Look for tools that meet IEC standards with an independent lab testing verifying it. The CAT and voltage ratings listed on the test instrument and any accessories also need to match or exceed the electrical environment where you will use them. Safety ratings: Test instruments must go through standardized testing in order to meet safety requirements.

Knowing the machine’s health history means you can take any necessary corrective actions at the right time. Gather baseline readings by inspecting critical components like electrical connections, insulation and circuit breakers.Ĭhecking the equipment regularly using condition monitoring tools or IR windows can also help you catch an issue before it’s too far down the road. Knowing the history of your equipment and what a normal reading looks like can help you identify abnormalities. Inspect equipment regularly: You can catch some wear and tear before it becomes a problem by regularly inspecting your equipment. Until absence of voltage testing proves the circuits are dead, they must be considered energized. Be sure to test for absence of voltage before conducting any tests without the necessary PPE.

Follow the lockout/tagout procedures and, whenever possible, take measurements while the system is de-energized. Work on de-energized equipment: It’s the only way to eliminate hazards. If you need to perform work on the energized equipment, you may also need a work permit and documentation. In order to pass this boundary, you must be a qualified worker with the proper training and PPE. The area closest to the live, exposed equipment is within the restricted boundary. Non-qualified workers should stay outside of this boundary unless wearing proper PPE and being escorted by a worker with specialized training. Appropriate PPE should be worn by qualified workers in the limited space (space between the limited approach boundary and the restricted boundary). Within this boundary, it is still possible to be exposed to a shock hazard. Moving toward the energized and exposed equipment, you’ll find the limited approach boundary. If the limited approach boundary is further out, then that should be treated as the line no one should pass without training and PPE. When the arc flash boundary is the furthest away, it becomes the line no one should pass without training and PPE. Sometimes this boundary is the furthest one from the exposed equipment, other times the limited approach boundary is the furthest out. That’s the distance where a worker without appropriate PPE would receive second-degree burns. The arc flash boundary is calculated to 1.2 calories/cm2 of incident energy. The arc flash boundary, or restricted approach boundary, changes depending on the potential arc flash hazard. It breaks down to basically be, as you move closer to the exposed and live equipment, the more training and higher levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) you need. Part of NFPA 70E highlights what each boundary is and how to determine where to place it. The National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA) recommends defining three boundaries to minimize risk of electrical injuries. Know where the arc flash boundaries are and keep these top safety measures in mind. Take the proper steps to ensure your safety before taking any measurements, especially on energized equipment. Arc fault incidents happen daily in the United States. The arc flash boundary is the minimum “safe” distance from exposed energized conductors or circuit parts that has the potential for an arc flash. Fluke virtual demos and product selectors.

Arc flash boundaries definitions