IEEE Std 1584-2002 Arc-Flash Hazard Calculator

Site:

Site

Enter the site name or designation

Date:

August 5, 2002

Enter the date of the analysis

Instructions for using calculator forms:

1. Enter data only in yellow and blue cells.
2. Information in light green and white cells is calculated.
3. If information is entered beyond the limits of the CB or fuse calculations, the protective
device field will change to orange as a warning flag.
4. All distances are in millimeters.
5. Refer to IEEE Std 1584-2002 Annex B for guidance on application and use of this
calculator.
Range of Models:
The equations in the IEEE Std 1584-2002 empirically derived model are valid within the
limits shown below:
Voltages from 208 V to 15 kV, three phase
Frequencies of 50 or 60 Hz
Bolted fault current from 700 A to 106 kA
Grounding of all types
Equipment enclosures of commonly available sizes
Gaps between conductors of 13mm (.5") to 152 mm (6")
Faults involving three phases

The Lee method is used for voltages over 15kV.

Cautions and Disclaimers
As an IEEE guide, this document suggests approaches for conducting an arc-flash hazard
analysis but does not have mandatory requirements. Following the suggestions in this
guide does not guarantee safety, and users should take all reasonable, independent steps
necessary to minimize risks from arc flashes.
Users should be aware that the models in this guide are based upon measured arc current
incident energy under a specific set of test conditions and on theoretical work. Distances,
which are the basis for equations, are based on the measured distance of the test
instrument from the arc-flash point source. These models will enable users to calculate the
estimated maximum incident energy and the estimated arc-flash boundary distance. Real
arc exposures may be more or less severe than indicated by these models.
This document is intended to provide guidance for the calculation of incident energy and
arc-flash protection boundaries. Once calculated, this information can be used as a basis to
develop strategies that have the goal of minimizing burn injuries. Strategies include
specifying the rating of personal protective equipment (PPE), working deenergized,
applying arc-resistant switchgear, and following other engineering techniques and work
practices.

This guide is based upon testing and analysis of the hazard presented by incident energy.
The potentially hazardous effects of molten metal splatter, projectiles, pressure impulses,
and toxic arc by-products have not been considered in these methods. It is expected that
future work will provide guidance for these other electrical hazards.
Available bolted fault currents should be determined at the point of each potential fault.
Do not use overly conservative bolted fault current values. A conservatively high value
may result in lower calculated incident energy than may actually be possible depending on
the protective devices time-current response. The lower results would be caused by using
a faster time-current response value from the protective devices time-current curve.
Where used, PPE for the arc-flash hazard is the last line of defense. The protection is not
intended to prevent all injuries but to mitigate the impact of an arc flash upon the
individual, should one occur. In many cases, the use of PPE has saved lives or prevented
injury. The calculations in this guide will lead to selection of a level of PPE that is a
balance between the calculated estimated incident energy exposure and the work activity
being performed while meeting the following concerns:
The desire to provide enough protection to prevent a second degree burn in all cases.
The desire to avoid providing more protection than is needed. Hazards may be introduced
by the garments such as heat stress, poor visibility, and limited body movement.
Professional judgement must be used in the selection of adequate PPE.

While it is outside the scope of this document to mandate PPE, some examples of where
PPE may be required are: during load interruption, during the visual inspection that
verifies that all disconnecting devices are open, and during the lockout/tagout. Adequate
PPE is required during the tests to verify the absence of voltage after the circuits are
deenergized and properly locked out/tagged out.
This information is based on technical data believed by the IEEE Std 1584-2002 working
group to be reliable. It is offered as a tool for conducting an arc-flash hazard analysis. It is
intended for use only by those experienced in power system studies and is not intended to
substitute for the users judgment or review in such studies. It is subject to revision as
additional knowledge and experience is gained. IEEE, those companies that contributed
test data, and those people who worked on development of this standard make no
guarantee of results and assume no obligation or liability whatsoever in connection with
this information.
This guide is not intended to imply that workers be allowed to perform work on exposed
energized equipment or circuit parts. It must be emphasized that the industryrecommended way to minimize electrical injuries and fatalities is to ensure that equipment
is deenergized and in an electrically safe work condition. But even this act, creating an
electrically safe work condition, subjects the worker to potential hazards, which if they
occur, require PPE for protection against arc-flash burns.

