Schneider ArcFlash EGuide FINAL

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1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats Changed
Arc Energy Reduction
in Section 240.87 Regarding

3. NEC Section 240.87
Acceptable Methods
for Arc Energy Reduction
4. Meeting the Spirit And
Not Just the Letter of

Arc Flash Energy Reduction
Requirements
5. Learn More About Arc Flash

Energy Reduction
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What You Need to Know About
NEC 240.87
2015 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved.
Introduction
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Changed in Section 240.87
Regarding Arc Energy
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
4. Meeting the Spirit
And Not Just the Letter
of Arc Flash Energy
Reduction Requirements
5. Learn More About Arc
Flash Energy Reduction
With the release of the 2014 National Electrical

Code (NEC ), electrical-system designers and
installers now are required to address potential arc
flash hazards directly in a broader range of projects
and applications. Section 240.87 of the NEC
now requires arc-energy reduction for all circuit
breakers that are rated or can be adjusted to 1200
amps (A) or higher the 2011 NEC only required
such protection with circuit breakers lacking an
instantaneous trip function. As a result, system
designers need to be more aware of allowable
means for reducing arc energy, along with possible
resulting tradeoffs in ongoing system performance.
The revised Section 240.87 offers a similar list of
options for reducing arc energy that was referenced
in the 2011 NEC, including:
Zone-selective interlocking
Differential Relaying
Energy-reducing maintenance switches
Energy-reducing active arc flash mitigation
systems (added in 2014)
An approved equivalent means (such as an
instantaneous trip function)
Some of these options can be more likely than
others to impact selective coordination within
electrical systems. And the protected zones they
create can vary, with some only protecting the
connected equipment, while others stretch to
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Consider how your design and specification decisions can reduce

the occurrence of dangerous arc flash incidents.
downstream equipment, as well.

With this EGuide, we hope to encourage you to
think beyond simply meeting the letter of NEC
240.87s specific requirements, to consider how
your design and specification decisions can truly
reduce the potential occurrence of dangerous arc
flash incidents.
Read on to learn more about the recently updated
requirements and how to determine the true scope of
an arc flash hazard as it might present itself in the daily
work and maintenance activities of a facilitys staff.
*National Electrical Code and NEC are both registered trademarks of the
National Fire Protection Association.
2
NEC 2014 Whats Changed in Section 240.87

Regarding Arc Energy Reduction
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
The need to protect workers from the hazards

of arc flash has been understood for decades
the National Fire Protection Associations
Standard NFPA 70E first addressed the issue
in its guidelines for safety boundaries and
maintenance practices (including personal

Acceptable Methods
This section was first introduced in the 2011 NEC,

following a proposal seeking to address hazards
that can arise in some selective-coordination
plans incorporating short-time delay. Shorttime delay slows the opening of an upstream
circuit breaker to provide time for a downstream
overcurrent device to clear a short-circuit. A
dangerous situation can arise, though, when
a short occurs between the two overcurrent
devices, because the delayed tripping of the
upstream circuit breaker will enable more letthrough energy than would have occurred if that
circuit breaker utilized an instantaneous trip.

of Arc Flash Energy
An even broader range of installations will be required to

incorporate arc energy reduction strategies.
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protective equipment) in 1995. More recently,

though, the role electrical equipment, itself, can
play in minimizing arc flash hazards has become
an important concern. The type of equipment
specified, and where in an electrical system its
installed, can significantly reduce the duration of
an arc flash incident, which is the key factor in
reducing potential hazards, a fact the National
Electrical Code (NEC) now is targeting directly in
Section 240.87.
So, to address these hazards, the 2011 NEC

incorporated the new section 240.87 Noninstantaneous Trip to deal specifically with those
situations in which a circuit breaker without an
instantaneous trip function was used. In this initial
iteration, documentation was required to point
3
NEC 2014 Whats Changed in Section 240.87

Regarding Arc Energy Reduction (cont.)
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
out where those circuit breakers were located,

along with the use of one of the following (or an
approved equivalent means):
Zone-selective interlocking
Differential relaying
Energy-reducing maintenance switching with a
local-status indicator
allowable solutions in this section and this white

paper can help. Additionally, Schneider Electric
professionals are active participants in code
development and can help with your project
planning to help ensure both compliance and
safety learn more on our website.
The 2014 NEC has taken these concerns a

step further, as reflected in Section 240.87s
new name Arc Energy Reduction. Now, arc
energy reduction is required where the trip unit
in a circuit breaker is rated or can be adjusted
to 1200 amps or higher (the same level at which
Section 230.95 requires ground-fault protection
of equipment) and not just where noninstantaneous trips are involved. This means that
even though an electronic trip circuit breaker with
a 1200 A sensor has its current rating switch set
to, for example, 0.75 (or 900 A), it will still require
an arc energy-reduction means. A new allowable
arc energy-reduction method was added to the
2011 list, an energy-reducing active arc flash
mitigation system.
Now, an even broader range of installations will
be required to incorporate arc energy reduction
strategies. If youre involved in designing and
installing affected electrical systems, youll need
to acquaint yourself with the technicalities of the
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4
NEC Section 240.87 Acceptable Methods

