1. NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
Overview of Major 2015 Changes

2. The 2015 Has Arrived!
The NFPA 70E was first published in 1979 at the request of OSHA.
The 2015 Edition is the tenth to be published.
Each edition is made to bring clarification and a safer work environment.
The 2015 edition brings in some major changes.

3. Global Changes 2012 Edition 2015 Edition Harm
Injury or Damage to Health
Probablility
Likelihood
Work Shoes
Footwear
Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
Arc Flash Risk Assessment
Shock Hazard Analysis
Shock Risk Assessment

4. Global Changes
These Global Changes provide accuracy and better harmonize with other standards addressing risk and hazards

5. Definitions
Qualified Person. One who has demonstrated skills and knowledge related to the construc- tion and operation of electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training to identify and avoid the hazards involved.
Risk. A combination of the likelihood of occurrence of injury or damage to health and the severity of injury or damage to health that results from a hazard.

6. Definitions
Risk Assessment. An overall process that identifies hazards, estimates the potential severity of injury or damage to health, estimates the likelihood of occurrence of injury or damage to health, and determines if protective measures are required.
InformationalNote: As used in this standard, arc flash risk assessment and shock risk assessment are types of risk assessments.

7. Article 110.1(A) Electrical Safety Program.
General. The employer shall implement and document an overall electrical safety program that directs activity appropriate to the risk associated with electrical hazards. The electrical safety program shall be implemented as part of the employer’s overall occupational health and safety management system, when one exists.
Informational Note No. 1: Safety-related work practices such as verification of proper maintenance and installation, alerting techniques, auditing requirements, and training requirements provided in this standard are administrative controls and part of an overall electrical safety program.

8. Article 110.1(B) Electrical Safety Program.
Maintenance.The electrical safety program shall include elements that consider condition of maintenance of electrical equipment and systems.

9. Article 110.2(C)(1) Training Requirements Emergency Response Training
Contact Release. Employees exposed to shock hazards shall be trained in methods of safe release of victims from contact with exposed energized electri- cal conductors or circuit parts. Refresher training shall occur annually.

10. Article 110.2(C)(2) First Aid, Emergency Response, and Resuscitation
Training Requirements
First Aid, Emergency Response, and Resuscitation
(a)  Employees responsible for responding to medical emergencies shall be trained in first aid and emer- gency procedures. (b)  Employees responsible for responding to medical emergencies shall be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Refresher training shall occur annually. (c)  Employees responsible for responding to medical emergencies shall be trained in the use of an auto- mated external defibrilator (AED) if an employer’s emergency response plan includes the use of this device. Refresher training shall occur annually.
Employers shall verify at least annually that employee training required by this section is current.

11. Article 130.2(A)(4) This was added in the 2015 Text:
Normal Operation: Normal operation of electrical equipment shall be permitted where all of the following conditions are satisfied:
The equipment is properly installed.
The equipment is properly maintained.
The equipment doors are closed and secured.
All equipment covers are in place and secured.
There is no evidence
**This is in accordance with manufacturer and industry codes and standards. Physical damage, arcing, deterioration, and overheating are all signs of impending failure.

12. Article 130.2(B)(1) Energized Electrical Work Permits
When Required: When energized work is permitted in accordance with 130.2(A), and energized electrical work permit shall be required under the following conditions:
When work is performed within the restricted approach boundary
When the employee interacts with the equipment when conductors or circuit parts are not exposed but an increased likelihood of injury from an exposure to an arc flash hazard exists.

13. Article 130.2(B)(3) Energized Electrical Work Permits
Exemptions to Work Permit: An energized work permit shall not be required if a qualified person is provided with and uses appropriate safe work practices and PPE under any of the following conditions:
Testing, troubleshooting,and voltage measuring
Thermography and visual inspections if the restricted approach boundary is not crossed
Access and egress from an area with energized electrical equipment if no electrical work is performed and the restricted approach boundary is not crossed
General housekeeping and miscellaneous non-electrical tasks if the restricted approach boundary is not crossed.

14. Article 130.4(A) Shock Risk Assessment:
A shock risk assessment shall determine the voltage to which personnel will be exposed, the boundary requirements, and the PPE necessary in order to minimize the possibility of electric shock to personnel.