Work intentionally performed on or near energized equipment or circuits is limited by

standards and regulations, such as those issued by OSHA. OSHA 29 CFR Subpart
S.1910.333 severely limits the situations in which work is performed near or on
equipment or circuits that are or may be energized.
Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the
employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing
introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or
operational limitations.
Financial considerations are not an adequate reason to work on or near energized circuits.
For ready access to the specific needed flash-protection boundary, working distance, and
incident energy, such calculated values should be prominently displayed on every piece of
electrical equipment where an arc-flash hazard exists in a workplace or otherwise be made
available to workers.
Warranty
THE IEEE DOES NOT WARRANT OR REPRESENT THE ACCURACY OR
CONTENT OF THE WORK AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE OR THAT THE
USE OF THE WORK IS FREE FROM PATENT INFRINGEMENT. THE WORK IS
SUPPLIED ONLY AS IS.
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Copyright
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5997, USA

Copyright 2002 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
All rights reserved. Published 23 September 2002. Printed in the United States of
America.
Print: ISBN 0-7381-3351-5 SH95023
PDF: ISBN 0-7381-3352-3 SS95023
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval
system or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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Site

August 5, 2002

Data Entry Sheet for:

Normal Operation

Columns A-C
Column D
Columns E, F, I
Column G

Bus name, voltage and bolted fault current from short circuit study
Portion of bolted fault current that flows through protective device from study (at faulted bus voltage)
Calculated by the spreadsheet.
If cell is blue, enter time-- For relay or breaker with integral trips, enter Trip Time at the Calculated Arcing
Fault Current from column F.
If cell is blue, enter time-- For relay operated breaker, enter breaker Opening Time. For fuses, enter
the total clearing time at the calculated Arcing Fault Current from column F.
If cell is blue, enter Trip Time for relay or breaker at the Reduced Arcing Fault Current
If cell is blue, enter breaker opening time or fuse clearing time at the reduced arcing fault current (col I.)
Enter Working Distance between worker's body and the possible arcing location.
Enter Equipment Class from the list.
Enter Grounding Type from the list.
Enter Protective Device Type from the list. Cell turns orange if out or range or if device is CB and I t isnot entered in Col P.
If cell is blue, enter Instantaneous Trip current for Circuit Breakers (See CB Reference Tab)

Column H
Column J
Column K
Column L
Column M
Column N
Column O
Column P
Boundary Energy
Motor Contribution Factor:

Name of bus
CUBCULOS CARGILL

J/cm2

Equipment Class:
1 - Open Air
2 - Cable
3 - Switchgear
4 - MCCs, Panels

Enter description of operating mode.

1.2 cal/cm2

Grounding Type:
1 - Solid Grounded
2 - Ungrounded,
Resistance
Grounding, Other
Impedance

Protective Device Type:

0 - Other
1 - RK1-100
2 - RK1-200
3 - RK1-400
4 - RK1-600
5 - L-800
6 - L-1200
7 - L-1600
8 - L-2000
9 - MCCB-100-400
10 - MCCB-600-1200-M
11 - MCCB-600-1200-LI
12 - MCCB-1600-6000
13 - LVPCB-800-6300-LI
14 - LVPCB-800-6300-LS

Enter one of these values to determine arc flash boundary distance at that incident energy.

0 Enter typical portion of bolted fault from motor contribution. Example: 0.03
If you leave column D blank, motor contribution factor will be used to calculate Column E.

Bolted fault
current of bus
kV of in kA (from
bus
study)
13.8
8.75

Portion of Bolted fault Protective device

current that flows
fault current
through protective
without motor
device in kA (from
contrib. in kA
study)
(B21)
8.75
8.75

Arcing fault
current in
protective
device, in kA
(Calculated)
8.51

Trip
Time
0.688

Reduced arcing
fault current in Trip Time at
Opening protective device,
Reduced
Time
in kA
Current
0.045
Not required

Opening
Time at
reduced
current

It of
Working
Distance
in mm
610

Equipment Class
1

Grounding Type Protective Device Type

1

Circuit
Breaker
in kA
0
25

Site:

