Safety benefits of arc-resistant metalclad medium-voltage switchgear

One cause of serious injuries to electrical workers in the petrochemical industry is flash burns from arcing faults in medium-voltage metalclad switchgear. First introduced in Europe, arc-resistant switchgear designs are now being marketed in North America to eliminate this potential cause of injuries by containing the arc by-products and venting the gases in a safe manner. This paper discusses worker safety regulations, the arcing fault process, standards governing arc-resistant switchgear, and switchgear design, application, and cost/benefit considerations. One manufacturer's experience testing a new arc-resistant switchgear design is included.