Electricity is an essential service we all rely on – but working with electrical equipment carries inherent risk. Maintaining strict safety precautions is key to avoiding disaster.
Switchboards are a vital element of Australia’s energy system, enabling power distribution to homes and businesses across the country.
However, one of the dangers of this essential work is a sudden release of electrical energy – known as an arc fault – which can cause serious burns, ignite flammable materials and cause significant damage to equipment.
For utilities – who are not only responsible for the safety of their workers, but also for the provision of a safe and reliable electricity supply for the rest of the community – this is of particular concern.
So how can they minimise the risk?
NHP Channel Manager – Regulatory and Standardisation, Jeff Davis is an expert in electrical safety, having served on committees to design electrical standards, including EL-06-08 Switchboards, EL-001 3000 Wiring Rules, EL-001-17-01 Construction and Demolition and EL-007 High Voltage Switchgear.
Below, he shares seven simple steps utilities can take to reduce the risk of arc fault events.
1. Choose an arc fault contained switchboard
A key element in reducing the risk of serious safety hazards is ensuring the equipment can contain potential faults.
NHP’s CUBIC modular system is designed to protect personnel from dangerous arc fault events when all doors and covers are in place on the switchboard.
2. Incorporate polycarbonate covers
Adding polycarbonate covers over busbars and connection joints provides an additional layer of protection, significantly reducing the risk of an arc flash.
3. Opt for a fast-acting circuit breaker
When it comes to high-incident energy, a millisecond can be a lifetime. That’s why circuit breakers that react quickly are critical – they can prevent major damage in the case of an arc fault.
NHP’s Terasaki TemPower 2 is one of the fastest air circuit breakers (ACB) on the market, opening and clearing a fault within 30 milliseconds.
One of the highest risk operations with any switchboard is switching the main ACB on or off, because at that point you’re connected directly to the transformer.
NHP’s Terasaki ACBs and TemBreak Pro moulded case circuit breakers can be operated remotely, meaning workers can perform this procedure without entering the switchroom.
4. Install a photo-optic sensor
Photo-optic sensors, like Rockwell Automation’s ArcLogix, provide real-time arc flash detection. These sensors use fibreoptic tubes – or point sensors – to immediately detect flashes of light and trigger the ACB to disconnect power, ultimately reducing the level of damage.
5. Install moulded case circuit breakers
Segmenting the reticulation system into smaller groups controlled by fast operating, current limiting moulded case circuit breakers allows for a more controlled environment, reducing the risk of arc faults even further.
6. Eliminate human exposure
Racking the main ACB in our out is another high-risk operation.
An automated device, like NHP’s TemRack iR, can be installed within the body of the ACB. This allows remote racking, eliminating the need for workers to enter a live switchroom and risk exposure to dangerous arc fault events.
7. Install live line indicators
Live line indicators – such as REMLIVE – provide a clear visual reminder that a circuit is live. This reduces the risk of serious accidents and speeds up the fault-finding process, which can ultimately save lives.
In the hierarchy of control, elimination measures such as the above seven steps are considered the most effective for protecting workers.
For high-risk operations in the energy sector, safety must never be compromised.
By implementing these seven safety strategies, utilities can safeguard their workers from the dangers of arc flash incidents and improve the safety of their operations.
For more information, visit nhp.com.au
