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HOW TO REDUCE THE RISKS OF ARC FLASH INCIDENTS IN THE DATA CENTER aAbstract
IMPROVING SAFETY IN THE DATA CENTER BY UTILIZING ELECTRICAL BUSWAY ARCHITECTURE , OCPDS , AND ARC FLASH HAZARD STUDIES
Arc flashes are a dangerous on-the-job hazard in data centers . An arc flash occurs when electricity jumps , or arcs , between conductors . This can trigger an explosion that can kill or severely injure electricians and other workers , and cause major damage to a facility . However , data center owners can mitigate and significantly reduce the potential for arc flashes through a variety of methods . These include ( 1 ) better , safer design and engineering of power distribution architectures ( 2 ) use of Overcurrent Protection Devices ( OCPDs ) to stop fault currents ( 3 ) performing an arc flash hazard study in your facility , and ( 4 ) knowing the right Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) that workers must use when working on electrical equipment where an arc flash is possible .
Introduction
Arc flashes are one of the most dangerous on-thejob hazards that electrical workers face . An arc flash explosion can kill or severely injure workers , and cause massive damage in any facility that utilizes high amounts of electricity , especially in data centers .
An arc flash occurs when a high-amperage fault current jumps , or arcs , through the air to the ground , or from one conductor to another . This can result in an explosion of heat and light that instantly releases tremendous amounts of energy . Arc flash temperatures can exceed 35,000 ° F ( 19,400 ° C ) – four times the temperature of the sun ’ s surface – causing potentially fatal burns or skin damage to anyone in a close proximity .
An arc flash also triggers an arc blast , which vaporizes the conductors and sends out an explosion of molten metal , shrapnel , and expanding plasma . Debris from an arc blast can travel at speeds of 700 MPH , which can kill or severely injure anyone in the blast vicinity . Also , the arc blast produces a concussion noise of up to 1.6 decibels , which may result in hearing damage or loss to workers in the facility .
Arc flash accidents are often triggered by a worker touching a test probe to a live electrical surface , or
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