Jim Phillips

Time is everything when an arc flash occurs. The longer the duration, the greater the incident energy exposure, which is directly proportional to the duration. The 2018 edition of IEEE 1584 defines the arc duration, also...

An arc flash occurs when short-circuit current jumps across an air gap between energized conductors. The event is normally the result of initial (and inadvertent) contact between energized conductors that creates the short...

Performing an arc flash study can be complex enough, but the latest edition of IEEE 1584—IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations has taken it to a whole new level. A lot has changed since arc flash studies...

I still hear this more than I should. Someone wants to list “no arc flash hazard exists” on the arc flash warning label. When I ask why, the response is usually along the lines of, “Because the incident energy is less than 1...

Once again it is Electrical Safety Month, and NFPA 70E continues to be at the forefront of electrical safety. However, not enough people are properly trained based on the requirements of this standard. Below are several...

The 2021 Edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, introduces a new informational note to address the age-old dilemma: How do you verify absence of voltage when the calculated incident energy is...

Playing with fire When I was around 10 years old, I learned the “fine art” of playing with fire. I thought it was amazing to wave my finger directly through a candle flame without being burned. I also learned (the hard way)...

The 2020 Edition of the National Electrical Code and the 2021 Edition of NFPA 70E define the term available fault current as: “The largest amount of current capable of being delivered at a point on the system during a short...

Social distancing, self-quarantining, travel restrictions. It’s no secret, COVID-19 has upended business as usual. Is 2020 over yet? Before I go further, I truly hope this column finds you and your family safe and well during...

My fascination with electricity began as a young boy, and I learned many things the hard way. One lesson involved dismantling an old record player to see how it worked. That was when I learned the famous electrical technician...

2020 NFPA Update The Word of the day: Triennial, tri·en·ni·al /trī 'enē'l/ adjective, happening every three years. Or in the case of NFPA 70E, it means: It’s time again to get ready for the 2021 edition. This article focuses...

Although not an official rule, the “two-second rule” for assumed arc durations originated with the 2002 edition of IEEE 1584—IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations. It is also in the 2018 edition of the...