1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
With the introduction of the updated 2014 NEC

Section 240.87, electrical designers now must
incorporate some means of reducing the clearing
time of any potential arc fault in installations
involving overcurrent devices that are rated, or can
be adjusted to, 1200 amps or higher. The revised
section outlines five clearing options for engineers
and contractors involved in such installations, and
here we provide a brief overview of these options.
Differential relaying
This approach incorporates current transformers
on both line and load sides of protected
Zone selective Interlocking

Zone selective interlocking (ZSI) uses wired
connections between circuit breaker electronictrip units and ground-fault or protective relays to
create a protected zone between these connected
devices. As a result, this approach provides
selective-coordination benefits, while enabling
rapid tripping when faults occur within a protected
zone.
Pros:
ZSI is available on low- and medium-voltage
equipment, and it can be applied for both
phase- and ground-fault protection.
Works automatically no operator intervention
is required
Cons:
Does not work with thermal-magnetic circuit
breakers
Only works with electronic trip units and relays
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Electrical designers now incorporate some means of reducing the

clearing time of potential arc fault in installations involving overcurrent devices rated 1200 amps or higher.
5

for Arc Energy Reduction (cont.)
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
equipment, combined with a fast-acting relay

and a shunt trip on a circuit breaker or switch.
The transformers monitor current flow to ensure
it is equal on both sides of the protected
equipment, activating the shunt trip if that
flow falls out of equilibrium. This approach is
most often used at medium voltage because
of its space requirements and added wiring
complexity.
Pros:
Differential relays are very sensitive to bus
faults, but they are immune to load inrushes
or pass-through faults

Provides fast fault-clearing, without sacrificing

coordination
No operator intervention required
Cons:
Less common at low-voltage, due to added
space requirements for relay-class current
transformers
At low voltage, the costs are substantial when
compared to the cost of base equipment

Energy-reducing maintenance switching with
local status indicator
An energy-reducing maintenance switch
temporarily reduces pickup and/or time-delay
settings, so the connected electronic trip unit or
protective relay will operate faster even, possibly,
enabling a faster acting instantaneous trip function
should an arc fault occur while workers are
within a protective zone.
Pros:
Systems are simple to install and use
Protection zones may extend beyond the next
downstream overcurrent protective device
(OCPD)
When considering mitigation options, designers need to

investigate the extent of protection each device or design strategy
offers.
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Cons:
Requires additional steps in live-work
procedures
Not automatic - requires operator intervention in
6

for Arc Energy Reduction (cont.)
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
order to work, and to return operation to normal

state
May compromise coordination
Energy-reducing active arc flash mitigation
system
These systems reduce arcing duration by causing
an upstream circuit breaker to open more rapidly
(perhaps using relays that sense light, current
or other fault parameter) or by creating a lowimpedance current path. The most common
method for creating a low-impedance current path
is often called a crow bar switch, located within
a controlled compartment when this switch
closes, arch fault current transfers to a new current
path while the upstream circuit breaker clears the
fault. This approach can be implemented without
compromising existing selective coordination plans.
Pros:
Automatic no operator intervention required
Can reduce damage to equipment during an
arcing fault event, making for significantly lower
life-cycle costs
accomplishes the same function as the above four

options that is, it causes the circuit breaker or
switch to open instantaneously should an arc flash
occur so it falls into the category of approved
equivalent means. An instantaneous trip function,
whether it is field adjustable or a nonadjustable
override-style feature, can reduce arc energy if its
pickup point is set below the prospective arc fault
current.
Pros:
Nothing extra to buy, and no added space
requirements
Protection zone may extend beyond the next
downstream OCPD
Automatic no operator intervention required
Each of these options has tradeoffs in cost,
space requirements and operational efficiency.
Schneider Electric offers resources to help learn
more about which solution might be best for your
applications. To learn if the 2014 NEC has been
adopted, yet, in your state, you can check our
interactive NEC Code Adoption Map.
Cons:
High initial cost
Space requirements
An approved equivalent means
An instantaneous trip function on a circuit breaker
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7
Meeting the Spirit And Not Just the Letter

of Arc Flash Energy Reduction Requirements
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
Meeting the letter of the revised Section 240.87

in the 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC) is
relatively easy specifying and installing one
of the outlined solutions will meet its stated
requirements. But meeting the spirit of the code by
truly achieving a real improvement in worker safety
requires careful thought to how facility distribution
systems are engineered.
Design decisions made at the engineering
stage can make a real difference in reducing
the likelihood of any incident occurring in the
first place, and address both the letter and
spirit of the revised section. An engineeringbased approach is more effective than personal
protective equipment because it reduces the
actual hazard level. Engineering controls also are
more effective than administrative controls and
warnings because they often dont rely only on
workers following proper procedures and safe
work practices.
Back to basics
When faults do occur, the key to reducing potential
harm is to reduce the duration of the fault. As the
arc flash equations in the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers Standard 1584-2002
illustrate, arc flash incident energy varies linearly
with time; so, if you cut fault duration by half, you
also cut available energy in half. Overcurrent
protective devices (OCPDs) are designed to
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rapidly clear faults to limit available energy within

