How to Read Arc Flash

Labels (2019)
In this article I’m going to teach you everything you need to know about how
to read and arc flash label.

Reading an arc flash label is paramount to your safety in the electrical field
and from my experience too many people don’t understand all the
information on the label.

After reading this you will understand:

1. What each component of the arc flash labels means;

2. Why the information is important; and
3. How to apply that information to your safety procedures.

Ready? Great!

Let’s go.

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 #1: THE ARC FLASH LABEL

Here is an example of an arc flash label that we generated from our arc flash
software (the one we use to do these studies for clients).

You can see that there is a lot of information… some of it is fairly

straightforward but other parts might sound Greek to you.

Let’s just break down each part step by step and make sure you understand
it all.

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 WARNING
Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Present

This one seems pretty obvious. It’s a warning designed to grab your attention
and make you aware of the hazards that exist.

We won't spend a lot of time on this.

In fact, that is all the time we will spend on it. The real meat of the label is the
middle section that is split into two columns, so let's go there.

Let’s look at the left-hand side first, titled Arc Flash Protection.

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 ARC FLASH PROTECTION

Working Distance
Not to be confused with the limited approach boundary (which it often is), the
working distance is the assumed distance of an electrician’s torso from a
perspective arc flash source.

Typically, standing in front of a 600 volt MCC bucket your body is going to be
about 18 inches away.

The thing you need to remember is that the incident energy on the label is
the energy expected at that specific working distance.

The working distance is used in the calculation and the incident energy
numbers will change if you work from a different distance.

If you get closer the energy you are exposed to goes up, if you get further
away it goes down.

Distance is your friend when it comes to arc flash.

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Incident Energy

This is the one you are probably most familiar with if you have been using arc
flash labels at all.

The incident energy is the amount of thermal energy that you will be
exposed to during an arc flash event.

It’s really really hot.

The key here is to make sure your PPE (Face shield, balaclava, shirt, pants,
gloves, boots) can withstand more than the posted incident energy level.

Take a look at the tag on your PPE and make sure that the Arc Thermal
Performance Value (ATPV) is greater than the incident energy level posted.

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Arc Flash Boundary
At this distance, someone standing at the boundary wearing normal everyday
clothes would get a second-degree burn if an arc flash occurred. Seems like a
funny place to put a boundary.

The reason you need this number is for helping to decide where to put your
barricades to keep unqualified people away from the work area. You will also
need to take into account the shock hazard limited approach boundary when
choosing your barricade. I always say to pick the greater of the two and add a
couple feet.

Now let’s take a look at the right-hand side, titled Shock Protection

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 SHOCK PROTECTION

Shock Hazard when cover is removed

In order to test the system (either to verify it’s de-energized or to

troubleshoot) you are going to need to select the appropriate test instrument.

The voltage level is the most important piece of information to help you
select the right one.

This is how shock hazards are measured… by voltage!

If the label does not list the glove class (our example label does), then you
need to use the voltage level to determine what rubber insulated gloves you
need to wear.

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Limited approach
Once you have crossed the limited approach you are now in the territory of
a potential shock hazard.

This number signifies how close you can come to the equipment if you are an
untrained or unqualified person.

The limited approach boundary is a safe distance away from exposed live
conductors.

Use this number along with the arc flash boundary as discussed above to help
set up your barricades.

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Restricted approach

At this distance from an exposed conductor, the risk of arc over is increased.

Have you ever watched those YouTube videos where something comes too
close to a power line and the electricity looks like it jumps over to the object
before it even gets there?

Well, this is the same thing that can happen inside an MCC bucket or
switchgear assembly except the moving object is you.

Once your inside the restricted approach boundary you need to protect
yourself.

What’s important to remember here is your insulated rubber gloves.

You just don’t go past the restricted approach boundary without them on.

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Glove Class
This number is directly correlated to the voltage level and just helps you
choose the proper PPE.

Check the label on your gloves to make sure you have the right ones on.

Additional Information

It’s a great idea to make sure the equipment information, date of the study,
responsible engineer for the calculations, and any other pertinent
information is listed at the bottom of the label to help maintain the system
model when changes are made or updates are required.

Hopefully, you now have a full understanding of the importance of each piece
of information on an arc flash label and how it’s going to help you get the job
done safely.

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