Electric Arc Hazard Help
This page contains tons of help.  I have all the resources I know of on the electric arc and clothing and many of the burn resources.  The ones you can link to are linked and the others are cited.  There is no attempt to circumvent copyrighted materials.

For help on the electric arc from Hugh Hoagland to help assess your industry needs for protective clothing. Call Hugh at 502-314-7158 or email him at hugh@arcwear.com.

Software

Click here (FRC vs normal winterwear FILE SIZE: 2.77MB) to download the arc test video of a traditional cotton winter jacket with melting lining beside an Indura® UltraSoft® FR cotton duck jacket with an FR Victor Woolens wool lining. The electric arc was 8kA for 30 cycles 12 in. arc and 12 in distance to mannequins.

Click here (ArcLite vs melting FR rainwear FILE SIZE: 3.09MB) to download the arc test video of ArcLite ProSeries raingear beside an FR melting rainwear. Notice the flaming droplets coming off of the FR melting rainwear. The electric arc was 8kA for 20 cycles 12 in. arc and 12 in distance to mannequins.

IEEE PCIC Subcommittee has a training page for Arc Flash Hazard and offers a video and CD ROM training package (Click here)

Duke Power's Heat Flux Calculator (26KB Zip file of Flux.exe.)

If you need WinZip to decompress this file you can click here to go to their homepage for this shareware.

The program runs on Vista even! This freeware is offered with no claims from Hoagland Consulting or Duke Power to help you assess your potential for electrical arc.
Enter:

amps of ground fault available,
expected duration of the arc in cycles,
expected length of the arc,
distance of the worker from the arc
and system voltage

and this DOS program will give you the predicted incident energy in cal/cm². You can then get assistance from OSHA or a company offering arc thermal performance value (ATPV) data on their clothing in choosing your clothing.

ArcPro by Ontario Hydro software is with its more user friendly interface and actual clothing data is available from HD Electric. ArcPro assessments can be printed and offer clothing data to support clothing decisions based on non-FR clothing and FR clothing. This program also allows the user to quickly change the distance from the arc without reentry of data.

Colorful user friendly interface
Allows user to quickly change the distance from the arc without reentry of data
Allows saving of scenarios
Based on an arc model
Predicts energies for copper or stainless steel electrodes
Contains arc testing data based on the APPA testing for several weights and colors of non FR cotton and substantial amount of FR data.
Allows addition of your own ignition data
ArcPro software available in the US from HD Electric at 847-473-4980 for more information click here for the ArcPro Page or e-mail  Kim Huggins at HD Electric

Bussman's Arc Flash Calculator



Publications

Electric Arc Protection Articles and Books

Hugh Hoagland articles with hyperlink are available online in Acrobat Format or HTML for your browser. Right Click to save or just click to read them.  If you need Acrobat Reader link below.

Arc Flash Safety: Know Which Standard You Should Be Using, Hugh Hoagland, Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, July 2007

Disposable FR Garments: What Are the Differences?, Hugh Hoagland, Occupational Health and Safety Magazine, May 2007

Top Five PPE Mistakes: Identifying PPE Mistakes in Electric Arc Flash Programs, Hugh Hoagland, Incident Prevention Magazine, Sept-Oct. 2006

Cleanroom Arc Thermal and Flame Resistant Garments, Jan Eudy, Controlled Environments Magazine, May 2006

Preventing Arc Flash Injuries, Jim White, Occupational Hazards, March 2006

BNL interpretation on 2* as hood with balaclava citing our study for Salisbury

Fashion Incubator recognizes the Flame Resistant Bra

 

Fire Resistant Bra Developed in Canada, Beverly Johnson, Canadian Apparel Magazine, May/June 2006

 

Arc Flash Protection: The NFPA 70E-2004 Standard Clearly States Ways to Protect Workers from Arc Flash Dangers, Hugh Hoagland, Contractor Tools and Supplies Magazine, September 2005

A Far Better 70E, Hugh Hoagland, Bill Shinn, Victoria Reed, Occupational Health and Safety Magazine August, 2004

Protecting Workers, Saving Lives: The OSHA Apparel Standard 1994 to Today, Hugh Hoagland and Victoria Reed, Electrical Energy Magazine, March/April 2004.

