Cooper Bussmann, St. Louis, contributed $500,000 to the Arc-Flash Collaborative Research Project organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This Platinum Level sponsorship will expand the knowledge of the electric arc-flash phenomena with the objective of advancing Codes and standards for greater workplace safety.
Arc-flash (an electric current passed through air when insulation or isolation between energized conductors can no longer withstand the applied voltage) can cause severe injury, and currently accounts for more than 2,000 worker injuries requiring admission to burn centers for extended treatment every year.
The IEEE and the NFPA joined forces on this initiative to fund research and testing to increase the understanding of arc-flash. The results of this collaborative project will provide practical safeguards for employees in the workplace as well as statistical data for improving electrical safety standards and predicting the hazards associated with arcing faults (and accompanying arc-blasts). The project is estimated to cost a total of $6 million-to-$7 million.
Cooper Bussmann has a broad offering of products and services that can help eliminate arc-flash incidents.