Internal Arc Risk Mitigation Tools for Enhanced Safety and Reliability

Abstract

Low voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies complying with IEC 61439 standards ensure a high level of safety and reliability for its end users. However, a remote possibility of an internal arc fault still exists and hence it is essential to employ risk mitigation tools to enhance safety and reliability. Standard bodies like IEC, IEEE, NFPA etc. provide several methods for making the switchgear assembly more robust from an internal arc standpoint. These include IEC TR 61641, IEEE1584 and NFPA 70E which are a set of available guides and standards. Besides compliance with these standards, several tools are available to mitigate the risk of an internal arc and its associated effects. Here we shall elaborate on the tools that can be used in combination, for reducing the risk associated with an internal arc fault event.