An arc flash is a killer electrical explosion caused when an electrical current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another or to the ground.
The explosion arcing fault rapidly heats air molecules, ionizes and vaporizes conductive metal materials and generates the explosion. An arc flash can occur anywhere in an electrical system.
An arc flash is a flashover. The two terms are interchangeable. Some people also refer to arc flashes as arc blasts.
One to two people die from arc flash while another five to ten more are injured, oftentimes critically injured, EVERY DAY.
Other statistics show that:
People die or are injured by the power of the blast and from the tremendous heat radiated from the explosion. An arc flash, which is four times hotter than the sun, sprays debris in a wide arc, melts clothing, and vaporizes a copper bus.
An arc flash causes horrendous burns, broken bones, hearing loss, brain damage and even death. The severity of the injuries depends on how close a victim is to the blast’s center and on the type of clothing the victim is wearing.
The four main causes of an arc flash are –
When a company experiences an arc flash, especially if it’s serious or deadly, the company faces Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) citations, heavy fines, lawsuits, increased insurance rates, a damaged reputation, and business interruption.
In 2007, OSHA mandated that businesses implement arc flash standards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the guidelines for implementing arc flash prevention through its NFPA 70E training manual.
Preventing an arc flash involves a number of steps and processes. Assessing risk, conducting an incident energy study, setting an electrical maintenance program in place and proper training (including NPFA 70E training), Should all be part of any preventive maintenance process.