15. Shock Protection Boundaries
Restricted
Approach
Boundary
Prohibited
Approach
Boundary
Limited
Approach
Boundary

16. 2015 Boundaries Exposed Energized Conductor or Circuit Part
Arc Flash Boundary
Exposed Energized Conductor or Circuit Part
Limited Approach Boundary
Limited Space
Restricted Approach Boundary
Restricted Space
2015 Boundaries

17. Table 130.4(D)(a)
Approach Boundaries for Shock Protection for Alternating Current Systems
Nominal System Voltage Range, Phase to Phase
Limited Approach Boundary
Movement Adder
Conductor
Part
<50V
Not specified
50 V – 150 V
3.0 m (10 ft 0 in)
1.0 m (3 ft 6 in)
Avoid contact
151 V – 750 V
0.3 m (1 ft 0 in)
751 V – 15 kV
1.5 m (5 ft 0 in)
0.7 m (2 ft 2 in)
15.1 kV – 36 kV
1.8 m (6 ft 0 in)
0.8 m (2 ft 7 in)
36.1 kV – 46 kV
2.5 m (8 ft 0 in)
0.8 m (2 ft 9 in)
46.1 kV – 72.5 kV
1.0 m (3 ft 3 in)
72.6 kV – 121 kV
3.3 m (10 ft 8 in)
1.0 m (3 ft 4 in)
138 kV – 145 kV
3.4 m (11 ft 0 in)
1.2 m (3 ft 10 in)
161 kV – 169 kV
3.6 m (11 ft 8 in)
1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
230 kV – 242 kV
4.0 m (13 ft 0 in)
1.7 m (5 ft 8 in)
345 kV – 362 kV
4.7 m (15 ft 4 in)
2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
500 kV – 550 kV
5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
765 kV – 800 kV
7.2 m (23 ft 9 in)
4.9 m (15 ft 11 in)

18. Article 130.5
Arc Flash Risk Assessment: An arc flash risk assessment shall be performed and shall:
Determine if an arc flash hazard exists. If an arc flash hazard exists, the risk assessment shall determine:
Appropriate safety-related work practices
The arc flash boundary
The PPE to be used within the arc flash boundary
Updated with major modifications and reviewed periodically, at intervals not to exceed 5 yrs.
Take into consideration the design of the overcorrect protective device and its opening time, including its condition of maintenance.
Informational Note No. 1: Where equipment is not properly installed or maintained, PPE selection based upon incident energy analysis or the PPE category method may not provide adequate protection from arc flash hazards.

19. Article 130.5(C)
Arc Flash PPE: One of the following methods shall be used for the selection of PPE. Either, but not both, methods shall be permitted to be used on the same piece of equipment. The results of an incident energy analysis to specify an arc flash PPE Category in Table 130.7(C)(16) shall not be permitted.
Incident Energy Analysis Method.
Arc Flash PPE Categories Method.

20. Hazard Risk Categories
HRC #1
4 cal/cm2 Min.
HRC #0
(100% Natural Fibers):
HRC #2
8 cal/cm2 Min.
HRC #3
25 cal/cm2 Min.
HRC #4
40 cal/cm2 Min.
Hazard Risk Categories
PPE Categories
PPEC #0
PPEC # Cal/cm2
PPEC # Cal/cm2
PPEC # Cal/cm2
PPEC # Cal/cm2

21. Arc-Rated vs. Flame-Resistant
Protective equipment and clothing that is intended for protection from an arcing fault must be rated by the manufacturer for use in an environment influenced by an electrical arc. Although the term flame resistant (FR) has been used in previous editions of NFPA 70E, an FR marking on a garment does not necessarily mean it is arc rated. The term flame resistant is no longer used in NFPA 70E; this change has been made to clarify that only clothing or other PPE with an arc rating is acceptable for protecting persons against arc flash hazards. The term flame resistant could indicate exposure to other events such as flames from a fire. As an example, FR clothing for race car drivers or pilots is not suitable for arc flash protection. Arc-rated clothing is the only clothing marked with the cal/cm2 rating.

22. Article 130.5(D)
Equipment Labeling: Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers that are in other than dwell- ing units and that are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall be field-marked with a label containing all the following information:
Nominal System Voltage
Arc Flash Boundary
At least one of the following:
Available incident energy and the corresponding working distance, or the arc flash PPE category for the equipment, but not both
Minimum arc rating of clothing
Site-specific level of PPE

23. Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Appropriate PPE Required
Article 130.5(D)
WARNING
Equipment Bus: PAINT ROOM MCC-1
Lockout Device: MDP-1 3B
Date: 1/1/14
Reference Document: IEEE Std 1584 through 1584b-2011
PPE: Reference NFPA 70E-2012 Table (C)(16) #2
Nominal System Voltage 480V
Arc Flash Boundary 38”
Limited Approach Boundary 42”
Restricted Approach Boundary 12”
Prohibited Approach Boundary 1”
Hazard Risk
18”
Arc Flash and Shock Hazard
Appropriate PPE Required

24. Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Appropriate PPE Required
Article 130.5(D)
WARNING
Equipment Bus: PAINT ROOM MCC-1
Lockout Device: MDP-1 3B
Date: 1/1/14
Reference Document: IEEE Std 1584 through 1584b-2011
PPE: Reference NFPA 70E-2012 Table (C)(16)
6.5
Nominal System Voltage 480V
Arc Flash Boundary 38”
Limited Approach Boundary 42”
Restricted Approach Boundary 12”
Prohibited Approach Boundary 1”
18”
Arc Flash and Shock Hazard
Appropriate PPE Required

25. Article 130.5(D)
The owner of the electrical equipment shall be responsible for the documentation, installation, and maintenance of the field-marked label.

26. Article 130.7(15)(A)-(B)
Alternating Current (ac) Equipment: When selected in lieu of the incident energy analysis of 130.5(B)(1), Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(a) shall be used to identify when arc flash PPE is required. When arc flash PPE is required, Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(b) shall be used to determine the arc flash PPE category. The estimated maximum available short-circuit current, maxi- mum fault-clearing times, and minimum working distances for various ac equipment types or classifications are listed in Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(b). An incident energy analysis shall be required in accordance with for the following:
Tasks not listed in Table130.7(C)(15)(A)(a)
Power systems with greater than the estimated maximum available short-circuit current
Power systems with longer than the maximum fault clearing times
Tasks with less than the minimum working distance

27. Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(a)
Arc Flash Hazard Identification for Alternating Current and Direct Current Systems
Task
Equipment Condition
Arc Flash PPE Required
Reading a panel meter while operating a meter switch
Any No
Normal operation of a circuit breaker (CB), switch, contactor, or starter
There is no evidence of impending failure
There is no evidence of impending failure
Yes
For dc system: Work on energized electrical conductors and circuit parts, including voltage testing
For dc system: Work on energized electrical conductors and circuit parts of series-connected battery cells, including voltage testing

28. Arc Flash Hazard PPE Categories for Alternating Current
Table 130.7(C)(15)(A)(b)
Arc Flash Hazard PPE Categories for Alternating Current
Equipment
Arc Flash PPE Category
Arc Flash Boundary
Panelboards or other equipment rated 240 V and below
Parameters: Maximum of 25 kA short-circuit current available; maximum of 0.03 sec (2 cycles) fault clearing time; working distance 455 mm (18 in.) 1
19 in.
Panelboards or other equipment rated >240 V and up to 600 V
Parameters: Maximum of 25 kA short-circuit current available; maximum of 0.03 sec (2 cycles) fault clearing time; working distance 455 mm (18 in.) 2
3 ft.
600-V class motor control centers (MCCs)
Parameters: Maximum of 65 kA short-circuit current available; maximum of 0.03 sec (2 cycles) fault clearing time; working distance 455 mm (18 in.)
5 ft.
600-V class motor control centers (MCCs)
Parameters: Maximum of 42 kA short-circuit current available; maximum of 0.33 sec (20 cycles) fault clearing time; working distance 455 mm (18 in.) 4
14 ft.

29. Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Appropriate PPE Required
Article 130.5(D)
WARNING
Equipment Bus: PAINT ROOM MCC-1
Lockout Device: MDP-1 3B
Date: 1/1/14
Reference Document: IEEE Std 1584 through 1584b-2011
PPE: Reference NFPA 70E-2012 Table (C)(16) #2
Nominal System Voltage 480V
Arc Flash Boundary 38”
Limited Approach Boundary 42”
Restricted Approach Boundary 12”
Prohibited Approach Boundary 1”
Hazard Risk
18”
Arc Flash and Shock Hazard
Appropriate PPE Required

30. Article 130.7(15)(D)(2)
Barricades. Barricades shall be used in conjunction with safety signs where it is necessary to prevent or limit employee access to work areas containing energized conductors or circuit parts. Conductive barricades shall not be used where it might increase the likelihood of exposure to an electrical hazard. Barricades shall be placed no closer than the limited approach boundary given in Table 130.4(D)(a) and Table 130.4(D)(b). Where the arc flash boundary is greater than the limited approach boundary, barricades shall not be placed closer than the arc flash boundary.