Arc Flash Study: the real risk before you open a panel
We calculate the energy an arc flash would release at each panel, define the protection boundary and the personal protective equipment your people need, and label every piece of equipment. It helps you support compliance with NOM-029-STPS-2011.
What is an Arc Flash study?
An arc flash is the discharge that occurs when current jumps through the air between conductors during a fault. It releases heat, light and pressure in milliseconds, and can cause severe burns to anyone standing in front of the panel, even without touching anything.
The Arc Flash study calculates the incident energy at each piece of equipment at a defined working distance, based on the fault current and the time the protective device takes to clear it. That value defines the arc flash boundary, the appropriate personal protective equipment and the label each panel must carry.
When is it needed?
- You have an inspection or audit by STPS, your insurer or your corporate office.
- Your personnel operate, measure or work on energized panels.
- It has never been done, it is more than five years old, or the installation has changed.
- There was an electrical incident or near miss.
- You are going to buy personal protective equipment and need to know which category is required.
What it includes
The final scope is defined with you, based on your installation and what you need to solve.
Incident energy
Calculation per piece of equipment in cal/cm² using the IEEE 1584-2018 methodology.
Arc flash boundary
Distance at which an unprotected person could suffer a second-degree burn.
Protective equipment
Protection level required by equipment and task, in accordance with NFPA 70E.
Labels
A label for each panel with voltage, incident energy, arc flash boundary and required protection.
Risk reduction
Proposals to lower the energy: settings, maintenance mode or remote operation.
Training for personnel
A session so your team knows how to read the labels and apply the results.
What we need to perform the study
The basics are enough to quote. If you are missing some data, don't stop: we gather it on site as part of the service.
To perform the study
Requested once the service is confirmed. We help you gather it.
- All the short circuit study data (service entrance, transformers, feeders and motors).
- Current protection settings or the existing coordination study.
- Type and dimensions of the enclosures, and the conductor configuration inside them.
- Tasks your personnel perform on each piece of equipment (operation, measurement, maintenance).
- Electrical work procedures and protective equipment used today.
- Access to the panels for the site survey, under your plant's safety rules.
Your information is treated as confidential and is used only for your project.
How the study is performed
Information review
We define the equipment to study and review existing studies.
Site survey
We walk through the panels and record the information of each enclosure.
Calculation and proposals
We calculate the incident energy and propose how to reduce it.
Labeling and handover
We install the labels and explain the results to your personnel.
What people ask us most
Is it mandatory in Mexico?
NOM-029-STPS-2011 requires safety procedures and the definition of personal protective equipment for work on electrical installations. The Arc Flash study is the technical way to support that definition.
How often should it be updated?
NFPA 70E calls for reviewing it at least every five years, and sooner if there are changes in the installation that modify fault currents or protection settings.
What information does the label include?
The equipment voltage, the arc flash boundary, the incident energy with its working distance or the required protection level, and the study date.
Can incident energy be reduced?
Yes. With protection settings, a maintenance mode on the breakers, remote operation or configuration changes. The study indicates which ones apply to your installation.
Do you have a case at your plant?
Tell us what you need to solve and what information you have. A specialist will reply with the scope and next steps.