How to apply IEEE 1584 2018 to PPE selection

[LuLu319]

Hello all!

I recently performed an arc flash hazard calculation using IEEE 1584.

The results of the calculation give me the arc flash boundary where the incident energy is 5J/cm^2 (1.2cal/cm^2).

How can I apply this method to determine the arc flash boundary for a 4-cal or 8-cal clothing system?

Kind of scratching my head on this one and would appreciate any insight you all can offer!

Thank you for reading!

 

[dpc]

Which version of IEEE 1584 are you using - 2002 or 2018? There's a big difference. In theory, you would use the incident energy equation, set the incident energy to the answer you want and solve for the distance.

But calculating a boundary for 4 cal/cm3 or 8 cal/cm2 is not commonly done because it isn't relevant to the safety standards or how PPE is generally used. I do a lot of arc flash studies and I've never needed to do this calculation. The 1.2 cal/cm2 arc-flash boundary requires anyone closer than this wear PPE while the work is being done. But they must wear the same level of PPE as the person doing the work at the Working Distance.

Another approach is to just keep increasing the working distance until the incident energy is down to the level you want.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[dpc]

I see the title references the 2018 version. If you're using a commercial software program, it may not have the flexibility you need because, as I said, this calculation is not normally done or needed. Probably increasing the working distance is the quickest method assuming this is a one-off calculation.

Dave

 

[LuLu319]

Thanks for the reply Dave.

"The 1.2 cal/cm2 arc-flash boundary requires anyone closer than this wear PPE while the work is being done. But they must wear the same level of PPE as the person doing the work at the Working Distance."

If the calculation is normally not done or needed then how do people go about finding what the appropriate level of PPE is at the working distance?

 

[dpc]

But they must wear the same level of PPE as the person doing the work at the Working Distance.

Yes. The assumption is that the other workers inside the AFB are there to assist or observe and trying to regulate their distance to the energized equipment is not practical or realistic. Everyone inside the AFB must wear the same level of PPE as the person doing the work.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[oldfieldguy]

Another approach is to just keep increasing the working distance until the incident energy is down to the level you want.

I've been looking for technicians with extra-long arms. It's fruitless search.

old field guy