Software calculates degree of arc-flash hazard.
Press Release Summary:
Arc-Flash Calculator Program helps electricians and plant engineers protect employees by determining degree of arc-flash hazard in facility. It calculates incident energy, minimum required level of personal protective equipment (PPE), and flash protection boundary for every area within facility where workers might be exposed to electrically energized system components. It includes pull-down menus, default values, and PPE reference tables.
Original Press Release:
Littelfuse Introduces Arc-Flash Hazard Calculator
Des Plaines, Illinois, February 9, 2004, The POWR-GARD division of Littelfuse, Inc (NASDAQ/NMS: LFUS) introduces an Arc-Flash Calculator Program. The calculator helps electricians and plant engineers protect their employee's by determining the degree of arc-flash hazard in their facility. The program calculates the incident energy, minimum required level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Flash Protection Boundary. For every area within a facility that a worker might be exposed to electrically energized (hot) system components, the user is asked to provide the rating (or standard amp rating) of the overcurrent protective device, system voltage, Arc gap (distance between energized conductors or between energized conductors and ground), fault current, and distance to Arc (the measure of the receiving surface to the Arc center). With all of these measurements entered into the calculator, the user can simply click "solve" and the Arc-Flash calculator automatically supplies the incident energy level (calculated in energy calories per centimeter squared), Flash Protection Boundary (inches) and the minimum level of PPE (personal protective equipment) needed to protect a worker from Arc-Flash hazards.
The Littelfuse Arc-Flash Calculator was developed based on IEEE formulas and test data found in IEEE 1584 "Guide For Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations". The Littelfuse calculator includes calculation modules for fuses and circuit breakers as well as pull-down menus and default values to assist the user. An overview of terms and definitions, PPE reference tables and a list of resources are also included. The program even contains a link to the Littelfuse Whitepaper "Understanding and Reducing Arc-Flash Hazards.
Protecting your facility with the correct current-limiting fuse will significantly reduce Arc-Flash hazards. Littelfuse fuses provide unsurpassed protection to circuits 600 Amps and below. While there is no circuit protection device available that can completely eliminate arc-flash hazards, using the correct fuse for the application will reduce the hazards, simplify the selection of PPE and improve safety for your workers.
For more information on the Littelfuse Arc-Flash Calculator, or to find out more about potential Arc-Flash hazards, contact the POWR-GARD Division of Littelfuse, Inc., 800 E. Northwest Highway, Des Plaines, Illinois, 60016; 1-800-TEC-FUSE (phone), 1-800-522-POWR (Fax), or visit the Littelfuse web site at www.littelfuse.com.
Littelfuse is a global company offering the broadest line of circuit protection products in the industry. In addition to its Des Plaines world headquarters, Littelfuse has manufacturing facilities in England, Ireland, Switzerland, Mexico, China and the Philippines, as well as in Des Plaines and Arcola, Illinois and Irving, Texas. It also has sales, engineering and distribution facilities in the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Brazil.
