Arc Flash Studies and NFPA 70E Compliance
SI Testing is an experienced and reliable leader in Arc Flash Studies. We also work alongside our customers to assist them in reaching NFPA 70E compliance.
If you’ve been researching information on Arc Flash, you might have found yourself asking, “What exactly must I do to become compliant with NFPA 70E?” And luckily for you, we’ve done that work already. After the study is completed, we present you with a report and work with you to create a plan for you to maintain compliance.
Even if you’ve had an Arc Flash Study done in the past, they need to be reevaluated every 5 years, and we are more than happy to provide that assistance as well.
An Arc Flash Study has several stages:
Data Collection: The study begins with a full examination of your electrical system. We gather data about your system from the main electrical gear out to every panel and piece of equipment.
Engineering Analysis: The collected data is analyzed and used in the final engineering study, where a full report is generated. This report includes the coordination study, short circuit study, and the arc flash study. Warning stickers are then created for each panel and piece of equipment and a new single line is provided for reference.
Site Revisit: Stickers are applied upon this follow-up visit, where we gather the information necessary for mitigation, and the finished report and single line are delivered.
Arc Flash Mitigation: More often than not, simple changes to your system are possible. Some solutions will be as easy as upgrading a breaker or changing a fuse type. Other solutions might involve replacing a panel or main breaker trip unit. The industry continues to evolve to offer solutions to make work conditions safer for those exposed to an arc flash risk.
Examples would be installing infrared windows or ports, which allow for visual infrared inspections, another would be installing an arc flash reduction maintenance system that many manufacturers are starting to offer.
Training and Continued Compliance: Safety is a pillar of any electrical maintenance program. Guaranteeing that your staff and contractors are well-trained on the equipment they service is just as important as empowering them with an awareness of the inherent dangers in their workplace. The importance of this is amplified when you are in an Arc Flash environment, because knowing how to do your job, is not the same as being able to do it safely.
The ultimate goal with our on-site training programs is to provide the right knowledge to qualified personnel so that they can make the right choices. In doing so, we help eliminate unnecessary failures and foster an environment of safety for our customers.