A Review of Arc Flash in 2022
A look back at developments and news in the world of Arc Flash during 2022.
Contents
IEEE 1584.1 2022
In July, an update to the IEEE 1584.1 standard was published. This supersedes a previous edition from 2013 and gives guidance on how to go about conducting an Arc Flash Study in line with the methodology detailed in the 2018 edition of IEEE 1584. The standard is a useful guide for anyone looking to undertake or commission an arc flash study and can help define the contents of a report as well as the required data. Jim Phillips wrote a useful overview of "dot one" for Electrical Contractor magazine which can be read online.
IEC 62819:2022
In September, IEC 62819:2022 Live working - Eye, face and head protectors against the effects of electric arc - Performance requirements and test methods was published. This provides an IEC standard similar to those like ASTM F2178-12 in the United States. It covers personal protective equipment including hoods, goggles, balaclavas, face shields, and helmets which may be used in combination to prevent harm from an arc flash. The new standard covers performance requirements considering thermal, optical and mechanical hazards associated with an arc flash.
There were three major arc flash incidents in the UK that went to court in 2022, all three resulting in substantial fines for the companies involved and receiving national media coverage.
B&M Warehouse Incident
The retailer B&M were fined £1 million plus legal fees after being found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. In 2018 an electrician was connecting up a temporary generator as part of maintenance work at the site near Liverpool. Whilst using a metal spanner he accidentally touched a live busbar. The HSE reported that:
The 35-year-old electrician sustained serious injuries which included burns to his arms, hands, thighs, legs, and face. He was placed in an induced coma for two weeks and had to undergo several skin grafts. As a result of the incident the electrician was unable to work for five months.
The HSE investigation found there was insufficient planning and communication related to the task, and that work was allowed to take place with equipment still live. This ruling received coverage in local and national UK newspapers including the Liverpool Echo and the Mirror.
Boulby Mine Incidents
Cleveland Potash Limited, who operate Boulby Mine in the northeast of England, were fined £3.6 million and had to pay court costs of £185,000 for multiple breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Two separate incidents were the subject of the court case:
In 2016 an electrical contractor received serious burns whilst cleaning out a live 11kV enclosure with a vacuum cleaner. He was airlifted to Newcastle hospital's specialist burns unit and placed into a coma for 10 days.
In 2019 another electrical contractor came into contact with a live 415V system whilst completing testing works. He spent 6 days in hospital.
The HSE found deficiencies from the owner of the mine in risk assessment, planning of works, and shortfalls in providing warnings about which parts of the electrical systems the two electricians were working on remained live.
Atlanta, USA
In February 2022 a private electrical contractor in Atlanta, USA suffered from arc flash burns after mistakenly using a low-voltage meter to check a high voltage transformer following replacement of blown fuses on a riser pole. The resulting arc flash caused third degree burns which required hospital treatment.
Injured PersonGoogle Data Centre, Iowa, USA
An arc flash incident occured at one of the largest data centers in the world in August 2022 leading to injuries to three workers. SFGATE reported that:
"Three electricians were working on a substation close to the data center buildings when an arc flash (an electric explosion) occurred, causing significant burns to all three electricians. One person was taken by helicopter to Nebraska Medical Center, while two more were transported by ambulance."
The workers were reported as stable in hospital a few days later. A follow-up article by Data Center Frontier highlighted previous incidents at other data centers in the USA including Seattle and Utah.
Multiple Injured PersonsHonolulu, USA
In October it was reported by the Star Advertiser that three electrical workers suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns after an arc flash occurred during work on an underground power line in the capital city of Hawaii. All three were taken to hospital but were thankfully able to leave later in the day.
Just a month later, two other Hawaii power company workers were injured in a possible arc flash incident at another substation in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now reported that:
Two men, ages 55 and 27, suffered burns to their torso and extremities from the incident. They were both listed in serious condition.Multiple Injured Persons
Solar Inverter in the UK
A 20kW ABB Solar PV String Inverter suffered from an arc flash at the connector between the interface box and the inverter itself resulting in damage and downtime.
Photos of the inverter showing the arc flash damage were shared on LinkedIn by Jake Mason.
Equipment DamageStafford South Substation Incident
Not confirmed by any post-incident reports yet as an arc flash, but this incident was described by the Birmingham Mail as a "blaze at a sub-station following reports of an explosion". 19,000 residents were left without power after this serious incident at the 132kV Stafford South substation in early October.
Equipment DamageLV Feeder in Canada
A 480V 800A supply to a plastic extruder in an industrial setting in Canada caused an arc flash which did extensive equipment damage. Thankfully no-one was injured but the arc flash caused significant equipment damage resulting in replacement of the entire tier. Photos of the aftermath were shared on LinkedIn by Steven Barnes.
Equipment DamageLV Feeder in the UK
A low voltage 200A supply in an industrial setting in the UK caused an arc flash resulting in extensive equipment damage to the cubicle and surrounding tier. It is understood that maintenance had not been carried out for at least 10 years. Photos of the aftermath were shared on LinkedIn by BICS (UK) Ltd.
Equipment DamageSan Francisco Central Subway
An arc flash in a substation at the under-construction Yerba Buena/Moscone station on the new San Francisco Central Subway project caused additional delays to this high profile project. According to a San Francisco Standard article from July:
A faulty surge arrester sparked a fire inside a circuit breaker cubicle at the planned Yerba Buena/Moscone station on June 20th. Three cubicles need to be replaced, delaying the project completion by several weeks.
CCTV footage of the incident was shared by NBC Bay Area.
Equipment Damage
Skanwear - Implementing your Electrical Safety Program
Skanwear hosted an excellent session presented by Ashley Smith, Electrical Engineering Manager for NationalGrid's Grain LNG Terminal. He gave a very interesting overview of how electrical safety, including arc flash, had been implemented at site. This was part of an hour-long webinar with Ashley's section starting at 29 minutes in.
This is part of a series of Electrical Safety Webinars which has been ongoing since February 2021. There have been 15 events so far and the recordings are gathered together in this playlist.
Safe Arc Solutions - The Electrical Arc Flash Hazard
We were very pleased to deliver a webinar to members of the Scotland branch of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management on the topic of the Electrical Arc Flash Hazard. The aim of this talk was to provide a good overview of arc flash as a hazard in the workplace, to be considered in the same light as electric shock or other hazards. It was primarily aimed at a non-technical audience.
MR Power Tech - Arc Flash Webinar Series
During 2022 Marcin Ruta of MR Power Tech hosted a series of webinars covering a range of topics related to Arc Flash. The third video in the series gave a practical walk through of an arc flash study from data collection, through modelling to calculations.
The whole series of 9 webinars recorded during 2022 is gathered together in this playlist.