Frequently Asked Questions: Arc Flash Studies and Electrical Safety

Question 1

How much does an arc flash study cost?

Accepted Answer

Arc flash study costs vary based on facility size, equipment count, geographic location, and the scope of deliverables included. For most industrial and commercial facilities, pricing ranges from a few thousand dollars for smaller sites to tens of thousands for large, complex operations with high equipment density. Key variables include the number of panels and equipment points to be evaluated, whether utility data collection is required, and whether label installation and employee training are included in the scope. Herzig Engineering provides upfront, transparent pricing with no hidden fees and delivers most quotes within one to two business days.

Question 2

What does NFPA 70E require for electrical safety in the workplace?

Accepted Answer

NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, establishes the requirements for safe work practices that protect workers from electrical hazards including arc flash and electric shock. The standard requires employers to perform arc flash risk assessments and shock risk assessments before any energized electrical work is performed, provide workers with appropriate PPE, maintain a written electrical safety program, and keep documented worker training records. Equipment must also be labeled with arc flash hazard information so workers have the data they need to select the correct protection before opening any panel.

Question 3

How do you read an arc flash label?

Accepted Answer

Arc flash labels contain critical safety information that workers must understand before performing energized electrical work. A standard label includes the equipment voltage, the incident energy level (measured in cal/cm²), the working distance used in the analysis, the arc flash boundary, a site-specific level of PPE, and the date the study was performed. The incident energy level and site-specific PPE level are the most important factors: they tell the worker exactly which protective gear must be worn for that specific piece of equipment before energized work begins. Labels that are missing fields, illegible, or do not reflect the current state of your system are non-compliant.

Question 4

What are the NFPA 70E requirements for arc flash labels?

Accepted Answer

NFPA 70E requires that electrical equipment likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized be marked with arc flash hazard information. Labels must give workers enough information to identify the hazard and select the correct PPE before beginning work, which typically means including the rated voltage, the incident energy level, arc flash boundary, required PPE category, working distance, and the study date. Equipment with labels that do not reflect the current state of your electrical system is considered non-compliant under NFPA 70E, since any system change can alter incident energy levels and invalidate existing label data.

Question 5

What types of facilities need an arc flash study?

Accepted Answer

Any facility where workers perform examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance on energized electrical equipment is required to conduct an arc flash study under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.333 and NFPA 70E. This includes manufacturing and industrial plants, food processing facilities, hospitals and healthcare campuses, universities, data centers, water treatment plants, warehouses, and commercial buildings with three-phase electrical systems. The requirement applies regardless of company size or industry: if your workers interact with energized electrical equipment, a current arc flash study is not optional. Facilities that have never had a study or have not updated theirs in several years are likely operating with documented compliance gaps.

Question 6

How long does an arc flash study take?

Accepted Answer

The timeline for an arc flash study depends on facility size, equipment density, and scheduling availability for the onsite data collection visit and engineering review. For a 300,000 sq ft facility with a moderate equipment count, Herzig Engineering's arc flash studies typically run three to six months from start to finish. Larger or more complex sites may take longer, while smaller facilities are often completed more quickly. The process moves fastest when the client is available during data collection and participates in the review step, where accuracy of the model is verified before any labels are produced.

Question 7

How often should infrared inspections be done?

Accepted Answer

NFPA 70B, the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, recommends annual infrared inspections for most electrical equipment as part of a comprehensive preventive maintenance program. High-load, aging, or critical electrical systems may require more frequent inspections to reliably detect developing issues before they escalate into failures. Many property insurance carriers also require current infrared inspection reports as a condition of coverage for electrical equipment. Herzig Engineering recommends pairing annual infrared inspections with an up-to-date arc flash study for a complete picture of your electrical system's current condition and potential hazards.

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