| Title | By | Posted On |
| Arc Flash Suits??Who is using them?? |
HITECHSOLUTIONS |
3/13/2008 |
| Hello Fellow Thermographers, I'm wondering how many of you that are performing electrical inspections are aware of the arc flash risks. And also how many of us are wearing arc flash suits or are we just trying to stay outside of the shock boundary? Just would like to know where we are going in terms of safety. Thanks |
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| Re:Arc Flash Suits??Who is using them?? |
IRJay |
3/14/2008 |
This safety PPE is not an optional choice. Get to some classes. No matter what, an unqualified person is not to be involved within the limited approach boundary.
"Shock boundary"???.
Please do not get involved without some experience and training. |
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| Re:Arc Flash Suits??Who is using them?? |
HITECHSOLUTIONS |
3/16/2008 |
This safety PPE is not an optional choice. Get to some classes. No matter what, an unqualified person is not to be involved within the limited approach boundary.
"Shock boundary"???.
Please do not get involved without some experience and training.
Have you ever heard of NFPA 70E? There is a "shock boundary" that as long as you stay out of this boundary then there are limited amounts of PPE that you have to wear. If your ten feet away from the panel you do not need anything else except safety glasses, a hardhat, and boots. I was simply asking how many thermographers were wearing them. |
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| Re:Arc Flash Suits??Who is using them?? |
Carl M |
4/3/2008 |
I agree with IRJay about getting to a class on the subject (NFPA 70E). It's really all about "what we don't know that we don't know".
The shock hazard boundaries and the arc flash hazard boundary are different altogether as one deals with shock hazard and the other with arc flash hazard. These are found in two different articles in the document NFPA 70E.
Carl M.
www.applied-standards.com |
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| Re:Arc Flash Suits??Who is using them?? |
Toolman |
4/4/2008 |
As IRJay & Carl M have intimated, there is a significant difference between the various shock hazard boundaries (Prohibited Approach, Restricted Approach & Limited Approach) and the flash protection boundary, which is the distance within which a person could receive a 2nd degree burn if an arc flash were to occur (energy=1.2 cal/cm2). The flash protection boundary is calculated using IEEE 1584. Anytime you are inside the flash protection boundary you should be wearing the appropriate level of PPE.
To answer the original question, yes I do own and use when appropriate an arc flash suit. I agree that distance from the live components is your biggest asset, and don't advocate getting any closer than absolutely necessary, but there are times when that isn't feasible.
If the facility has done an arc flash survey, the equipment should be labeled with the calculated hazard and boundaries. |
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