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Intro to IEEE 1584-2018 analysis software

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13 views

Intro to IEEE 1584-2018 analysis software

Uploaded by

Jeff Kendall
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Home (https://www.easypower.

com/) / Intro to IEEE 1584-2018

Arc Flash Hazard Calculations Using IEEE 1584-2018


Introduction to the Changes in IEEE 1584-2018
IEEE 1584 Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations is a widely adopted and industry
accepted standard that includes procedures to calculate and predict arc flash hazard levels. The guide
is recognized by federal agencies, such as OSHA, and consensus standards, such as NFPA 70E, as a
method to estimate arc flash boundary and incident energy when performing an arc flash risk
assessment.

IEEE 1584 has remained mostly unchanged since its original publication in 2002, with two minor
amendments in 2004 and 2011. However, subsequent IEEE papers shed light on parameters not
previously considered that could lead to increased hazard levels beyond those predicted by the original
standard. Consequently, a collaboration between IEEE and NFPA was formed to advance research
around arc flash events and the variables that affect their severity.

After analyzing more than 1800 tests, the IEEE 1584 working group constructed a new arc flash model.
The empirically derived formulas in the new model are significantly more accurate, though equally
more complex than those in its predecessor. The topics below address notable changes that should be
considered when performing, administering, or complying with an arc flash risk assessment.

See the Effects of the Changes in Calculations For Yourself


Try a free demo copy of EasyPower with the new IEEE 1584 updates, to see for yourself how these new
changes make the implementation of the new standard simple and straightforward. You can also
contact us if you have questions, or would like to schedule a one-on-one session with an application
engineer, to help you get started with your EasyPower demo.

Try The Software - Free Demo  Sign Up for One-on-One Session 

Voltage
The supported range of voltage in the new arc flash model remains unchanged at 208 V through 15
kV. Calculations for enclosed equipment greater than 2.4 kV are now based on test results, rather
than extrapolation methods previously used. Low Voltage is reclassified as 208 V though 600 V, and no
longer includes equipment up to 1000 V.

Bolted Fault Current


The range of bolted fault current supported by the new arc flash model is now dependent on voltage:

 208 V – 600 V : 500 A to 106 kA


 601 V – 15 kV : 200 A to 65 kA

Electrode Configuration
The previous version of the arc flash model was based on vertical electrodes in open air or an enclosed
box. Differentiation is now given to the following electrode configurations:

ENCLOSED

VCB: Vertical electrodes


inside an enclosure
VCBB: Vertical
electrodes terminated
in an insulating barrier
inside an enclosure

HCB: Horizontal
electrodes inside an
enclosure

OPEN AIR

HOA: Horizontal
electrodes in open air
VOA: Vertical electrodes
in open air

Enclosure Size
Consideration of enclosure size is refined in the new standard. Previously, a distance factor based on
equipment type and voltage was used to account for the effect of enclosure size. The new standard
applies a correction factor based on system voltage, electrode configuration, enclosure height,
enclosure width and enclosure depth. Generally, the incident energy decreases as enclose size
increases:

Electrode Gap
The range of electrode gap supported by the new arc flash model is now dependent on voltage:

 208 V – 600 V : 0.25 in. to 3 in.


 601 V – 15 kV : 0.75 in. to 10 in.

Acceptable Calculation Methods for Systems Out of Range


Acceptance of the theoretically derived Lee method for parameters outside of the range of model was
eliminated. The new standard recognizes that system parameters can fall outside the range, however
provides no specific recommendation of an alternative calculation method. Care should be given to
application of the calculation method outside of the range of model:

Reduced Arc Current


The new guide retains methods to consider reduced arc currents and their tendency to increase trip
times. The fixed 15% reduction is revised to one that varies based on voltage, with less reduction at
higher voltage levels. Previously limited to low voltage equipment, the new arc current variation
correction factor is applied throughout the entire voltage range.
Arc Sustainability in Low Voltage Equipment
An explicit omission of equipment below 240 V fed by a transformer of less than 125 kVA was cited by
the previous standard. Revised language indicates that sustainability may be less likely at 240 V or less
when the bolted fault current is less than 2000 A.

Maximum Arc Time (2 Seconds)


The new standard retains a recommendation to consider the likelihood a person will remain in the
location of an arc flash when arc time is longer than 2 seconds. When applying a maximum time limit,
new language advocates the use of engineering judgement and consideration of the work task to
account for situations when a person’s egress may be blocked.

Other Notables
 The model retains support of single-phase calculations with conservative results
 Supported frequencies are explicitly 50 Hz or 60 Hz, and are no longer inclusive of those in
between
 Working distances less than 12 inches are now considered within the plasma cloud and are
not supported

 System grounding is no longer considered based on new test results showing no significant
impact

 Incident energy at the boundary distance is now defined as 1.2 cal/cm2


 Special equations for current limiting fuses and circuit breakers are moved to the informative
annexes

Webinar Video
IEEE 1584-2018: An Introduction to the Changes - Greg Pagello, EasyPower
(https://www.easypower.com/resources/article/ieee-1584-
2018-an-introduction-to-the-changes)This video which
was recorded during a webinar given by Greg Pagello at
EasyPower, is an introduction to changes in the new IEEE 1584-
2018 Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations
recently, approved by the IEEE Standards Association. Following
publication, this second edition of the widely adopted industry
standard includes an entirely new arc flash model with revised
procedures and calculations to predict arc flash hazard levels. The focus of this webinar is on major
changes to the standard and their implementation in EasyPower.

EasyPower Includes IEEE 1584-2018 Updates

Our EasyPower 10.2 was released to include the new features and improvements that reflect
the updates to the IEEE 1584-2018 standard.

 If you are already an EasyPower customer and want to download the updated software - Updates
Page (https://www.easypower.com//updates/login)
 If you would like to find out more about the features and improvements in EasyPower 10.2 - Update
Overview Page (https://www.easypower.com//products/releases/easypower-10.2)

 If you would like to download a demo of EasyPower to see the power of EasyPower (currently 10.3) -
Demo Page (https://www.easypower.com//products/easypower/demo)
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