Seguridad Choque Electrico
Seguridad Choque Electrico
Seguridad Choque Electrico
Introduction
Want to comply with Electrocution is the obvious danger faced by
NFPA 70E CSA Z462? anyone working on or near live electrical equip-
ment and it is clearly important to understand
How can IR Windows help? shock hazards and wear appropriate protection.
However, most electrical accidents are not the
Infrared thermography has become a result of direct electric shocks. A particularly
well-established and proven method for hazardous type of shorting fault—an arc fault—
inspecting live electrical equipment. To occurs when the insulation or air separation
carry out tests, the thermographer usu- between high voltage conductors is compro-
ally works with live energized equipment mised. Under these conditions, a plasma arc—an
and requires a clear line of sight to the “arc flash”—may form between the conductors,
target. Thermographers must therefore unleashing a potentially explosive release of
be especially aware of the hazards, the thermal energy.
legislation and safety issues, and the An arc flash can result in considerable
damage to equipment and serious injuries to
techniques and equipment best suited
nearby personnel. A study carried out by the US
to minimizing the risks when working in Department of Labor found that, during a 7-year
these dangerous environments. period, 2576 US workers died and over 32,000
suffered injuries from electrical shock and burn
injuries. 77 % of recorded electrical injuries
were due to arc flash incidents. According to
statistics compiled by CapSchell Inc (Chicago),
every day, in the US alone, there are 5-10 ten
arc flash incidents, some fatal.
NFPA 70E is the leading internationally recog-
nized safety standard for electrical safety in the
workplace. The Canadian Standards Association
has developed its own set of standards based
on NFPA 70E: CSA Z462.
These standards define a set of safe require-
ments for personnel working on electrical
equipment. To comply with the standards,
employers must carry out a hazard risk assess-
ment and ensure that all employees working in
a potential arc-flash hazard zone use appropri-
ate equipment and wear the right protective
clothing. Although it is not the responsibil-
ity of the thermographer to put in place the
appropriate safety procedures, it is important
to recognize and understand their need, and to
ensure that the correct procedures, equipment
and protective clothing are used.
The installation of IR windows, panes or ports electrical conductors is no longer sufficient to
allows a thermographer to inspect live electri- withstand their potential difference. This can
cal equipment without the removal of protective occur for many reasons. A dropped tool or any
covers and the exposure of equipment. An other conductive element (even rust), introduced
arc-resistant window, unlike a port or pane, between or near energized components may
provides additional protection for the thermog- compromise the insulating clearances. Often,
rapher in the event of an arc flash resulting incidents occur when a worker mistakenly fails
from unexpected component failures or work to ensure that equipment has been properly
on other parts of the system. This substantially de-energized. Incidents can even occur when
reduces the hazard rating for the inspections a worker is simply removing a cover from a
and, in most cases, may allow the thermogra- piece of equipment. A significant proportion
pher to work more safely minimizing the need of arc faults occur simply due to some form of
for excessively bulky and cumbersome protec- component failure and is not limited to human
tive clothing. interaction alone.
In contrast to the low impedance required for
What is an arc-flash? a bolted fault, an arc-fault is a high impedance
An electrical system can be subject to two types short because the discharge occurs through air.
of shorting faults:
• Bolted faults
• Arc faults
Bolted faults
A “bolted-fault” is everyone’s idea of a short
circuit: such as energizing the circuit with a
ground set in place. A bolted fault results in a
very high current; it is a low impedance short
because of the solid connection. Bolted faults
behave predictably and so conductors can be
rated to withstand the overcurrent for the time
required for an interrupt device to operate.
Bolted faults rarely result in an explosion.
Older switchgear which holds a “fault-rating”
will usually be rated for its ability to withstand
this high current for a particular time period. A
bolted “fault-rated” piece of equipment will usu-
ally have a BIL (Basic Impulse Level) highlighted
on the casing itself in the form of a fault current
for a set duration. E.g 100 kA for 5 seconds.
Arc faults
The second—and far more destructive—fault is
an arc-fault. This occurs when the insulation,
or more specifically the air separation, between Figure 1. Demonstration of the power of an Arc Flash.
Photo courtesy of ewbengineering.
2 Fluke Corporation Concerned about arc-flash and electric shock?
The current flow is therefore “comparatively” Arc fault make-up
low but the explosive effects are much more
When an arc-fault is triggered, a plasma
destructive and potentially lethal. Unlike a
arc—the arc flash—forms between the shorted
bolted fault, it is difficult to predict exactly how
components. Once established, the plasma arc
much energy will be released by an arc fault. In
has a virtually unlimited current-carrying capac-
particular, it is difficult to predict the duration
ity. The explosive energy release causes:
of an arc fault as this depends on many factors,
feedback mechanisms and the response of the • A thermoacoustic (dynamic) pressure wave
over current protection devices. • A high intensity flash
• A superheated ball of gas
When an arc fault occurs The thermoacoustic wave is a dynamic pressure
wave caused by the instantaneous expansion of
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety
gas local to the fault. It causes panels to rupture,
and Health, Pittsburgh, USA) has published
flying debris and barometric trauma. The wave
the results of a survey of electrical accidents
front travels outwards, away from the fault, and
reported by MSHA (Mine Safety and Health
as it impacts surfaces it increases in energy: an
Administration, US Department of Labor) in the
effect known as “pressure piling”.
mining sector over the period: 1990-2001. In
A common misconception is that an arc flash
more than two-thirds of the cases of arc flash
will always result in panel rupture. However, by
injuries, the victim was performing some form
incorporating high-speed interrupt devices and
of electrical work such as troubleshooting and
additional protection systems, an engineer can
repair. More surprisingly, 19 % of the accidents
reduce the arc flash energy to a level where the
arose from the direct failure of equipment during
thermoacoustic wave front does not have suf-
normal operation. Overall, 34 % of the accidents
ficient energy to rupture the panel.
involved some form of component failure.
Although the thermoacoustic wave resulting
The key components involved in the acci-
from an arc fault can be very destructive, it is
dents where: circuit breakers (17 %), conductors
not the only characteristic of an arc flash. Unlike
(16 %), non-powered hand tools (13 %), elec-
a chemical explosion, the energy of an arc flash
trical meters and test leads (12 %), connectors
converts primarily to heat and light energy.
and plugs (11 %). Of the cases that reported the
Temperatures at the epicenter of an arc flash
arcing voltage, 84 % occurred with equipment
can reach 20,000 °C (four times hotter than the
at less than 600 V and only 10 % with equip-
surface of the sun) within a millisecond. Such
ment at more than 1000 V.
high temperatures are capable of explosively
vaporizing metals such as copper. The presence
19 % of the accidents arose from the of vaporized metal can then feed and sustain
direct failure of equipment during the plasma arc and exacerbate its power.
normal operation An arc flash essentially lasts until the over-
current protective devices open the circuit. A
fast-acting fuse may open the circuit as quickly
as several milliseconds.
mesh deflection angle and the differing reflec- For more information call:
In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 or
tivity of the mesh material and polymer optic Fax (425) 446-5116
material. The thermographer may be able to In Europe/M-East/Africa +31 (0) 40 2675 200 or
Fax +31 (0) 40 2675 222
correct for transmission in a lab using a one- In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or
time set of parameters but the poor performance Fax (905) 890-6866
of the mesh/polymer and lack of repeatability From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 or
Fax +1 (425) 446-5116
means that the this optic solution cannot be cor- Web access: http://www.fluke.com
rected for in a manner that is acceptable. ©2010 Fluke Corporation.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Printed in U.S.A. 9/2010 3527077C A-EN-N