Everything You Need To Know About Arc Flash Analysis

By Lila Berger


The world is littered with accidents occurring in the most unexpected places. The advancement of technology aids from the safety hazards that we are exposed to everyday. Therefore, we should educate ourselves about arc flash analysis to avoid any unwanted occurrence cause by electrical instability.

Arc flash is a discharge of electricity that results from a high voltage source. It uses the oxygen that is abundant all around to power itself for the explosion. The electricity that is released in the air can easily chain itself to another exposed electrical devices that are within the area.

This happen so quickly and causes a large amount of heat that melts any metal around and destroys the electrical equipment. Some even reported that heat sometimes achieve a temperature hotter than the surface of the sun. It can even produce plasma wherein shrapnel, dangerous sound waves and high electromagnetic radiation goes with the explosion.

Hazard analysis can only provide limited shield against the explosion but it can analyze a safe buffer zone that protects the workers from exposure of the dangerous elements of the blast. This type of incidence is the leading cause of major electrical injuries and some circumstances become deadly. This easily invades the safety perimeter of any area and should be taken seriously.

This incidence will only be possible with the involvement of a high voltage conductor as the source. There should be an error in the system that causes the air to enter inside and act as a conduit for the blast. Since intense amount of power is needed because so much energy is involved, it is commonly seen in six hundred volt or higher.

A quick plasma reaction happens through a rich oxygen source cause by the expansion of heat and energy. An extreme heat of around 5000 degrees have been noted by some scientists which are enough to toast people from several feet away. The metal that has been melted evaporates and can be released through an explosive gas or molten metal catapulted into the air.

Prevention of this to happen is the goal of every company that is susceptible that is why it is required that every employee knows the precautions of high voltage devices. Wearing cotton or other fabrics impervious to fire. The only known way to lessen the incidence is through proper knowledge in caring for such devices.

The chances that it occurs in your home is very slim not unless you are using high voltage devices. This is common in professional working place and construction sites. The danger it poses are usually in electricians and those who are involve in installing these devices.

Arc flash analysis measures the danger level of this incidence and how much it can affect anyone. The incident is carefully calculated regarding the needed energy for the blast to cause second degree burn. They also establish flash protection boundary where they set a safety zone from the blast. It is beneficial in so many ways for the workers to have a clear idea of where it is safe and where it is not.




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