Is it True that then next Edition of IEEE 1584 is without formulas??

[AusPowEng]

I heard in a recent conference that the next edition of IEEE 1584 will not come with any equations? Can anyone confirm if this is the case?

The reasoning is that private industry funding was sought by IEEE & NFPA joint committee to repeat arc testing and make new arc hazard equations. This is partially initiated because of the papers by Sweeting and Stokes in 2003 that proved the existing test apparatus and measurements were incorrect, and therefore the curve fit equations were incorrect. Also, this forum has plenty of examples whereby IEEE 1584 results, particular for boundary distances give some crazy answers.

It was said that the reasons the next edition of the standard will not have equations is that
1) historically software developers have implemented 1584 equations without paying royalties to IEEE and
2) since this round of funding is from private money, contributors who have software interests want to presumably get back what they paid in.

A market advantage would be delivered to those contributors but IEEE don't typically seem to make these kinds of sweetheart deals as far as I can tell.

So, if this is true, what will be the use of a IEEE 1584 if it doesn't come with equations and how can the end-user engineer run their own manual checks?

Hopefully this comment from the conference was incorrect but I am not surprised by such speculation given that members on this joint committee are not allowed to discuss progress.

 

[PHovnanian]

Don't know.

But I'd be more concerned with NFPA 70E, which is what most AHJ cite directly for code compliance. If that in turn suggests IEEE 1584 methods as a means of determining compliance, but 1584 is revised to remove those methods, it would be up to your local authorities to provide acceptable alternatives.