An Empirically Derived Arc Flash Discharge Energy Model and Comparison to Established Safety Codes

Arc flash is a constant hazard when discussing industrial safety, however, little is known about the arc flash. Current safety standards require the use of the NFPA 70E equation to establish safety limits for arc flash hazards. However, when compared to an empirically derived model, these safety limits are much too low to account for all working conditions. A comparison of these two methods will lead to the conclusion that arc flash safety distances must be increased.