Covered When It Counts, Jeff Morris Electrical Contractor and Engineering News,

Buss New Safety BASICsTM Handbook for Electrical Safety - Edition 2

  • Protective Devices Maintenance as it Applies to the Arc/Flash Hazard
         by Dennis K. Neitzel,, Director, AVOTraining Institute
  •  
     
  • Technical Paper
  • Presentation PowerPoint Version
  • Presentation PDF Version
  • Buss Arcing Flash/Blast Review with Safety Suggestions for Design and Maintenance

    Buss Staged Tests Increase Awareness of Arc-Flash Hazards in Electrical Equipment

    Buss The Use Of Low Voltage Current Limiting Fuses To Reduce Arc Flash Energy

    Buss Using Current-Limiting Fuses to Reduce Hazards Due to Electrical Arc-Flashes

    Facing Up to the Arc Challenge by Hugh Hoagland, Bruce Sannar, Kent Givens, John Winn, and Luciana Galo, Occupational Health and Safety Magazine

    Looks to Live For, Hugh Hoagland, Electrical Contracting and Engineering News, January 2003

    Arc Hazards: Life Threatening But Preventable, Cindy Simonetti, Electrical Contracting and Engineering News, December 2002

    Falling to Pieces, Hugh Hoagland Utility Safety Magazine, June 2002

    Minimizing Burn Injury: Electric Arc Hazard Assessment and Personnel Protection, By Richard L. Doughty, Thomas E. Neal, Genevieve M. Laverty and Hugh Hoagland, IEEE Industry Applications Magazine, May/June 2002 Issue, pp. 18-25.

    Myths and Facts on Complying with NFPA 70E's Clothing Requirements By Hugh Hoagland Electrical Contracting & Engineering News, February, 2002.

    IBEW FR Clothing Survey 2001 from IBEW Utility Conference

    Electric Arc Hazards and Clothing By Hugh Hoagland, Dr. Tom Neal and Stephen Cress, Electric Energy, Fall 2001

    STOMPING OUT Step Potential Hugh Hoagland, Utility Safety, February, 2001.

    A History of Protective Clothing, Hugh Hoagland & Claude Maurice, Utility Safety, October 2000.

    The Right Stuff, Hugh Hoagland, Occupational Health & Safety, October 2000

    Clothed for Safety: Flame Resistance Makes Sense, Cathy Morin August 1999 Utility Safety

    Flame Resistant Clothing Heats Up, John Scholz, Utility Safety, December 1998

    Minimize Arc-Burn Incidents, Hugh Hoagland, Electrical Contracting & Engineering Magazine, June 1998

    IEEE Guide for Maintenance, Operation, and Safety of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems (The Yellow Book), IEEE Standard # 902-1998, December, 1998. Examples of arc accidents and extensive engineering information on arcs and electrical safety. A must for engineers and safety personnel. 

    Direct link to purchase the Yellow Book in the print or PDF format is below.

    IEEE Yellow Book - Print or PDF


    Predicting Incident Energy to Better Manage the Electric Arc Hazard on 600V Power Distribution Systems, Richard L. Doughty, Dr. Thomas Neal, H. Landis Floyd, II, IEEE Paper # PCIC-98-34, 1998.

    How We Can Better Learn From Electrical Accidents, Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, MD, H. Landis Floyd, II, Kim Eastwood, Danny P. Liggett, IEEE Paper # PCIC-98-34, 1998.

    Key Elements Of An Electrical Safety Program, Shahid Jamil, Ray Jones, and Bruce McClung, IEEE Paper # PCIC-98-35, 1998

    Face shields: When you're face to face with arcing hazards, Hugh Hoagland, Electrical World, June 1998

    Staged Electrical Equipment Tests to Increase Awareness of Arc/Flash and Burn Hazards, Ray Jones, Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, MD, Bruce McClung, and Shahid Jamil, IEEE Paper # PCIC-97-34, 1997

    Testing Update on Protective Clothing & Equipment for Electric Arc Exposure, Richard Doughty, Tom Neal, Terrace Dear & Allen Bingham, IEEE Paper # PCIC-97-35, 1997

    Take the Guesswork Out of Arc Protective Clothing, Hugh Hoagland, Electrical World, December 1996
    Using Rainwear As Switching Jackets: A Reasonable Approach for Electric Utilities, Hugh Hoagland, Rural Electric Power Conference IEEE, April 1997 (IEEE # 0-7803-3973-8/97)

    Winter Wear: It Must be Warm but Must it be Arc Protective?, Hugh Hoagland, Electrical World, August 1997

    Arc and Flash Burn Hazards at Various Levels of an Electrical System, Shahid Jamil, Ray Jones, and Bruce McClung, IEEE (IEEE# 0093-9994/97), 1997.

    Testing Update on Protective Clothing Equipment for Electric Arc Exposure, Richard Doughty, Tom Neal, Terrace Dear & Allen Bingham, IEEE Paper # PCIC-97-35, 1997

    Protective Clothing Guidelines for Electric Arc Exposure, Richard Doughty, Tom Neal, &
    Allen Bingham, IEEE Paper # PCIC-96-34, 1997

    Protection Against Exposure to Electric Arcs, Allen Clapp, DANESC UPDATE, Vol. 6 Number 2. [Available by calling (919) 782-7745], 1997

    Protective Clothing: Save Your Skin, Catherine Morin, Utility Safety, April 1998

    PC Issues are Hot in the Electrical Utility Business, William Baitinger, Safety & Protective Fabrics, Jan/Feb, 1995.

