In recent years, the increased awareness of the dangers associated with working on live electrical equipment has prompted our national consensus standards and government agencies to invoke more stringent laws to ensure worker safety. While consulting engineers are not responsible for determining the process for achieving an electrically safe work condition as defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), they can assist in determining the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) by performing arch-flash calculations. And while the most effective way to prevent injuries is to deenergize and group equipment, there are various ways we can reduce arc flash hazards by implementing mitigating strategies.
ESD’s Michael Mar and Robert Sandy identify several of these design strategies in their article for Consulting-Specifying Engineer: Pure Power Magazine, “Mitigating Arc Flash Hazards.” (starting on page 24).