exposed to electrical hazards. This valuable training can prevent workplace injuries due to arc flashes and blasts as well as those caused by electrocution and shock. 

Getting an Arc Flash Study and Training 

An arc flash study and subsequent training will keep your workers safe and your facility a hazard-free zone. Work with an experienced company that offers high-quality training to ensure you are doing everything you can to keep your workplace injury-free.