Intelligent Power Today Magazine

Answering frequently asked questions about arc flash relays

BY BOB ZWEIFEL, Littelfuse

The dangers of an arc flash incident—burns, blast, molten metal ejected at ballistic speeds—are by now familiar to every electrical worker. Most electrical professionals have read about strategies to minimize arc flash hazards, including arc flash relays. Now many of them are seriously considering integrating arc flash relays, but they have many questions about how to install this unfamiliar technology and exactly what the benefits will be.

Electrical Source Magazine and Littelfuse, based on the company’s frequently asked questions, offer some insight on how to apply these valued...

While the threat of shock and electrocution from inadvertent contact with energized parts has long been recognized, the arc flash and arc blast hazards have only fairly recently been incorporated into the electrical safety standards.

The U.S. federal agency the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces electrical workplace safety standards outlined in the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 70E: “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”. Basic compliance with guidelines in the NFPA 70E 2015 Edition, can be established with a five-step process.