Short Circuit, Coordination, and Arc Flash Studies
FAQ
What are short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies?
Short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies are a suite of interconnected electrical engineering analyses that assess the safety and performance of your electrical protection system. A short circuit study calculates the maximum fault current at each point in your system. A coordination study ensures your protective devices operate in the correct sequence during a fault. An arc flash study calculates the incident energy released during an arc flash event at each piece of equipment. Together these three studies provide a complete picture of your system’s protection and the hazards your workers face when interacting with energized equipment.
Why are short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies important?
These studies are essential for protecting both personnel and equipment. Without them, you cannot know whether your protective devices are adequately rated for the fault currents in your system, whether they will operate correctly during a fault, or what level of PPE your workers need when working on energized equipment. Facilities with energized electrical equipment that have not completed these studies are exposed to significant safety, regulatory, and insurance risk.
Are arc flash studies required by law?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 requires employers to assess workplace hazards and provide appropriate PPE — which includes arc flash hazards. NFPA 70E provides the industry-accepted methodology for meeting this obligation and is regularly cited by OSHA as the recognized standard of care for electrical safety. Facilities with energized electrical equipment are strongly advised to have a current arc flash study on file to demonstrate compliance.
What does Bopat Electric's arc flash study deliverable package include?
Bopat Electric provides a complete arc flash study deliverable package including a detailed engineering report, updated single line diagrams, incident energy calculations for each piece of equipment, arc flash boundary determinations, PPE requirement classifications, and arc flash labels for installation on all assessed equipment. The report gives your team the information needed to work safely on your electrical system and demonstrates compliance with NFPA 70E.
What is the difference between a short circuit study and a coordination study?
A short circuit study determines the maximum fault current available at each point in your electrical system, ensuring all protective devices are rated to safely interrupt those currents. A coordination study analyzes the time-current characteristics of your protective devices — breakers, fuses, and relays — to ensure they operate in the correct sequence during a fault, isolating only the affected portion of the system while keeping the rest in service. Both studies are typically performed together as they use the same system model and data.
How often should these studies be updated?
NFPA 70E recommends that arc flash studies be reviewed and updated whenever significant changes are made to the electrical system — such as adding or removing equipment, changing utility service, or modifying protective device settings. As a general best practice, studies should be reviewed at least every five years. Bopat Electric can assess whether your existing study is current or requires updating.
Where does Bopat Electric provide short circuit, coordination, and arc flash study services?
Bopat Electric provides these engineering studies throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, and through the BCES Global network of subsidiary companies, across the rest of North America.
How do I arrange a short circuit, coordination, and arc flash study with Bopat Electric?
Contact Bopat Electric at our Columbia office at 410-995-1715 or our Frederick office at 301-694-3726, or reach us through the request form at bopatelectric.com. Our engineering team will assess your facility’s electrical system and provide a scoped proposal for a complete study and labeling program.