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After you've had an arc flash study, apply the below products and solutions to help reset safety in your facilty.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) Arc Energy Reduction section has evolved the methods and the devices covered, to include not only circuit breaker devices (Section 240.87) but also fusible devices (240.67). Learn more about this code, each approved method to reduce arc energy, how to select a mitigation solution and comply with the NEC.
Applied as service entrance and branch circuit protection as well as motor disconnects for safe switching and lock-out, tag-out (LOTO) applications. Available designs include double door line-side isolation switch, general duty, heavy duty, auxiliary power, double throw and shunt trip.
LED indication of voltage
Provides visual verification of the presence of voltage, a standard feature provided on most surge devices and relays.
Voltage testing ports
Means to test for the absence of voltage without having to expose the worker to potentially high hazard components
Visible blade viewing windows
Provide a highly observable means of disconnect to help improve personnel safety and equipment protection in industrial, commercial and institutional applications. This feature is available on many Eaton switches and switchgear.
De-energizing part of the system
Operating scenarios include normal utility operation and alternative sources of power such as diesel standby generators.
Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures
Safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases. Eaton provides many products with lock-out tag-out provision including switchboards, safety switches and more.
Sequence of operation
Changing the system operating configuration (switching to an alternate feeder or engaging maintenance mode settings) may reduce the arc flash hazard.
Portable and integrated remote racking
Enables personnel to stand outside the arc-flash protection boundary when inserting or removing (racking) power breakers or MCC units from low- or medium-voltage equipment.
InsulGard predictive diagnostic solution
Provides continuous, non-invasive online monitoring of medium-voltage generators, motors, switchgear, unit substation dry-type transformers, bus duct and cable connections.
Infrared (IR) windows
Allow an operator to complete a thermal inspection of electrical switchgear without opening cabinets or doors. Using infrared thermography technology, the operator is able to safely and quickly assess potential problems in the equipment while the circuits are energized and under load
Visible blade viewing windows
Provide a highly observable means of disconnect to help improve personnel safety and equipment protection in industrial, commercial and institutional applications. This feature is available on many Eaton switches and switchgear
Kirk Key Interlock Systems
Ensures that a specific sequence of operations is followed to avoid human error. Eaton can engineer a specific configuration of interlocked breakers that can be energized only with a key. This eliminates excessive fault current that could result from unintentional paralleling of transformers and helps to keep personnel safe.
Arcflash Reduction Maintenance System
Available as a retrofit to a low-voltage power breaker and uses patented technology to reduce fault clearing time and lower the available arc-flash energy at the connected downstream devices. The system may be activated at the breaker or from a remote location. The result is a reduction of the incident energy during equipment maintenance, allowing for improved personnel safety while eliminating the need for higher levels of costly personal protective equipment (PPE).
High-resistance grounding (HRG)
Limits the magnitude of current during a phase-to-ground fault, thus reducing arc flash energy to increase personnel and equipment protection. Operators are alerted to faulted conditions and can easily locate the ground source via built-in fault tracing. Application of high-resistance grounding systems eliminates the possibility of a line-to-ground fault condition, significantly increasing personnel safety.
Power Xpert Release (PXR) electronic trip unit
PXR electronic trip units are equipped with the latest microprocessor technology including advanced algorithms that notify you when your power distribution system needs to be maintained or replaced. PXR trip units also offer programmable relay alarms, which provide situational awareness to preempt impending system failures, keeping your facility on-line, safe and productive.
Rapidly detects and clears even the most difficult forms of arc flash events in low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) electrical assemblies.
Bypass isolation automatic transfer switch (ATS)
Improve safety and reduce arc-flash hazards, including dedicated wireway and safety barriers isolating personnel from line and load.
Upgrade existing motor control centers with a FlashGard MCC replacment unit. All aftermarket units are manufactured per Eaton and UL 845 standards to ensure our customers receive new, genuine and safe products. Offers protection for enhanced safety during all stages of MCC maintenance with features that work to help prevent an arc flash from occurring. Prevention begins with the use of shutters to isolate the vertical bus and the stabs when a unit is removed and allowing units to be disconnected from the vertical bus while the door remains closed.
HMI touch screen interface shows the elevation view and one-line diagram of the switchgear line-up, enabling the user to monitor, diagnose and control switchgear devices from a safe location outside the arc flash boundary.
Current limiting devices
Connected in series and used to reduce fault currents and to match impedance of parallel feeders. For example, current limiting reactors can be used to reduce available short-circuit current, providing a reduction in the bolted and arcing fault current at downstream equipment.
Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI)
Deactivates the preset delay on the circuit breaker closest to the fault, which then trips with no intentional delay. This reduces the amount of time current flows and the amount of arc flash energy and stress (I2t) the system encounters during fault conditions, resulting in improved personal protection and prolonged equipment life.
Fused switch to breaker retro fills
Changing an upstream fused switch to a circuit breaker provides more available settings to increase protection while maintaining coordination and reducing arc flash hazards.
Bus differential relay schemes
Coordinated zones of protection within the electrical system. When a fault is detected, tripping occurs instantaneously for faults only within that particular zone, leading to greater reliability throughout the facility, increased personnel safety and elimination of intentional time delay. Eaton can engineer a system of bus differential schemes on new or retrofit equipment.
Breaker setting adjustments
Relay and breaker settings can often be optimized to trip quickly to clear an arc flash event but also maintain coordination. When coordination cannot be maintained to achieve desired arc flash results, a maintenance switch can be added.
High and low impedance transformers
Drastically reduce the available arc-fault current. Lower arc-flash energy in a system generally translates into improved personnel safety. Note that reducing arc current can result in increased trip times for protective devices, resulting in a higher incident energy.
Offers protection for enhanced safety during all stages of MCC maintenance with features that work to help prevent an arc flash from occurring. Prevention begins with the use of shutters to isolate the vertical bus and the stabs when a unit is removed and allowing units to be disconnected from the vertical bus while the door remains closed. This technology can be incorporated into an arc-resistant construction for added protection.
Arc quenching Magnum DS switchgear
The arc quenching Magnum DS switchgear detects and extinguishes an arc flash in less than 4 ms to dramatically reduce incident energy. It reacts 10x faster than systems that rely solely on circuit breakers to clear an arc fault, including maintenance switches, ZSI, bus differential relaying and arc detection relays. It reduces incident energy below 1.2 cal/cm² and may reduce PPE requirements and arc flash boundaries.
Arc-resistant equipment
Contains and redirects arc energy away from personnel and the facility out of the top of the equipment regardless of the originating location of the arc. Arc-resistant ratings are available for:
Type 2B rating provides worker protection from the front, sides and rear of the enclosure, even with the low-voltage control doors open. For low-voltage switchgear, this rating is also applicable to the secondary door. Type 2 arc-resistant ratings in accordance with IEEE standard C37.20.7 provide for arc-resistant protection around the perimeter of the switchgear with the doors closed.
