NFPA-70E and Relamping

[JimD1]

What are the requirement for PPE / NFPA-70E when replaming 4' fixtures in an office enviroment, HID's, etc?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[dpc]

You are doing this while the fixture is energized? What's the supply voltage to the ballast?

 

[jraef]

You would need to calculate the Incident Energy based on the available fault current, arc duration, the working distance of the worker’s face and chest areas from a prospective arc source for the specific task to be performed etc. It's not switchgear though, so it's not likely going to be an issue. I'd be shocked (pun intended) if the HRC is greater than 0, which means PPE will just be:
Natural fiber (cotton/wool) long sleeve shirt & pants, safety glasses, hard hat, V-rated gloves.

More importantly now though, is the issue of doing it with the power on! If it is over 50V, technically you now have to get an Energized Electrical Work Permit. Seems silly for changing a lamp, but that's the way it is. Turn the light switch off and it's fine, you can do it naked. But if it's too dark to see if all of the other lights are off, you technically have an issue with changing lamps while enegized.

"Will work for (the memory of) salami"

 

[waross]

Not just any safety glasses. The latest version of eye protection I am seeing has a foam strip to seal between the frame of the glasses and your forehead. The threat of broken glass above your face is always present when changing ceiling mounted lamps. The old style safety glasses may not protect against glass shards falling on your forehead.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[JimD1]

A question came up at work, when changing incandescent, fluorescent and HID lamps, does NFPA-70E apply? Is it energized work?

Yes, there would be a shock hazard but not a blast hazard. What PPE would you wear?

The voltage at the bulb socket for incandescent would be 120 VAC. for the others it would depend on the bulb type and ballast.

Jim

 

[jraef]

As I said, the rule in NFPA 70E is 50V and over. 120V > 50V, so yes, it applies. But that is regarding energized work, the arc flash hazard is going to be very low, hence the minimum PPE I described.

"Will work for (the memory of) salami"

 

[dpc]

If the luminaire is energized, then it's energized work with exposed live parts. I don't think there can be much question about that. As Jeff says, determining a realistic arc-flash hazard is another question. For 120 V sockets the arc-flash level should be low to non-existent. For HID lamps, the voltage can be high, but the let-through energy of the ballast is fairly low. I'm not aware of any arc-flash test data for HID or Fluorescent fixtures - maybe someone will enlighten me .

Bill,

Yes I made a visit to a local "hot metal" shop and was told my old (prescription) safety glasses were not up to snuff. They made me wear the ones with the foam seal. Other than the fact that I couldn't see anything, I felt quite safe.

 

[waross]

Hi David.
In my part of the world, prescription g;asses have been out for 4 or 5 years now. Either wear goggles over the prescription glasses or use straight foam lined safety goggles and try to get by. The goggles over prescription glasses have serious fogging issues. They are getting better.
A safety man told me that there has been a significant increase in tripping injuries and impacts to the legs and lower body with the sight restriction of the new glasses. BUT a serious bruise or cut or even a broken foot or leg has a much better chance of 100% recovery than a serious eye injury.
The most common eye issue on industrial sites is becoming foreign matter on the forehead which falls into the eye when the safety glasses are removed. Often after drilling metal overhead.
I suspect that glass particles from a broken fluorescent tube may rank high in the commercial field.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter