Considerations for Adapting IEEE 1584-2002 Arc Flash Study Results to a Post IEEE 1584-2018 Risk Assessment

Many arc flash studies have been performed since the publication of IEEE 1584-2002 and NFPA 70E-2004. These studies represent a substantial investment in resources and time. The 2018 revision of IEEE 1584 is an improved arc flash model, substantially different in many ways. When the expanded range of calculation parameters is used, the resultant prediction in terms of arcing current (I-arc) or incident energy (E-i) can, sometimes, be significantly different from the previous predictions using the 1584-2002 model or at times, it can be similar especially with respect to E-i(.) The new model recognizes additional considerations that may be important when performing risk analysis for specific work tasks that would have been ignored in a 2002-based arc flash study. The possibility exists that 2018-based study would provide significantly higher E-i requiring different risk control decisions. The intent of this article is to provide guidance and present some strategies to identify when a 2002-based study may be sufficiently conservative, or not, and when updated calculations may be needed to properly identify potential need for higher rated personal protective equipment (PPE). There may be times when the 2002 study is sufficiently conservative to base risk control decisions and there are times when additional analysis will be needed.