a related protected zone the challenge for
engineers designing such protection is to correctly
match an OCPD specification to the real-world
protection needs of a clients facility.
Meeting this challenge requires an understanding of:
1. How much protection is required; and
2. The extent of the zone of protection each
mitigation strategy offers.
An arc flash study should be the first step in this
process. It is the only way to understand the level
of a prospective arcing fault current. Such a study
should be conducted using the calculations in the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Standard 1584, Guide for Performing Arc Flash
Hazard Calculations.
Then, when considering mitigation options,
designers need to investigate the extent of
protection each device or design strategy offers.
In other words, will the selected means really
provide protection where its needed and is
protection restricted to the equipment where the
reduction means is located, or does it extend to
downstream equipment, as well? Remember that
future maintenance requirements might place
workers at risk outside the protected zone or could
expose workers to energized conductors outside
8
Meeting the Spirit And Not Just the Letter

of Arc Flash Energy Reduction Requirements (cont.)
Learning more
Arc flash is a serious hazard, and reducing its
risks can be a complicated problem. Schneider
Electric can provide technical assistance with both
arc-flash hazard studies and in understanding the
protected zones created by specific mitigation
options. And find a range of additional resources
for consulting engineers at www.schneiderelectric.us/consulting-engineers.
1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
Design decisions made at the engineering stage can make a real

difference in reducing the likelihood of any arc flash incident.
the protected zone, as with the line-side terminals

on a main circuit breaker.
Answering this second question may lead
system designers to take a serious look at the
physical location of hazard zones in relation to
each other, in order to reduce potential hazards
even further. For example, questions could arise
regarding group-mounted UL panelboards and
switchboards in such installations, can the
means be effectively located on the main device?
Mounting the main circuit breaker separately,
instead, could provide an inherently safer design,
regardless of the selected OCPD.
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9
Learn More About Arc Flash Energy Reduction

1. Introduction
2. NEC 2014 Whats
Reduction
Acceptable Methods
of Arc Flash Energy
The 2014 revision of NEC Section 240.87 brings

a new degree of attention to reducing arc flash
energy in a broad range of facilities. It also has the
potential to raise numerous questions for electrical
system designers. Schneider Electric can help,
with information, products and professional
assistance to address arc flash concerns, as well
as selective coordination and other code and
safety issues you might be facing.
Additional resources
White paper:
Arc Flash Analysis: IEEE
Method versus the NFPA 70E
Tables
Video:
Strengthening How
We Work Together:
Schneider Electric &
Consulting Engineers
Video:
LayoutFAST: Revit
Plug In for Engineers
& Designers
White paper:
Mitigating Arc Flash Hazards
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Explore our white papers, technical articles and

other resources and contact our staff experts
through our Consulting Engineer Portal.
Article:
(technical article
reprinted from IAEI News,
December 2014)
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Arc Energy Reduction

in Section 240.87 Regarding

3. NEC Section 240.87

4. Meeting the Spirit And

Not Just the Letter of

5. Learn More About Arc Flash

What You Need to Know About

2015 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved.

With the release of the 2014 National Electrical

Consider how your design and specification decisions can reduce

downstream equipment, as well.

NEC 2014 Whats Changed in Section 240.87

The need to protect workers from the hazards

3. NEC Section 240.87

This section was first introduced in the 2011 NEC,

4. Meeting the Spirit

An even broader range of installations will be required to

protective equipment) in 1995. More recently,

So, to address these hazards, the 2011 NEC

NEC 2014 Whats Changed in Section 240.87

out where those circuit breakers were located,

allowable solutions in this section and this white

The 2014 NEC has taken these concerns a

NEC Section 240.87 Acceptable Methods

With the introduction of the updated 2014 NEC

Zone selective Interlocking

Electrical designers now incorporate some means of reducing the

NEC Section 240.87 Acceptable Methods

equipment, combined with a fast-acting relay

5. Learn More About Arc

Provides fast fault-clearing, without sacrificing

When considering mitigation options, designers need to

NEC Section 240.87 Acceptable Methods

order to work, and to return operation to normal

accomplishes the same function as the above four

Meeting the Spirit And Not Just the Letter

Meeting the letter of the revised Section 240.87

rapidly clear faults to limit available energy within

Meeting the Spirit And Not Just the Letter

Design decisions made at the engineering stage can make a real

the protected zone, as with the line-side terminals

Learn More About Arc Flash Energy Reduction

The 2014 revision of NEC Section 240.87 brings

Explore our white papers, technical articles and

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