Arc Flash

Arc flash incidents occur during switching, racking, or maintenance of electrical equipment when a fault creates a low-impedance path through ionised air. Severity is measured in incident energy (cal/cm²). NFPA 70E requires arc flash hazard analysis for all electrical equipment operating above 50V. IEEE 1584 provides the calculation methodology. Equipment must be labeled with arc flash boundary, incident energy, and required PPE category (1-4). Category 1 requires arc-rated clothing (4 cal/cm²), Category 4 requires full arc flash suit with hood (40 cal/cm²). Risk reduction strategies include remote racking, current-limiting fuses, arc-resistant switchgear, and energised work permits.

Arc flash is the leading cause of electrical workplace fatalities. In Bangladesh, where electrical maintenance is often performed on energised equipment without proper PPE or procedures, arc flash risk is significantly elevated. NFPA 70E compliance is increasingly required by multinational tenants and insurers.