    Arc and Flash Burn Hazards at Various Levels of an Electrical System, Shahid Jamil, Ray A. Jones, L. Bruce McClung, IEEE Paper 0093-9994/97.

    PC Issues are Hot in the Electrical Utility Business, William Baitinger, Safety & Protective Fabrics, Jan/Feb, 1995.

    Flame Resistant Clothing for Use by Electric Utility Workers to Comply with OSHA's Apparel Standard, James Dedman, NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association), November 1995

    General articles and books on clothing and burn injuries

    FRW Handbook, Available from Peter Clark Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 4015 Edmondton, Alberta, Canada T6E4S8.  Phone: (780) 439-2118.One of the most complete books on the clothing and fire. It contains the most complete list of flame resistant materials. Peter is a training consultant and a flash fire survivor offering a real perspective on flame resistant clothing.
    The Flammability of Different Textiles and Its Influence on the Severity of Skin Burns, L. Pakkala, Annales Chirurgiae et Gynaecologiae, 69: 240-243, 1980.
    The Clinical Consequences of an Industrial Aerosol Plant Explosion, David Hull, M.D. et. al., Vol. 25 No. 4, The Journal of Trauma, 1985.
    Epidemiology of Flame Burn Injuries, Robert R. Byrom, et. al. Burns 1984, Vol. 11, 1-10.
    Work-related Burns: a 6-year Retrospective Study, D. Ng, et. al. Burns 1991, Vol. 17, 151-154.

    Standards

    Standard Specification For Arc And Flame Resistant Rainwear, ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) F1891. Changes eliminate many melting FR materials.

    Standard Test Method for Determining Arc Thermal Performance (Value) of Textile Materials for Clothing by Electric Arc Exposure Method Using Instrumented Sensor Panels F1959 ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials).

    Standard Test Method for Determining Ignitability of Clothing by Electric Arc Exposure Method Using a Mannequin F1958 ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials).

    Standard Specification for Arc and Flame Resistant Clothing ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) F1506

    Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for Face Protective Products ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) F2178

    NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces, 2004 Edition

    NFPA 70E: Handbook

    The Electrical Safety Program Book

    A User's Guide to Electrical PPE

    IEEE Standards Website

    OSHA Resource Links

    OSHA official statement that harness used for fall protection is not officially "apparel" under the Apparel Standard

    OSHA Reported Circuit Breaker Electric Arc Accidents

    Proposed Standards from Dave Wallis' Home Page

    OSHA Search Page

    OSHA 1910.269 [Apparel Section is (l)(6)(i-iii)]

    Preamble to OSHA 1910.269. Background testimony for the Apparel Section.

    OSHA Enforcement Guidelines for the apparel section (The Jim Stanley Letter)

    OSHA interpretation letter on using short sleeved shirts

    Letter of interpretation answering general questions on Apparel Section

    Letter of interpretation answering general questions on clothing

    There is also an OSHA Fact sheet on Clothing available from OSHA or we have it online here.

    NIOSH Worker Deaths by Electrocution: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports, May, 1998, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-131.
    Call NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH or visit their website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/98-131.pdf
    Though not a resource on arc directly, it should noted that many electrocutions include additional arc related injuries especially from igniited or melted clothing.

    Electric Utility Resource Links

    Allen Clapp at Clapp Research Group -- Information related to the NESC.  Allen is the foremost leader in NESC (Utilities Version of NEC and NFPA 70E).  Allen and e-Hazard.com cooperate on

    Joe Tedesco's NEC Inspection Page--Information related to the National Electrical Code.

    FAR Incident Registry Program
    The FAR Project for Electrical Incidents is designed to collect data for use in better understanding how injuries from the release of energy might be prevented when work is being done near electrical or stored energy sources.
    The project was piloted in 1997 when Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer was a faculty member of the University of Chicago Electrical Trauma Research Program.
    Expanded in 1998 to encourage nationwide participation, the project completed its first annual survey on October 1, 1999. Data analysis is ongoing in 2000 as the project is applying for external funding.  Click here for the FAR Electrical Accident Report form and info for anonymously faxing information to add to this database.

    Electrical Safety Workshop
    The ESW from IEEE's PCIC group is my favorite workshop. Most of the PPT slides are available online for this recent conference. This is one of the most useful conferences I have attended. Some of the downloads are longer but well worth it.

    Powerlineman.com a website dedicated to lineman safety and even has a chat room for line technicians.  Especially check out the Safety Meeting Page!