Are you compliant?

Arc Flash is a serious hazard with potentially devastating effects. Ensuring worker safety and meeting the challenges of the arc flash safety requirements can be a difficult task. Trust Pace Technologies experience to deliver the most complete solutions for arc flash compliance. From hazard analysis and labeling to personal protective equipment and training, Pace Technologies is your source to reduce your risk, provide the industry’s best safety programs, and ensure regulatory compliance. Whether you require a complete program or short-term assistance with arc flash calculations, Pace Technologies has a solution to fit your needs. Select from our menu of services for Arc Flash Solutions.

Arc Flash Hazard Analysis (Study)

CSA Z462-08 Guidelines require facility owners to perform an arc flash hazard analysis prior to allowing a worker or contractor to perform a task on energized equipment. The arc flash analysis identifies the presence and location of potential hazards and provides recommendations for PPE, boundaries for limited, restricted and prohibited approaches, recommendations for flash protection, and safe work practices.

Arc Flash Hazard Labeling Plan

CSA Z462-08 states a warning label must be placed on electrical equipment that may remain energized during maintenance or repair. Pace Technologies can assist with compliance during each phase of an arc flash hazard analysis. In the initial phase, Pace Technologies supplies the labels and can also assist in applying the appropriate warning labels and signs.

Site Review / Compliance Assessment

Various Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Administrations (OSHA) are diligent in enforcing the CSA Z462-08 Guidelines. To ensure compliance Pace Technologies can determine the necessary steps to fulfill the more general statements in the OSHA standards. We conduct a comprehensive assessment at your facility to identify areas of risk and non-compliance. A plan is then formulated to bring your facility into compliance in the most efficient way possible.

Mitigation Services

Pace Technologies technical staff can conduct a design review of your electrical distribution system to identify areas to reduce potential arc flash hazards. Several areas are evaluated including fault levels, exposure times, remote operations, remote racking, and system grounding. Employing special devices and altering current design can significantly reduce fault levels, arcing time, arc incident energy, and arc blast force. Conducting a design review is the most effective way to uncover potential hazards so these types of solutions can be employed.

Single-Line Diagrams

CSA Z462-08 requirements mandate accurate, up-to-date single-line diagrams. These documents are essential for documenting, troubleshooting, and communicating information about your power systems. To meet these requirements, Pace Technologies can conduct a comprehensive site survey that is essential to develop or to update existing single-line diagrams or complete electrical system drawings.

Short Circuit and Coordination Studies

Pace Technologies recommends that Arc Flash calculations be completed in conjunction with short circuit calculations and protective device coordination to achieve the most accurate Arc Flash Hazard results. Short circuit and coordination studies verify protective devices and arc hazard ratings, calculate momentary interrupting and relay currents, establish settings for all types of protective devices, and coordinate your entire power distribution system to minimize downtime. Pace Technologies in conducting these studies that provide critical information you need to ensure compliance CSA requirements.

Preventive Maintenance

Pace Technologies can assist in developing a preventive maintenance program to specifically address arc flash hazards. Our optimized preventive maintenance program evaluates the equipment’s condition and determines the most cost-effective and manageable solution to ensure your protective devices operate properly, safely, and reliably–eliminating prolonged exposure to arc flash, which could result in disabling injuries or death.

Electrical Safety Program Review / Development

CSA Z462-08NFPA requires every facility to establish an electrical safety program. Pace Technologies can assist in reviewing or developing a comprehensive electrical safety program that supports an overall site safety program. An effective program should include a certified training program, awareness of electrical hazards and self-discipline of employees. It should also identify hazard/risk evaluation procedures, electrically safe work procedures, tools and PPE, and electrical safety principles – particularly safety by design. As part of the overall safety program, Pace Technologies can assist you in developing an effective safety audit process, creating and maintaining a safety manual, and planning and conducting safety meetings.

Training

An effective arc flash training program should provide workers the knowledge and understanding of the existence, nature, causes, and methods to prevent electrical hazards. Pace Technologies’ arc flash training program includes training on arc flash awareness, standards and codes, understanding of arc flash quantities, selection and use of appropriate PPE, reading and following warning signs and labels, methods to reduce risk while working on live exposed parts, arc flash hazard assessment, and documentation.

Personal Protective Equipment Plan

Pace Technologies Personal Protective Equipment Plan addresses all CSA Z462-08 requirements and OSHA standards regarding PPE to ensure compliance. Based on the findings of the arc flash analysis, Pace Technologies will provide PPE category requirement and recommendations. We can also assist in the selection and supply of recommended equipment on which workers will be trained. Our team will address when the PPE is necessary and what equipment is needed. Pace Technologies’ approach covers how PPE should be worn, maintained, and disposed of after the equipment life has expired.

Documentation

Proper documentation ensures compliance with OSHA and CSA Z462-08 standards and facilitates investigation should an arc flash related injury occur. Thorough documentation is one of Pace Technologies strengths. Our arc flash compliance plan consists of a customized written report that includes the result of the arc flash analysis, updated single-line drawings on electrical systems, signs and labels on equipment and hazardous areas. Also included in the documentation are the type, name/ID, incident energy at working distances, flash protection boundary, hazard/risk category, and other pertinent information such as voltage, available fault current, protective device description and its trip time, arc gap, and current. Documentation can also be provided as part of the safety program and documentation of training provided to workers.