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New Arc-Flash Standard Doesn’t Change the Fact that Distance Is (Still) Safety
Protecting workers and equipment from the dangers of arc flash is a primary concern for everyone in the electrical industry. Poorly maintained equipment and faulty components are common causes of arc flash, so following NETA maintenance and testing standards is crucial to ensure power system safety.
Updates to IEEE Standard 1584 have started a debate on how arc-flash energy is calculated and how companies should take that into account for their arc-flash studies and safety policies. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that distance is safety.
The only way you can be sure that your equipment is in good working order and that you’ve done all you can to protect your employees and your bottom line is to perform testing, opening and closing operations, and extraction/racking operations from well outside the arc-flash boundary. Remote racking and switching equipment eliminate electrical arc–related dangers while providing preventive maintenance data on the force required to rack a circuit breaker, which could help avoid future catastrophes. Read more.
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