http://s.pangonilo.com/index.php/2009/11/arc-flash-hazard-protection-iec-standard.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:26:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://s.pangonilo.com/index.php/2009/11/arc-flash-hazard-protection-iec-standard.html/comment-page-1#comment-601 Hugh Hoagland at e-Hazard.com Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:46:12 +0000 http://s.pangonilo.com/?p=951#comment-601 I love the IEC standards for arc flash mitigation but thy are not like the IEEE or NFPA standards. The IEEE and NFPA standards are not met with IEC standards. The standards you cite are for NEW switchgear. If you have old equipment, and most sites do, the IEC standards you cite don't help. They are for making equipment more arc flash resistant but the IEEE 1584 standard allows you to calculate the energy in the event of a fault. Many things cause faults including lack of maintenance or cleaning, improper work techniques or tools and human error. Even arc resistant switchgear can still flash and kill when the doors (their method of supressing injury) are open such as during troubleshooting. Just feel this is an unfair comparision. The fatalities continue in IEC standard countries and in old equipment. IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E made us stop ignoring the deaths. I support IEC standard safer designs but this doesn't eliminate the need for the IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E I love the IEC standards for arc flash mitigation but thy are not like the IEEE or NFPA standards. The IEEE and NFPA standards are not met with IEC standards. The standards you cite are for NEW switchgear. If you have old equipment, and most sites do, the IEC standards you cite don’t help. They are for making equipment more arc flash resistant but the IEEE 1584 standard allows you to calculate the energy in the event of a fault. Many things cause faults including lack of maintenance or cleaning, improper work techniques or tools and human error. Even arc resistant switchgear can still flash and kill when the doors (their method of supressing injury) are open such as during troubleshooting. Just feel this is an unfair comparision. The fatalities continue in IEC standard countries and in old equipment. IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E made us stop ignoring the deaths. I support IEC standard safer designs but this doesn’t eliminate the need for the IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E

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