
Arc Flash Analysis
We approach our work from a Whole Facility Design Perspective, resulting in elegant, efficient engineering solutions that are practical and reliable, maximizing your long term benefit from your facility.
Challenge
The Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) system is one of the largest in the United States, consisting of over 250 buildings across 400 square miles, serving 180,000 students. FCPS issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an “all inclusive” Arc Flash Analysis. They defined what was important to them; save lives and reduce injuries, ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, correct system coordination and lower incident energy levels, establish minimum PPE requirements and reduce arc flash hazards with proper labeling.
Solution
As a recognized expert in the field, Hallam-ICS was chosen to lead this multi-year program. Hallam-ICS has engineers and technicians experienced with performing thorough Arc Flash Survey, Analysis, Qualified Safety Training and Arc Flash Mitigation Services. To complete a project of this size and scope, Hallam-ICS utilized the following 7 steps:
- Acquire Existing As-Built Documentation The team worked closely with FCPS to assemble the existing documentation for the facilities and to develop a plan for completing the analysis. The documentation included floor plans and riser one-line diagrams. In situations where there was no existing documentation, electrical one-lines would have to be developed by performing a highly detailed field survey.
- Field Verify Existing Conditions Early in the project, there was existing documentation that needed to be field verified. However, the majority of the buildings did not have existing docu[1]mentation to verify and the Hallam-ICS team had to develop the electrical one-lines for these facilities from scratch based upon field survey.
- Load the Data FCPS had specified that SKM Power Tools would be utilized for the project. Hallam has worked extensively with SKM software and entered the electrical one-line data from the field survey for each building.
- Run a Short Circuit Study For each of the 250 plus buildings, Hallam-ICS completed a short circuit study and identified any areas where the fault current would exceed the duty rating of the protective device.
- Complete a Coordination Study In a school environment, it is important to have the facilities available for educating the students. We completed a coordination study, ensuring that when a fault occurs, the nearest protective device upstream of the fault will clear the fault without affecting protective devices further upstream, thereby minimizing the impact on the teaching environment. What’s Important To You Becomes Everything To Us Case Study 3
- Evaluation & Recommendations Hallam-ICS takes great pride in our Arc Flash Study deliverable package. All documentation and data is provided, along with recommendations to lower the incident energy levels including maximizing coordination. Coordination and arc flash energy “incident energy” should be looked at hand in hand. Sometimes one does not compliment the other and therefore, both should be reviewed to maximize the best setting(s) for each.
- Labelling and Training Our last step was to generate and apply the Arc Flash labels and train the FCPS electrical staff on the electrical hazards. The Arc Flash labels included the level of PPE required. Training consisted of over 200 maintenance and support staff.
To complete this multi-year project, it was very important to have a consistent project team supporting FCPS. With an annual employee turnover rate of less than 5%, Hallam-ICS was able to maintain the same project team of degreed engineers throughout the duration of the project. This ensured standardization and the same quality of care across all 250 buildings. It also provided confidence in the FCPS staff that our team understood the key dynamics of completing an Arc Flash Study in a K-12 environment. Hallam-ICS was hired to bring all the FCPS schools into compliance with all relevant OSHA, NFPA and NEC codes and regulations. During the 5-year program, the Arc Flash Studies were completed ahead of schedule and budget and provided FCPS with an electrical distribution system that exceeds the requirements of the pertinent codes and regulations, creating a safe working environment for all FCPS staff working on electrical systems.
Results
Our team accomplished the following:
- Comprehensive Arc Flash Compliance: Completed Arc Flash Studies across 250+ buildings ahead of schedule and under budget, ensuring compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and NEC codes while enhancing electrical safety.
- Standardized Quality Delivery: Maintained a consistent team of engineers throughout the multi-year project, ensuring high-quality and standardized analysis, recommendations, and documentation for all facilities.
- Thorough Training and Mitigation: Provided customized Arc Flash labels and trained over 200 staff members, empowering FCPS personnel to handle electrical hazards safely while minimizing incident energy levels.