Integrating arc flash analysis with protective device coordination

This paper presents a novel method to integrate arc flash assessment with the important task of protective device coordination. Since the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) arc flash rules are now in force, there is a need for a consistent approach to continually assess the arc flash levels on a power system. By integrating arc flash analysis with Time-Current Coordination (TCC) analysis, the full range of fault currents at locations on the power system can be fully evaluated for their arc flash levels. Once the coordination of a system´s protective devices is established, the devices can be checked for their arc flash level and then, if required, adjusted to reduce the arc flash hazard level. This integration method introduces and defines a new concept called a Human Damage Curve (HDC) for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in discrete energy (calories/cm²) levels that hold to a set of assumptions based the NESC and/or IEEE 1584 standards.