In part 1 of this series, published in the May issue, I reviewed articles 90, 105, 110 and 120. This month, I will discuss the major changes to Article 130, Work Involving Electrical Hazards. The text is paraphrased due to space limitations. Style manual and editorial changes are not included. 

130.1 Scope: Text was removed that was not directly part of the scope. It was relocated to new 130.2.

130.2 Work Involving Electrical Hazards: This new section contains text relocated from 130.1.

130.2(A)(2) Additional Person: This new requirement states that if an energized electrical work permit is required, and it specifies the use of electric shock or arc flash PPE, at least one additional person meeting the emergency response training requirements of 110.4(C)(1) shall be present at, but located outside, the limited approach or arc flash boundary, whichever is greater. 

130.3 Energized Electrical Work Permit was previously 130.2.

Table 130.4(E)(a) and (E)(b) Electric Shock Protection Boundaries, Note (2): “Employee” was changed to “personnel.” This correlates to “personnel” used in 130.4(E) Electric Shock Protection Boundaries.

Table 130.4(E)(a) and (E)(b) Electric Shock Protection Boundaries, Note (d): A new informational note was added that provides references for correction factors for adjusting the restricted approach boundary for elevations above 900 m (3,000 feet).

Table 130.4(E)(a) and (E)(b) Electric Shock Protection Boundaries, Note (e): For Column 1, 50–150 voltage AC range applies to line-to-ground voltages up to 240V. This revision indicates the line versus phase issue applies only to the lowest voltage range.

Table 130.5(C)(3) Estimate of the Likelihood of Occurrence of an Arc Flash Incident: A new task was added: Working on battery equipment less than 600V where the separation between exposed electrical conductors exceeds 1 mm per volt. This new task is listed in the table as “No.” for likelihood of occurrence of an arc flash.

Table 130.5(C)(3) Estimate of the Likelihood of Occurrence of an Arc Flash Incident, Note (b) regarding likelihood of occurrence was revised and moved to Informational Note 1 of the table since it did not contain any requirements.

130.5(F) Arc Flash PPE Selection Methods (1): Selection Methods List Item 2 Arc Flash PPE Category Method contains a new Informational Note No. 1 stating that some equipment has been tested by a qualified testing laboratory and marked with third-party verified incident energy information for specific conditions to aid in the selection of arc flash PPE.

130.7(C)(7) Personal Protective Equipment (e): Thermal hand protection was added, requiring it where there is a possible exposure to a contact thermal hazard.

130.7(C)(14) Standards for PPE (b) Conformity Assessment (1): Self-declaration with a supplier’s declaration of conformity has been removed as a method for conformity assessment.

130.7(C)(14) Standards for PPE (b)(2): Self-declaration under a registered quality management system and product testing by an accredited laboratory and (b)(3) certification by an accredited independent third-party remain as the two conformity assessment options, which have been renumbered as items (1) and (2). An exception was added that PPE marked with a supplier’s or manufacturer’s self-­declaration prior to the effective date of this edition shall be permitted.

130.7(C)(14) Standards for PPE (c) Marking: A sixth item was added to the list of PPE information as number (2) conformity assessment method used. This is used to help the purchaser of the PPE make an informed decision.

130.7(C)(15) Arc Flash PPE Category Method: “Maximum available fault current” used throughout the table was changed to “available fault current” because Article 100 already defines this as the largest current. 

Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) Arc Flash PPE Categories for AC Systems Informational Note 1: Text was added to list items 2 through 6: “when the fault current is within the instantaneous trip region” to clarify the clearing times of devices listed are based on operating instantaneously and not in the time-delay region.

Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) Arc Flash PPE Categories for AC Systems, Informational Note No. 2: See Table 1 of IEEE 1584. 2002 was added as the referenced edition of IEEE 1584 since no date listed on a standard refers to the latest edition (2018 in this case). Table 1 does not exist in the 2018 edition.

Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) Arc Flash PPE Categories for Direct Current (DC) Systems: The text “excluding capacitors covered in Article 360” was added as an exception to the equipment listed in the table.

Table 130.7(C)(15)(c) Personal Protective Equipment, Note (a): The reference to arc rating in Article 100 definitions has been revised. It now states, “arc ratings shall be permitted for a single layer such as AR shirt and pants or a coverall, or for an arc flash suit or multilayer system if tested as a combination.”

130.7(D) Other Protective Equipment (1): Insulated tools and equipment tools and handling equipment used within the restricted approach boundary “or where they present an electrical contact hazard” must be insulated. New text was added to address a potential contact hazard.

The rest of the series will address Article 100, chapters 2 and 3 and the annexes.

stock.adobe.com/Rina Antipina