Electrical system integrity is really consequential for the safety of people who are in that area and for the facility itself. When bringing in an electrical safety expert to evaluate the health of your system, they will advise on what assessments they recommend as well as what type of procedures they use to determine if it’s safe or not.
One such investigative procedure they will perform if they find a potential risk is an arc flash analysis. After rigorously carrying-out their step by step assessment, a safety expert will be able to tell you exactly what you need to keep everyone safe.
Let’s take an in-depth look at what an analysis of an arc flash can show us.
What is An Arc Flash Analysis?
An electrical safety expert will review all aspects of your electrical system. They are on the lookout for any hazards or compromised wiring that could cause issues. When doing a thorough arc flash risk assessment, your expert will locate any areas that could possibly experience an arc flash.
Once an area has been determined to be in possible danger of an arc flash, an arc flash analysis is performed. The safety professional will do the following:
1) Evaluating Energy Levels
Reviewing data and the inner workings of your electrical system, an expert will evaluate energy levels at different spots so they can simulate what will happen in those spots should an arc flash occur.
This information will help them to decide what measures need to be taken to keep people safe from harm. It’s also helpful when you have a lot of large and expensive equipment you need to keep protected as well.
2) Spotting All Potential Risks
Not only will your safety expert check out the energy levels that would be produced by an arc flash, they will review everything in that area. This includes any protective devices, fault currents, and even how your equipment is configured.
3) Determining Risks for Personnel and Equipment
After finding what energy levels will be during a flash incident, your safety expert will be able to provide you with a detailed report of potential injuries to personnel and damage to equipment. These worst-case scenarios can be accounted for with extra safety precautions and protocols.
4) Laying Out the Best Protocols for Safety
Your certified electrical safety expert will also provide you with what you need to do to remedy any risks or hazards they’ve found. They can help you establish good safety protocols for your facility, as well as mitigation techniques should any incidents occur. You will also receive recommendations about what PPE (personal protective equipment) is best for each area.
In Conclusion
As you can see, the arc flash analysis is one part of a larger safety assessment that should be performed for every facility. After there is a possible risk or hazard identified that could trigger an arch flash, taking the proper precautions for ground personnel and building equipment is crucial. By listening to the advice of your safety professional, you can save yourself a lot of money while keeping everyone safe.
