Manufacturing- Arc Flash

[tctctraining]

Under new regulation of Z462 or NAFTA 70 what obligations manufacturing companies have to cope with this standard?
I work for a medium voltage utility manufacturer products.

 

[burnt2x]

I guess it's very clear here; 110.16 Flash Protection

"Switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers that are in other than dwelling occupancies and are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall be field marked to warn qualified persons of potential electric arc flash hazards. The marking shall be located so as to be clearly visible to qualified persons before examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance of the equipment.

 

[wbd]

You need to obtain a copy of NFPA 70E-2009 to see the requirements for arc flash. If your facility does not meet the limitations on the tables in NFPA 70E, then you will have to have an arc flash hazard analysis done for your facility.
You will also have to provide the proper PPE and training for personnel that may be exposed to arc flash hazards.

There is a ton of information at

http://www.arcflashforum.com

This forum is solely devoted to arc flash.

 

[davidbeach]

As a manufacturer, you need to be concerned about the electrical system in your plant. Arc flash considerations for the gear that you sell to others is their concern. The marking (labeling) has to be done as the result of a study for the specific installation, there is no way that the gear manufacturer could affix meaningful arc flash labels to the gear.

 

[tctctraining]

good point davidbeach. Thanks

 

[bacon4life]

As a manufacturer- It's the purchaser's responsibility.

As a progressive manufacturer- Your customers have to meet arc flash requirements, so providing safer equipment is good business strategy.

 

[burnt2x]

bacon4life,
That's a very nice way of taking a bigger slice of the market! If businesses are on the downtrend, your customers can always remember your brand for doing extra for the purchasers!

 

[alehman]

In the U.S. 110.16 (NEC) labeling requirement is typically met with a generic, non-site-specific, arc flash hazard warning label. For NEC compliance, it does not have to state specific exposure or hazard risk category. Most electrical equipment manufacturers provide this without asking.

If NFPA 70E compliance is the concern, then labeling would need to be installation-specific and an arc-flash study is required.

 

[apowerengr]

alehman - I believe the 2008 NEC requires labels with either the flash protection boundary or actual exposure level stated on the label - no more generic labels are allowed.

 

[Zogzog]

I believe the 2008 NEC requires labels with either the flash protection boundary or actual exposure level stated on the label - no more generic labels are allowed.

The NEC article remains the same, the NFPA 70E now requires the panel to be labeled with either the Ei or the PPE required, but that is the responsibility of the equipment owner, not the equipment manufacturer. The manufacturer has no way of knowing what the EI will be, that depends on the system charaterstics.

Most OEM's put the Generic label of the gear, and that is it.

 

[alehman]

Yes. NEC 110.16 is quoted by burnt2x above. There is no requirement for indicating exposure. 110.16 is followed by a fine print note that refers to NFPA 70E as a source of additional information, but FPN's are not part of the code.