How is incident energy calculated?

Incident energy is calculated using a combination of electrical system data and assumptions about the arc flash event. The following factors are taken into account when calculating incident energy:

1. Available fault current: This is the maximum amount of current that can flow through a circuit in the event of a fault, such as a short circuit.
2. Duration of the fault: This is the amount of time that the fault current flows before it is interrupted by a protective device, such as a circuit breaker.
3. Distance from the arc: This is the distance between the worker and the arc flash event, which affects the amount of energy that reaches the worker.
4. Arc gap: This is the distance between the conductors that create the arc, which affects the energy released during the arc flash.
5. Equipment type: Different types of equipment have different levels of resistance to electrical arcs, which affects the amount of energy released during an arc flash.

Related Standards/FAQ

• What is the purpose of an arc flash study?
• What is an arc flash study?
• How is incident energy calculated?
• What is incident energy?
• What is the difference between arc flash PPE levels and incident energy?
• What is the difference between arc flash PPE levels and arc flash boundaries?
• What is the difference between PPE categories and arc flash PPE levels?
• What are the NFPA 70E requirements for arc flash protection?
• What are the OSHA requirements for arc flash protection?