3
New codes mean BIG changes to Arc Flash Warning Labels One year ago this month ITU published its’ second newsletter, “Arc Flash Warning Labels” (Vol.1 Issue 2). It gave a quick overview of what information was required on your warning labels and few examples of non-compliant arc flash warning labels commonly found in facilities across the country. All the information in that newsletter is still good today. However, a few things have been added to the warning label and will become law as of this month. NEC (National Electrical Code) still mandates that hazardous equipment installed or modified after 2002 be required to carry an arc flash warning label. NEC 110.16 specifically mentions “switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers that … are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.” NFPA 70E 2009 (National Fire Protection Agency) requires that one of two specific pieces of information appear on arc flash warning labels: available incident energy or required level of PPE (personal protection equipment). These values are determined by an arc flash hazard analysis (available through ITU), and need to be calculated separately for each piece of equipment labeled. NFPA 70E also states that arc flash warning labels must be the proper size (at least 4”x 6”), ANSI Z535 approved, and be placed so as to be visible to personnel before beginning maintenance or inspection. The details of the three new additions: available fault current, the date the arc fault calculation was performed, and label durability specifications are highlighted (yellow) in the list on the next page. ITU offers a fast, practical, “No Frills”, low cost Arc Flash Analysis… Our Turnkey Arc Flash Hazard Analysis: Reduces Arc Flash Injuries and Fatalities Increases workplace safety Protects your company from liability Eliminates the risk of being fined by OSHA This complete, yet affordable Arc Flash Analysis Package includes the following items that you need to be in full compliance with NFPA 70E : Complete Arc Flash Analysis of your electrical panels performed by our Professional, TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) Certified Arc Flash Analysis Field Technicians. Labeling of electrical panels with the OSHA and ANSI approved warning labels. Single or One line Diagram of the electrical distribution panels in your system. Complete reports of the analysis and study for your records. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) advisory report to assist you in obtaining the correct PPE for your workers.

Changes to Arc Flash Warning Labels 2011 Newsletter

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Details of the three new additions: available fault current, the date the arc fault calculation was performed, and label durability specifications

Citation preview

Page 1: Changes to Arc Flash Warning Labels 2011 Newsletter

New codes mean BIG changes to Arc Flash Warning Labels

One year ago this month ITU published its’ second newsletter, “Arc Flash Warning Labels” (Vol.1 Issue 2). It gave a quick overview of what information was required on your warning labels and few examples of non-compliant arc flash warning labels commonly found in facilities across the country.

All the information in that newsletter is still good today. However, a few things have been added to the warning label and will become law as of this month.

NEC (National Electrical Code) still mandates that hazardous equipment installed or modified after 2002 be required to carry an arc flash warning label. NEC 110.16 specifically mentions “switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers that … are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.”

NFPA 70E 2009 (National Fire Protection Agency) requires that one of two specific pieces of information appear on arc flash warning labels: available incident energy or required level of PPE (personal protection equipment). These values are determined by an arc flash hazard analysis (available through ITU), and need to be calculated separately for each piece of equipment labeled.

NFPA 70E also states that arc flash warning labels must be the proper size (at least 4”x 6”), ANSI Z535 approved, and be placed so as to be visible to personnel before beginning maintenance or inspection.

The details of the three new additions: available fault current, the date the arc fault calculation was performed, and label durability specifications are highlighted (yellow) in the list on the next page.

ITU offers a fast, practical, “No Frills”,

low cost Arc Flash Analysis…

Our Turnkey Arc Flash Hazard Analysis:

• Reduces Arc Flash Injuries and Fatalities

• Increases workplace safety• Protects your company from

liability• Eliminates the risk of being

fined by OSHA

This complete, yet affordable Arc Flash Analysis Package includes the following items that you need to be in full compliance with NFPA 70E :

• Complete Arc Flash Analysis of your electrical panels performed by our Professional, TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) Certified Arc Flash Analysis Field Technicians.

• Labeling of electrical panels with the OSHA and ANSI approved warning labels.

• Single or One line Diagram of the electrical distribution panels in your system.

• Complete reports of the analysis and study for your records.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) advisory report to assist you in obtaining the correct PPE for your workers.

