Arc Flash Study
An arc flash study evaluates electrical system hazards, incident energy, arc flash boundaries, and required protective measures so maintenance, facility, and safety teams can make better-informed decisions about energized work and worker safety.
Allied Reliability provides arc flash analysis and short-circuit study support to help industrial and commercial facilities understand electrical risk, align safe work practices with applicable safety standards, and define appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Understand the Hazard Before Work Begins
Arc flash events can expose workers to extreme thermal energy, blast pressure, flying material, and severe burns while also damaging electrical equipment and interrupting operations. Conducting an arc flash study gives facility teams a structured way to quantify the hazard, document incident-energy exposure, establish boundaries, and support decisions about safe work practices and PPE. The goal of an arc flash assessment is not simply compliance – it is to reduce exposure to recognized electrical hazards and give workers clear information before tasks are performed.
SERVICES
Arc Flash Study Scope and Related Support
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
Comprehensive hazard analyses that evaluate incident energy levels, arc flash boundaries, equipment labeling requirements, and PPE recommendations.
Arc Flash Risk Analysis Assessments
Detailed evaluations of electrical systems designed to identify hazards, assess risk exposure, and prioritize corrective actions.
Short Circuit Studies
Analysis of available fault current throughout the electrical system to support arc flash calculations and equipment protection strategies.
Equipment Labeling Programs
Development and installation of arc flash labels that communicate hazard levels and PPE requirements for electrical workers.
Electrical Safety Compliance Support
Guidance to help organizations meet NFPA 70E and OSHA requirements while improving workplace safety programs.
Arc Flash Safety Training
Instructor-led and remote training programs covering electrical hazards, PPE, safe work practices, lockout/tagout procedures, emergency response, and NFPA 70E compliance.
HOW IT WORKS
From Data Collection to Actionable Recommendations
A defensible arc flash study depends on accurate system information, appropriate assumptions, and a clear engineering workflow. Allied Reliability structures the assessment to move from field data and system modeling through calculations, hazard evaluation, and final documentation.
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
Incident Energy Calculations
Model key equipment locations to determine potential arc flash incident energy levels.
4
Arc Flash Boundary
Establish safe approach boundaries where workers may be exposed to arc flash hazards.
5
PPE Assessment
Define PPE requirements based on calculated hazard levels.
6
Reporting & Documentation
Deliver findings, recommendations, labeling requirements, and compliance considerations.
7
On-going Support
Assist with implementation, updates, training, and future study needs after electrical system modifications.
our approach
Connect Engineering Results to Safe Work Practices
Arc flash calculations are most useful when the results can be applied by the people responsible for operating and maintaining the electrical system. Allied Reliability focuses on accurate field information, clear documentation, and practical recommendations that help maintenance, engineering, EHS, and facility leaders translate study findings into action.
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 Electrical Safety Support
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.
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.
