Arc Flash Study & Analysis Services
Allied Reliability provides arc flash study and arc flash analysis services to help industrial and commercial facilities identify electrical hazards, calculate incident energy, assess arc flash risk, and establish appropriate protective measures. Our arc flash studies help maintenance, engineering, EHS, and facility teams make informed decisions about energized work, PPE, equipment labeling, and electrical safety.
Arc Flash Hazard Analysis: Understand the Risk Before Work Begins
An arc flash event can expose workers to extreme heat, blast pressure, flying material, severe burns, and other hazards that may result in serious injuries or death. An arc flash hazard analysis helps quantify that exposure before energized work is performed.
By calculating incident energy and establishing arc flash boundaries, the study gives facility teams the information needed to select PPE, establish safe work practices, and reduce electrical risk.
SERVICES
Arc Flash Analysis Services and Study Scope
The study combines field data, power-system modeling, engineering calculations, and documentation to evaluate electrical hazards and translate the results into practical safety information.
Arc Flash Studies & Hazard Analysis
Engineering analysis that calculates incident energy, evaluates arc flash boundaries, identifies electrical hazards, and determines equipment labeling and PPE requirements.
Arc Flash Risk Assessments
Evaluate potential worker exposure to arc flash hazards and provide information that supports safer energized work practices and risk-reduction decisions.
Short Circuit Analysis
Calculate available fault current throughout the electrical system to support arc flash calculations and equipment protection decisions.
Protective Device Coordination Study
Evaluate protective-device settings and operating characteristics to improve coordination, support accurate arc flash calculations, and help isolate electrical faults appropriately.
Arc Flash Labeling
Develop equipment labels that clearly communicate incident energy, arc flash boundaries, PPE requirements, and other applicable hazard information.
Arc Flash Safety Training
Instructor-led or remote training covering electrical hazards, PPE, safe work practices, lockout/tagout, emergency response, and NFPA 70E.
HOW IT WORKS
From Data Collection to Actionable Recommendations
A defensible arc flash study depends on accurate field data, appropriate engineering assumptions, and a consistent calculation methodology. Allied Reliability uses system information and engineering analysis to model electrical hazards and calculate incident energy at applicable equipment locations. Where applicable, calculations are performed using methodologies established by IEEE 1584 and applied within the facility’s electrical safety program.
1
Data Collection
Gather single-line diagrams, equipment specifications, protective device settings, and available fault current data.
2
Short Circuit Analysis
Calculate available fault current to identify potential electrical fault conditions. Incident energy calculations: Model key equipment locations to determine potential arc flash incident energy levels.
3
Protective Device Coordination
Evaluate protective-device settings and operating times that affect fault clearing and incident energy.
4
Incident Energy Analysis
Calculate potential incident energy at applicable equipment locations using the electrical system model.
5
Arc Flash Risk Assessment
Evaluate calculated hazards and establish applicable arc flash boundaries.
6
PPE & Labeling Requirements
Define PPE and equipment-labeling requirements based on study findings.
7
Reporting & Recommendations
Document findings, prioritized recommendations, labeling requirements, and compliance considerations.
our approach
What to Look for in an Arc Flash Study Company
When comparing arc flash study companies, look beyond the final report. The quality of the study depends on accurate field data, electrical-system modeling, engineering methodology, clear documentation, and recommendations your teams can actually apply.
Allied Reliability combines field-informed analysis with practical implementation support to help maintenance, engineering, EHS, and facility teams turn study findings into safer work practices.
Field-informed Analysis
Experienced electrical engineers and technicians combine site data, analysis tools, and field knowledge to evaluate hazards accurately.
Usable Documentation
Reports, labels, and recommendations are structured to support safety programs, maintenance planning, and compliance readiness.
Clear Prioritization
Findings are translated into practical recommendations that help teams focus on the highest-risk issues first.
Implementation Support
Training, updates, and follow-up support help teams apply the study results as electrical systems and work practices change.
Solutions
How Arc Flash Services Support Broader Operational Goals
Arc flash studies are primarily safety and compliance tools, but the findings also support reliability, maintenance planning, and risk reduction across the facility. For the new website, this service maps most directly to the following Allied Reliability solution areas.
Reduce Unplanned Downtime
Identify electrical system vulnerabilities, fault conditions, and protection issues that could contribute to equipment damage, emergency repairs, or production interruptions.
Cost Reduction
Use condition and risk data to prioritize corrective actions, plan outages more effectively, and reduce the likelihood of costly reactive electrical work.
Employee Safety
Strengthen safe work practices by giving maintenance and electrical teams clearer hazard information, documented procedures, and training support.
RESOURCES
Related Arc Flash and Electrical Safety Resources
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Arc Flash Studies
What is an arc flash study?
An arc flash study is an engineering assessment of an electrical power system that calculates incident energy and arc flash boundaries at applicable equipment locations. The results help facilities understand the potential severity of an arc flash event and support safe work practices, equipment labeling, and PPE decisions.
How often is an arc flash study required?
NFPA 70E calls for arc flash risk assessments to be reviewed periodically and when major electrical-system changes could affect the results. Facilities should also reassess study data when equipment, protective-device settings, distribution configuration, or operating conditions change materially.
What information is needed to perform a study?
Typical inputs include electrical one-line diagrams, transformer and conductor data, equipment ratings, protective-device information and settings, utility or source data, and field-verified system configuration. The amount of field data collection required depends on the quality and completeness of existing documentation.
Does OSHA require an arc flash study?
OSHA does not have a single general-industry rule that simply states employers must perform an “arc flash study.” However, OSHA electrical and PPE requirements obligate employers to protect workers from electrical hazards, and OSHA recognizes NFPA 70E as a consensus standard that can help employers assess arc flash hazards and determine protective measures.
Does an arc flash study include a short circuit and coordination study?
Short-circuit analysis determines available fault current, a protective-device coordination study evaluates device operation/clearing times, and those inputs support the incident-energy calculations used in the arc flash analysis.
What facilities need an arc flash study?
Any facility with energized electrical equipment may require an arc flash assessment, including industrial plants, manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, and data centers.
How do NFPA 70E and the National Electrical Code (NEC) relate to an arc flash study?
NFPA 70E addresses electrical safety in the workplace and provides a framework for arc flash risk assessment and protective measures. The National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70, addresses electrical installation requirements. They serve different but complementary roles within the broader electrical safety framework.
What factors affect the cost of an arc flash study?
Cost is influenced by facility size, electrical-system complexity, equipment quantity and accessibility, the quality of existing one-line diagrams and equipment data, field data-collection requirements, travel, and the level of engineering analysis needed.
How does working distance affect arc flash analysis?
Working distance represents the distance between the worker and the prospective arc source used in the incident-energy calculation. Because incident energy changes with distance, appropriate working-distance assumptions are important to the study results and the PPE guidance derived from them.
