10.3 – Arc Flash Boundaries

The arc flash boundary shall be the distance at which the incident energy equals 1.2 cal/cm2 (5 J/cm2).

Note: According to the Stoll skin burn injury model, the onset of a second-degree burn on unprotected skin is likely to occur at an exposure of 1.2 cal/cm2 (5 J/cm2) for 1 s.

The primary arc flash boundary may be determined by an arc flash PPE selection table method when the requirements of the specific table method applies (see normative Annex V for examples of arc flash PPE selection table methods).

Further boundaries also exist for work with capacitors.