Normal Operation

Results of arc flash calculations for determination of PPE and flash boundary

Bus Information
Name of Location
CUBCULOS CARGILL

Bolted
kV of
Fault
bus Current

Total Arcing
Fault Current

Equipment
Class

Grounding

Protective
Device
Type

Gap

Protective
Device Arc
Working
Fault
Distance
Current

Arc
Clearing
Time

Reduced
Current
Clearing
Time

Incident
Energy

kV

kA

kA

1 to 4

1 or 2

0 to 14

mm

mm

kA

sec

sec

J/cm2

13.8

8.75

8.51

153

610

8.51

0.73

0.00

28.46

Incident
Energy

Arc Flash
PPE per
Boundary NFPA 70E

cal/cm2
6.8

mm
1452

Category
2

Site

Summary of Incident Energy Calculations

Incident Energy in cal/cm2 and Working Distance

August 5, 2002
Location
BFP-Ifp
BFP-Ifs
BFP-Ifc2
Utility Example
KEMA Test 8244
KEMA Test 8283
SqD 28397
SqD F28
Kinectrics 2338
250AMCCB
2000A
1000A
1000LI
1200LI
1200A Cl L
600A RK1
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
enter location
CUBCULOS CARGILL

Voltage
13.8
0.48
0.48
68.8
4.16
4.16
0.4
0.4
0.59
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
0.48
13.8

Normal
Operation
J/cm2
1.9
219.6
10.6
61.7
11.1
101.0
96.6
54.4
2.9
43.4
25.4
12.7
20.2
35.1
38.8
19.2
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
13.1
28.5

Normal
Operation
cal/cm2
0.4
52.5
2.5
14.8
2.6
24.1
23.1
13.0
0.7
10.4
6.1
3.0
4.8
8.4
9.3
4.6
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
6.8

Working
Distance
mm
1825.0
610.0
610.0
1825.0
483.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
457.0
457.0
457.0
457.0
457.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0
610.0

Arc Flash
Boundary
mm
1112.6
7930.5
887.8
6399.5
717.5
13339.3
3697.2
2605.2
464.4
1701.9
1227.2
803.6
1066.9
1493.7
1694.7
1192.8
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
984.1
1452.4

Reference Tables
Gap and Distance Exponent Tables
kV
Type
0.208 to 1
Open air
Switchgear
MCC and Panels
Cable

Equipment Number
1
3
4
2

Gap
32
32
25
13

kV
1 to 5

Type
Open air
Switchgear
Cable

Equipment Number
1
3
2
4

Gap
102
102
13
102

kV
5 to 15

Type
Open air
Switchgear
Cable

Equipment Number
1
3
2
4

Gap
153
153
13
153

PPE Rating Table (from NFPA 70E)

Min Rating of PPE
Max Rating of PPE
0
1.2
1.2001
5
5.001
8
8.001
25
25.001
40
40.001
No maximum

Protective Device Type Descriptions

1
RK1-100
2
RK1-200
3
RK1-400
4
RK1-600
5
L-800
6
L-1200
7
L-1600
8
L-2000
9
MCCB-100-400
10
MCCB-600-1200-M
11
MCCB-600-1200-LI
12
MCCB-1600-6000
13
LVPCB-800-6300-LI
14
LVPCB-800-6300-LS

Risk Category
0
1
2
3
4
X

Class RK1 Fuse, 0A to 100 A

Class RK1 Fuse, 101A to 200 A
Class RK1 Fuse, 201A to 400 A
Class RK1 Fuse, 401A to 600A
Class L Fuse, 601A to 800 A
Class L Fuse, 801A to 1200 A
Class L Fuse, 1201A to 1600 A
Class L Fuse, 1601A to 2000 A
100 to 400 ampere Molded Case CBs with all trip units
600 to 1200 ampere MCCBs with TM and M trip units
600 to 1200 ampere MCCBs and ICCBs with LI electronic trip units
1600 to 6000 ampere MCCBs and ICCBs with LI, TM or M trip units
800 to 6300 ampere LVPCBs, LI trip units
800 to 6300 ampere LVPCBs, LS trip units

CB Equation Constants Table (E = k1 * Ibf + k2)

Device Type

480V& lower, K1
9
10
11
12
13
14

480V&lower, K2
0.045
0.053
0.09
0.107
0.15
1.09

600V K1
0.13
0.38
0.324
0.72
0.88
6.51

0.065
0.08
0.112
0.164
0.23
1.64

Fuse Equation Constants Table (E = K1 * Ibf^2 + K2 * Ibf + K3)

Device Type
Ibf from
Ibf to
1
0
0.649999
1
0.65
1.16
1
1.160001
1.4
1
1.400001
106
1
106.000001
1000
2
0
1.159999
2
1.16
1.6
2
1.600001
3.16
2
3.160001
106
2
106.000001
1000
3
0
3.159999
3
3.16
5.04
3
5.040001
22.6
3
22.600001
106
3
106.000001
1000
4
0
8.499999
4
8.5
14
4
14.000001
15.7
4
15.700001
22.6
4
22.600001
106
4
106.000001
1000
5
0
15.699999
5
15.7
44.1
5
44.100001
106
5
106.000001
1000
6
0
15.699999
6
15.7
22.6
6
22.600001
44.1
6
44.100001
106
6
106.000001
1000

