Arc Flash Regulations

U.S. Arc Flash Codes

In the United States, there are four main regulations relating to arc flash:

• OSHA 29 CFR-1910, Subpart S provides the legal requirement for employers to guard against arc flash hazards. It sets general requirements for safe work practices, PPE, and hazard analysis.
• NFPA 70, called the National Electrical Code (NEC), provides a requirement for arc flash labels.
• NFPA 70E, "Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace," outlines the specific procedures and practices to be followed for OSHA compliance and safety when working on live equipment.
• IEEE 1584, "Guide to Performing Arc Flash Calculations," provides the formulas necessary for analyzing arc flash hazards.

Arc Flash Codes in Other Countries

Canada does not currently have an electrical safety code comparable to NFPA 70E; however, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is in the process of creating a standard, CSA-z462, which will be available by early 2009.

In Europe, the standards published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in IEC 298 are widely referenced.

Throughout the rest of the world, either NFPA 70E or IEC 298 standards may be followed.

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