Transcript AfcomArcFlash Presentation.03.11.15

Arc Flash & Data Centers
March 2015
Matt Phillips , VP of Business Development
Frank Jenkins, Sr. Electrical Engineer
Agenda
What are we discussing today?
Arc Flash
•What is it?
•Why it is important?
•Who is responsible?
•How does it affect work?
•Where is it headed?
•How do we react?
•Key takeaways
Definition
“Serious harm to people”
An arc flash is an undesired
electric discharge that travels
through the air between
conductors or from a
conductor to a ground. The
resulting explosion can cause
fires and serious harm to
equipment and people.
Why is Arc Flash a big topic
Code, Regulations, and Lawyers
•
NFPA 7NFPA 70E 2015 Standard
for Electrical Safety Requirements
for Employee Workplaces
•
OSHA Standards 29-CFR, Part
1910 Sub part S (electrical)
Standard number 1910.333.
•
NEC 2002 Article 110.16 NFPA
70B 2002 Recommended Practice
for Electrical Equipment
Maintenance.
There are almost as many lawyers as engineers at
Arc Flash Training Seminars
Arc Flash and Data Centers
Is de-energized work really just an inconvenience
At many data centers, ‘live work’
occurs because the facility feels it is
unfeasible to de-energize the
equipment — the facility simply
believes they cannot shut it down.
However, most of the time it is more
of an inconvenience, and OSHA will
not allow live work to occur just
because it's inconvenient to deenergize it. We tend to see that
data centers try and justify live
work; however, OSHA will not agree
with them.
Safety Rules
PPE CATEGORY LEVEL 2015
•
•
•
•
•
Level 1 = 4 cal/cm2
Level 2 = 8 cal/cm2
Level 3 = 25 cal/cm2
Level 4 = 40 cal/cm2
Above Level 4 = No
energized work
Energized Work
When can we work hot
1. When Powering down equipment
becomes an increased hazard: i.e. A
Medical facility may require
uninterrupted electricity for life
support systems
2. When it is simply infeasible to power
down; i.e. taking voltage readings,
IR Scans, and troubleshooting live
components.
Note: OSHA recognizes and allows this
without EEWP. However, PPE is required
and no physical work can be performed
without 1st employing an EEWP
Energized Electrical Work Permit
OSHA Approved Justification of why the circuit or equipment cannot be de-energized or the work deferred
until the next scheduled outage.
2. A detailed job description procedure to be used when performing the job/task at hand.
3. A description of the safe work practices to be employed.
o Results of the Arc Flash Hazard Analysis and Shock Hazard Analysis.
o Shock Protection Boundaries.
o Necessary personal protective equipment to safely perform the assigned task.
o Means employed to restrict the access of unqualified persons from the work area.
o Evidence of completion of a Job Briefing including discussion of any job-related
hazards.
4. Shall include the signatures (and dates) of the following personnel:
o Electrically Qualified Person performing the job/task at hand
o Owners Representative or Manager
o Safety Manager
o General Manager
o Maintenance or Engineering Manager
o Electrically Knowledgeable Person
1.
Future of Arc Flash
Coming Soon
•
•
•
•
•
Rules are already in place
Enforcement is coming soon!
PPE is mandatory
Energized work will be nearly
impossible
NFPA 70E make business
owners to share liability
•
Energized Electrical
Work Permits
How do we react?
NOW AND FOR FUTURE
•
Focus on Arc Flash during designs
•
•
•
•
Arc resistant SWGR
Remote racking controls
Work arounds for de-energized maintenance and additions
Remote Distribution Panels vs. Standard PDUs
Existing Facilities
REQUIREMENTS
•
The NFPA 70E -2009 Edition –
Standards for Electrical
•
•
•
•
Minimum requirement –
Factory Labels Mandatory
Full study if any remodels
2012 & 2015 Edition further
clarified and mandated
compliance.
OSHA Requirements
•
Safety of workers
Study is highly recommended!
What to expect from a study
HOW DO I GET THIS DONE
• Breaker & switch operations changes
• Cost for future work may increase
• Trained personnel
• New Safety & PPE Standards
• PPE Purchased
• Maintenance and installations become
more challenging
• De-energized work may become
mandatory
• Costs to mitigate above Level 4
De-energized work
ARE YOU FOR REAL
Know your Tier Level
1. Tier I - Single path of power
2. Tier II - Single path of power - Redundant components
3. Tier III - Multiple power and cooling distribution paths, only one path
active, redundant components, concurrently maintainable
4. Tier IV – Multiple active power and cooling distribution paths,
redundant components, concurrently maintainable, fault tolerant
“Learning to trust concurrently maintainable”
Learning to trust
concurrently maintainable
Dual Bus Testing
1st time – common issues
• How things are plugged-in
• Both on same bus
• Circuit overloads
• In rack PDU overloads
• Server Issues
• Power Supplies
• Manual reset vs. auto
• Difficulty getting it approved
•
•
•
•
•
•
Expected Benefits
Improved Confidence
Improved Change Control
Safer work environments for
maintenance
Opportunity to operate /
exercise standby equipment
Hardware validation
Peace of Mind
Key Takeaways
IMPROVING SAFETY
Action Steps
• Complete an Arc Flash Study
• Employ Mitigation Strategies
• Review & Update Safety Standards
•
•
Train personnel
New PPE Standards
• Understand and trust your
“Concurrent Maintainability”
Save Lives & Injuries
Questions?
Thank you
Matt Phillips
Vice President of Business Development,
Secretary/Treasurer
[email protected]
Frank Jenkins
Senior Electrical Engineer
[email protected]
HTTP://WWW.TECHSITEPLAN.COM