K1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0143
0
0

Fuse Equation Lower Limits Table

Device Type
Lower Limit of Ibf
1
0.65
2
1.16
3
3.16
4
8.5
5
15.7
6
15.7
7
15.7
8
22.6

7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8

0
15.7
31.800001
44.1
65.900001
106.000001
0
22.6
65.900001
106.000001

15.699999
31.8
44.099999
65.9
106
1000
22.599999
65.9
106
1000

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Note A: Must change to device type 0 if bolted fault current is below lower limit; use time-current curves
Note B: Contact manufacturer for additional information above upper limit.

X
2
1.473
1.641
2

X
2
0.973
2
0.973

X
2
0.973
2
0.973

e CBs with all trip units

th TM and M trip units
d ICCBs with LI electronic trip units
nd ICCBs with LI, TM or M trip units

600V K2
0.04
0.09
11
0.04
0.07
0.519

K2
0
-11.176
-1.4583
0
0
0
-18.409
-4.2628
0
0
0
-19.053
-0.0302
0
0
0
-3.0545
0
-0.0507
0
0
0
-0.0601
0
0
0
-0.1928
-1.3919
0
0

K3
Note A
13.565
2.2917
0.25
Note B
Note A
36.355
13.721
0.25
Note B
Note A
96.808
0.9321
0.25
Note B
Note A
43.364
0.6
1.3964
0.25
Note B
Note A
2.8992
0.25
Note B
Note A
14.226
34.045
0.39
Note B

0
-0.1863
-1.5504
0
-0.0631
0
0
-0.1284
-0.5177
0

lower limit; use time-current curves.

Note A
27.926
71.303
2.93
7.0878
Note B
Note A
32.262
57.917
Note B

Circuit Breaker Reference Information

This sheet provides a simple method for making the calculations where low-voltage CBs provide
overcurrent protection. The method covers molded-case circuit breakerss (MCCBs), insulated-case
circuit breakers (ICCBs) and low-voltage power circuit breakers (LVPCBs). Generic information
covering the time-current characteristic of CBs is contained within the method. This inclusion
eliminates the need for the individual performing the calculation to find and interpret the CB timecurrent curve. The CBs selected for this analysis are those that have been generally available from
approximately 1980 - 2001.
The variables used in this sheet are:
I1 - the lowest arc current at which the CB clears a fault at the instantaneous-clearing time
I2 - the CB interrupting rating in kA
It - current at which the CB trips instantaneously (without intentional delay) in kA
A. Circuit Breaker Performance Range
Equations in this method provide the maximum estimated energy between fault current points I1 and I2.
As we have stated, point I2 is the interrupting rating of the CB. I1 is the minimum arcing fault current at
which this method can be applied. It is the lowest bolted fault current level that generates arcing current
great enough for instantaneous tripping to occur. Recall that the current flowing is the arc current,
which is lower than the available bolted fault current.

To find I1, use the manufacturers time-current curve if it is available and take the instantaneous trip
value, It, from the curve as shown in Figure 1 and insert it in Column P. If the curve is not available,
but the instantaneous trip setting is shown on the breaker, use that setting. Alternatively, the default
value noted in B below must be used. Where an LS trip unit is used, It is the short-time pick-up current.
Figure 1 It Shown on Time-Current Characteristic
T ypical time-current characteristic
10000

Time (sec)

1000
100
10
1
0.1
0.01
100

It

1000

10000

100000

Current

B. It Default Value
When the tripping current, It, is not known, use a default value of 10 times the continuous current rating
of the CB, except for CBs rated 100 A and below. For CBs rated 100 A and below, use a default value
of It = 1300 A.
I1 = 10^[0.0281 + 1.09 Log((1.3 It)] at 600 V and,
I1 = 10^[0.0407 + 1.17 Log((1.3 It)] at 480 V and lower.}

(Eq. 5)
(Eq. 6)

Spreadsheet compares I1 to Bolted Fault current; if I1<Ib, then CB equations can be used; trip and
operating times are not required. The entry cells for the trip and operating times are changed to 'white'
to show that no entry is needed. If I1>Ib, then the CB equations are not used to calculate incident
energy.