Ferraz Shawmut Arc Flash Research Earns Top Paper at PPIC Conference


NEWBURYPORT, Mass., Aug. 12, 2008 - Ferraz Shawmut, a global leader in the field of circuit protection, and Neal Associates, Ltd., recently presented two insightful papers, and one was named the first place paper at the at the 54th Pulp and Paper Industry technical conference. The conference was held June 22 to 27, in Seattle, Wash.

The first paper, Effect of Insulating Barriers in Arc Flash Testing, authored by R. Wilkins, M. Allison and M. Lang of Ferraz Shawmut, documented Ferraz Shawmut's research findings regarding low-voltage arc flash testing using the standard IEEE 1584 test procedure, but with the electrode tips terminated in an insulating barrier instead of in the open air.

Testing components such as power distribution blocks, fuse holders and circuit breakers with the line-side arcing faults was compared to that of the barrier test. The insulating material, a solid 200mm x 27mm x 51mm block of glass-reinforced melamine, was selected for its ability to withstand high electromagnetic forces. High-speed video documented the differences in arc development with and without the barrier.

"This test configuration was designed to be more representative of equipment in low-voltage industrial control panels and MCCs. Measurements of incident energy from this configuration yielded results as alarming as those from the research into horizontal electrodes discussed in our 2005 paper," said Mike Lang, field engineer manager at Ferraz Shawmut.

Based on its research, Ferraz Shawmut recommended that the barrier test be incorporated into future revisions of the IEEE 1584 testing standard. This would be in addition to a horizontal arrangement with open electrode tips pointing at the calorimeters. Findings indicated that adding an insulating barrier to the standard test set-up could be advantageous, since the barrier allows sustained arcing at 208V.

The second paper, titled The Impact of Arc Flash Test Conditions on the Arc Rating of PPE, was authored primarily by Dr. Thomas Neal and documented research at the Ferraz Shawmut high power test lab on the impact of the above arc testing configurations on the arc rating of personal protective equipment (PPE). Dr. Neal's findings included research on the convective and radiant arc flash heat transfer process through arc rated protective clothing and equipment. The effective arc rating of modified PPE designs in high convective heat exposures was also discussed. Dr. Neal recommended PPE selections for high convective energy arc flash exposures and a path forward to address the results of this arc testing research.

For more information on arc flash testing, contact Ferraz Shawmut at info@ferrazshawmut.com, or download the complete paper as a PDF file from the Arc Flash Info Center at ferrazshawmut.com/arcflash.

Thomas E. Neal, PhD is president and principal consultant for Neal Associates Ltd. An IEEE senior member, Neal is chair of ASTM F23 Committee on Protective Clothing and Equipment, chair of ASTM E54.04 Home Land Security Subcommittee on PPE and leader of ASTM F18.65 Task Groups on Arc Resistant Protective Clothing and Equipment.

Ferraz Shawmut has been a leader in circuit protection for industry and the electrical market for more than 100 years. With a complete line of current-limiting fuses and accessories, Ferraz Shawmut prides itself on delivering innovative, problem-solving products like the Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor (TPMOV), the SmartSpot® open-fuse indicator, Amp-Trap 2000® fuses, ULTRASAFE(TM) fuse holders, Protistor® semiconductor fuses and Select-A-Fuse® software. Two of the company's latest innovations are its new line of Amp-Trap® High-Speed Class J (HSJ) fuses, engineered specifically for the protection of today's sensitive electronic motor controllers, and the industry's first line of Finger-Safe Power Distribution Blocks (FSPDBs), delivering the ultimate in safety and ease-of-use when making power connections in electrical panels. Ferraz Shawmut, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Carbone Lorraine Groupe.

For more information, contact the company by phone at (978) 462-6662 or visit us.ferrazshawmut.com.

FROM: Ferraz Shawmut
374 Merrimac St.
Newburyport, MA 01950

CONTACT: Mike Lang
(770) 740-1315

AGENCY CONTACT:
Carri Gregorski
(315) 413-4286
cgregorski@mower.com

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