Page 2: Changes to Arc Flash Warning Labels 2011 Newsletter

A. These durable UV and chemical resistant 3.2 mil laminated vinyl labels include a High-Tack adhesive and rounded corners to prevent peeling. The life span of these labels is 5 years in normal conditions and are capable of withstanding temperatures beyond 165 °F and -50 °F. Sufficient label durability is now a requirement as of the November 2011 NEC (National Electrical Code) update and ITU’s arc flash warning labels more than exceed this requirement.

B. Flash Hazard Category: Represents the level of danger depending on the incident energy. Ratings range in number from 0-4. 0 represents little or no risk while 4 signifies greatest risk. For more information about the different arc flash hazard risk categories click here.

C. Minimum Arc Rating: Identifies the arc performance of a material or system of materials (PPE) and are expressed in calories per centimeter squared.

D. PPE: Identifies the Personal Protective Equipment that MUST be used according to the hazard category rating.

E. Equipment ID: Identifies panel location within facility.

F. Arc flash warning labels must have the word “WARNING” in black with an orange background and include the standard warning symbol (orange exclamation point with solid black triangle background).

G. Flash Protection Boundary: This is the closest anyone can approach the equipment that has the potential for arc flash, without the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

H. Limited Approach Boundary: This boundary may only be crossed by a “qualified” person who has been trained in the hazards of the component or equipment being serviced.

I. Restricted Approach Boundary and Prohibited Approach Boundary: Only a qualified person using adequate shock prevention equip¬ment and techniques may cross these boundaries.

• Certificate of Compliance issued upon completion.

• Power Planner® Software to allow you to keep in compliance as you make changes in your electrical system.

• NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Training to inform your crew what the labels mean, and what PPE is and how to apply it the correctly

ITU’s Arc Flash Analysis Package is all you need to get your facility in compliance with NFPA 70E and OSHA 1910 Arc Flash Regulations.

Call today and see how easy it is to get into compliance.

866-851-9993

Click here to find out what an Electrical Arc Flash is and why you need to have an arc flash analysis performed on your business or facility.

A few of ITU’s Arc Flash Analysis & Training Clients

Click here for larger view

Page 3: Changes to Arc Flash Warning Labels 2011 Newsletter

ITU Website Directory

WorkersED.com

ArcFlashEngineering.com

GoITU.com

ITUDownloads.com

ElectricalTrainingEquipment.com

We at ITU understand that running a business and managing a facility is a tough job and meeting all the requirements and regulations can be very expensive and tedious.

So, ITU has created an easy to use Do-It-Yourself Arc Flash Analysis Assisted development software program that allows you or your maintenance personnel to collect the necessary data to develop the arc flash analysis. Then simply email the data to ITU’s electrical engineers so they can complete the analysis. This is the fastest and most affordable solution because it eliminates the need for our electrical engineers to come to your facility to collect the data which in turn drastically reduces the cost of your Arc Flash Analysis.

This one-of-a-kind program is called P3, Power Planner Partner, is exclusive to ITU clients only. No program of this kind is offered by any other Electrical Engineering company in the world and the best part is that

ITU is now offering it to you for FREE! This program will save your company thousands of dollars with No obligations and No strings attached! ITU’s engineers are available during regular business hours to assist you in the data collection process should you have any questions.

Call ITU today to get started! Toll Free 1-855-ArcFlashor Click Here for more information!

ITU makes meeting OSHA’s electrical safety requirements more affordable than ever!

J. Maximum Available Fault Current: This is one of the new NEC required features as of November 2011. All the required safety information provided on the label is based on the max. available fault current. If the system is altered in any way resulting in this value to change than the data must be re-evaluated.

Companies or utilities will often make changes in the electrical system to be more efficient or to increase capacity. When this is done the max. available fault current changes. As a result the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) category and the approach boundary information becomes inaccurate and is no longer compliant. Inaccurate information could easily result in serious injury or even death in which the company would be held liable for.

K. The date that the fault current calculation was performed must now be on the label. This is another new feature required by NEC as of November 2011. Arc flash warning labels expire after 5 years. Before labels are replaced an arc fault calculation should be per-formed to insure that the data on the labels is still accurate. The electrical systems one line diagrams must be updated when any changes are made.

NEC has made an exception to these three additions. Those that have had an arc flash analysis performed prior to September 2011 with arc flash warning labels that are less than five years old shall be exempt. However, the labels must be updated and include these additions when the existing arc flash warning labels expire. The ex-ception does require documentation of “the method of calculating and data to support the information for the arc flash warning label.”

Feel free to call ITU if you have any questions: 866-851-9993Footnote: NEC logo is property of the National Fire Protection Association