Arc Flash Warning Labels 2

[cuky2000]

1) Do an arc flash warning label without specifying the incident energy and approach boundary meets the National Electrical Code (NEC/NFPA-70) 2008 and 2011?

2) Considering that the NFPA 70E (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace) and OSHA requires incident energy and approach boundaries on the arc flash labels for electrical installations, how is this requirement related with the NEC?

3) What equipment requires Arc Flash Warning Labels?

 

[dpc]

1. Yes - see 110.16

2. NEC is a standard for electrical construction dealing with new installations and new equipment. NFPA 70E is a consensus standard covering electrical safety in the workplace for all electrical installations. NEC is adopted by individual states and becomes a legal requirement as a building code. NFPA 70E is not a legal requirement but is used by OSHA as a tool in determining compliance with OSHA requirements for electrical safety.

3. See NFPA 70E-2012 130.5(C). Any equipment over 50 V "likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized....."

 

[jraef]

... NEC is a standard for electrical construction dealing with new installations and new equipment. NFPA 70E is a consensus standard covering electrical safety in the workplace for all electrical installations. NEC is adopted by individual states and becomes a legal requirement as a building code. NFPA 70E is not a legal requirement but is used by OSHA as a tool in determining compliance with OSHA requirements for electrical safety.

Dave,
Thanks for that statement, it clears up a lot of things for me. Here in Calif. we typically don't adopt the NEC for 3 years, yet I've been hearing grumbling about the 2012 changes to NFPA70E for a month or so lately and I have been tasked with putting together a presentation on it for my company in March. But I was asking why anyone cares yet because I thought it wouldn't be taking effect until around 2015. That now explains it!

I've always ASSumed that since the "NEC" is actually officially the NFPA70, that NFPA70E was by association an extension of it.

"Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum."
— Kilgore Trout (via Kurt Vonnegut)
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[jraef]

I think as part of my presentation I'm going to put together a Venn diagram* of how the NEC, NFPA70E and OSHA all fit together in this, I think it's confusing to most people. I might throw in IEEE-1584 as well.

Venn diagram; after all these years, 3rd grade math finally comes in handy...



"Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum."
— Kilgore Trout (via Kurt Vonnegut)
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[dpc]

The best way to think about NFPA 70E: It was developed by NFPA at the request of OSHA (many versions ago). OSHA has said that if you comply with NFPA 70E, you should be in compliance with OSHA requirements for electrical safety.

Just do a little searching on the OSHA "General Duty" clause and you should get an idea on how they enforce it. Arc-flash is a "recognized hazard" based on industry standards such as IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E.