In this EC&M Tech Talk, Randy Barnett, NFPA Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional, demonstrates how to use the PPE Category Method to select electrical PPE when the arc flash warning label is not on the equipment.
The National Electrical Code requires an arc flash warning label on specified equipment. However, for various reasons, such as newly installed equipment, that label may not be present. Yet the electrical work must still be performed. The NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace provides an alternative method for selecting arc rated protection in the event the label is not in place.
Using an electrical equipment room with switchboard and panelboards, Randy walks viewers through the process to select the appropriate arc flash PPE to create an electrically safe work condition in a panelboard to replace a breaker in the panelboard. Three separate NFPA 70E tables are explained. The first table helps workers to determine if an arc flash hazard may exist. The next table tells the worker the PPE Category of clothing to wear. The final table lists the specific PPE items to don.
Randy spends some time summarizing and closing the discussion. What limitations are there to the PPE Category Method? What if those limitations are exceeded? Is the PPE Category Method conservative? All questions workers must be able to answer to protect themselves from the arc flash.
About the Author
Randy Barnett
CESCP
Randy Barnett is a master electrician, ICC Commercial Electrical Inspector, NFPA-certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional and has worked as an electrician and technician in nuclear and coal-fired power plants, government nuclear research facilities, and in industrial maintenance and construction. He is the author of Commercial and Industrial Wiring – American Technical Publishers, numerous articles, and the producer of a monthly Tech Talk video series for EC&M Magazine. Randy provides training and program development services for clients such as, NTT Training, ABB, American Polywater, Socomec, and Schneider Electric. Randy can be reached at www.randybarnett.net.