Mitigating Arc-Flash Hazards: A Case Study of a Mill-Wide Project

This article provides a comprehensive account of a mill-wide project to bring a more than 30-year-old market pulp mill into compliance with NFPA 70E requirements and to mitigate arc-flash hazards to reasonable enough levels to allow effective maintenance. The project spanned three years and was completed in 2011. The major activities to be discussed (and through which the project had to progress) include the decision to initiate, data collection or re-creation, and update of single-line diagrams; creation of a database and software model, short-circuit analysis, multiple upgrades, or replacements to address over-dutied equipment; arc-flash analysis, protection/coordination changes to address let-through energy, equipment upgrades or replacements to address let-through energy and mitigate arc-flash hazards; equipment labeling; and training of personnel.