Stopping electrical fires using arc flash and arc fault protection
In a previous post in this blog series , I described how electrical fires can be caused by installations that have deteriorated over time, or from hazards due to electrical systems that have not been installed, upgraded, or maintained properly. The specific source of a fire can come from an electric arc, leakage current, overload, etc. For each of these causes, there is a solution. Today, I’ll talk about preventing fire and injury due to arc flashes and arc faults. Protecting against arc flashes As mentioned in my other post, an electric arc is a very rapid release of energy in the form of heat and pressure. This can cause severe thermal ignition with explosions and splashes of molten metal. Damage usually has serious potential consequences, causing not only downtime and production losses but also injury to personnel. In the United States, an explosion involving an electric arc occurs on average 5 to 6 times a day. Burn centers treat more than 2000 people a year for arc-related inju...