NFPA 70E Summary

Interested in having timely and informative safety-related information sent directly to your e-mail box? LSS publishes our no-charge Saf-T-News every other week. To begin receiving your copy, click here.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published the seventh edition of the 70E Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces in February of 2004. This edition contains an introduction, 4 chapters, 13 annexes, and has many significant changes from the sixth edition:

• Total reorganization into the NEC format
  
• Chapter 2 was moved to become chapter 1
  
• Chapter 3 became chapter 2
  
• Chapter 4 became chapter 3
  
• Chapter 1 became chapter 4.
  
• The issue of multi-employer relationships (110.4) is addressed

The addition of multi-employer relationships now makes the employer liable whenever outside contractors are engaged in activities covered by the scope and application of this standard. The employer and contractor must inform each other of existing hazards, personal protective equipment/clothing requirements, safe work practices, and emergency evacuation procedures applicable to the work to be performed. This coordination shall include a meeting and documentation.

NFPA 70E covers the full range of electrical safety issues, including safety related work practices, maintenance, special equipment requirements, and installation. It focuses on protecting people and identifies requirements that are considered necessary to provide a workplace that is free of electrical hazards. OSHA bases its electrical safety mandates, found in Subpart S part 1910 and Subpart K part 1926, on the comprehensive information found in NFPA 70E. NFPA 70E is recognized as the tool that illustrates how an employer might comply with these OSHA standards. The relationship between the OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E can be described as OSHA is the “shall” and NFPA 70E the “how.”

OSHA mandates that all services to electrical equipment be done in a de-energized state. Working live can only be under special circumstances. If it is necessary to work live (>50 volts to ground), the regulations outlined in NFPA 70E, Article 130 should be used as a tool to comply with OSHA mandates Subpart S part 1910.333(a)(1). Highlights of this article include:

• Shock hazard analysis (paragraph 130.2) : Determines the voltage to which personnel will be exposed, boundary requirements, and PPE necessary. Table 130.2( C ) is used to determine boundary distances.
  
• Flash hazard analysis (paragraph 130.3): Determines the flash protection boundary and PPE needed within that boundary. The flash protection boundary is determined by methods found in 130.3(A) or Annex D of the standard. Protective clothing is determined by using tables 130.7( C )(9)(a), 130.7( C )(10), and 130.7( C )(11). See question and answer number 1 for more details.

For help determining what PPE to use based on the risk factors in your workplace, there is a website that utilizes an arc calculator to help determine what PPE to use. There is a fee charged for the use of this calculator. It can be found at www.arcadvisor.com. Lab Safety Supply is referring to this website only as a reference only. We are not affiliated with www.arcadvisor.com.

Remember, OSHA only allows work on live electrical parts under two special circumstances: (1) when continuity of service is required, and (2) when de-energizing equipment would create additional hazards. In all other cases, lockout/tagout is the law.

Employers are also responsible for complying with the 2002 NEC 110.16 labeling requirements. This requires all switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers to be field marked. Any equipment installed after 2002 needs to be labeled. For equipment installed before 2002, labeling must be applied if ANY modifications or upgrades take place. Some of the labels listed below require boundary distances calculated in Article 130 of the standard. Examples of labels offered by Lab Safety Supply that meet this requirement are:

Each FR garment is assigned an ATPV rating by the manufacturer. The ATPV value represents the amount of incident energy that would cause the onset of second-degree burns. It also signifies the amount of protection the clothing affords when an electrical arc comes in contact with the fabric. Most of the industry falls into either Category 1 or 2 protection. Most uniforms already meet Category 1 or 2 requirements, but people who fall into this category typically are not covered by this standard. The employees addressed by this standard fall into Category 3 and 4. The garments must also be designed to withstand a cleaning process to remove soils and then be returned to service without damage to the fabric. The label on the garment must contain the following information: tracking ID number, meet ASTM spec F1506, name of manufacturer, size and care instructions, ATPV rating, and must meet ASTM spec f1506.

Sources for More Information

NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces, National Fire Protection Association, 1-617-770-3000.

ASTM F1506 Standard, American Society for Testing Materials, 1-610-832-9585.

Duke Power Flux Calculator. Available at Oberon:
http://www.arcflash.com/

Commonly Asked Questions

Table 130.7(C)(11) Protective Clothing Characteristics

* To obtain all the clothing options available that meet this standard, or if you have any other questions regarding protective clothing please contact Lab Safety Supply’s Technical Department at 1-800-356-2501 or via e-mail at techsvc@labsafety.com. We carry a complete line of garments that meet each risk category of this standard.

FREE Technical Support
When you have a question, you can rely on our team of technical experts. They'll answer your questions about product specifications, chemical compatibility, regulatory issues, and general worker safety and health.
Call our Safety TECHline™ Technical Support toll-free: 800-356-2501 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT, Monday - Friday). Or e-mail our Technical Support Staff at techsvc@labsafety.com anytime!

FREE Catalog
For products to meet all your workplace safety and industrial needs, turn to Lab Safety Supply's General Catalog. In it you'll find thousands of safety and industrial products, plus a complete service package and our 100% guarantee to stand behind them.
Click here to select a catalog and fill out a request form on-line, or call today to reserve your free copy: 800-356-0783 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT, Monday - Friday).