Arc Flash Hazard Assessment Requirements

Arc flash hazard is a concern for anyone who works on an electrical system. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) all have standards regarding arc flash hazard. The most recent addition to the fray of arc flash standards is the new 2007 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) which includes an arc flash hazard section that requires compliance by 2009. This paper will discuss what an arc flash hazard is, what the arc flash hazard standards are, how the standards affect a utility company, and what it takes to complete an arc flash hazard assessment on an electrical system