Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/488587
www.datacenterjournal.com Partnering With a Professional electrical engineering or electrical testing serVice ProViDer Maintaining compliance with the latest electrical codes can be a difficult task for data center managers to accomplish in house. Many industry experts recommend working with well-trained, NETA-certified engineers and field technicians with a solid understanding of all new requirements. e right service partner can help your data center implement the following best practices to improve safety and perfor- mance in your data center while ensuring compliance: • Create and implement an optimized preventive-maintenance program for electrical equipment and overcurrent- protection devices to help mitigate arc-flash hazards. • Perform an arc-flash risk assessment and the required calculations using state-of-the-art soware and engi- neering analysis methods. Although there is no legal requirement for a Registered Professional Engineer to perform arc-flash hazard analysis, such expertise not only ensures com- pliance with the standards, it can also save lives, since improper calculations can put workers in grave danger. • Complete a comprehensive site review and assessment of your electrical-dis- tribution system to identity potential hazards, and develop or update an existing single-line diagram and electrical-system drawings. • Complete short-circuit and coordina- tion studies to establish the appro- priate trip settings for all types of protective devices, reducing the risk of downtime, equipment damage and injury to workers. • Develop and/or review the electrical- safety program, arc-flash training program and PPE plan on the basis of results from the arc-flash risk assessment. • Maintain comprehensive and proper documentation to ensure compliance with NFPA 70E and OSHA standards, and help facilitate an investigation should an arc-flash-related injury occur. • Complete field evaluations of non-list- ed, non-labeled electrical equipment to help ensure safety and facilitate approval of such equipment. Protecting your PeoPle anD your Business Although compliance with NFPA 70E may not be required technically, meeting these new standards is the best way to ensure compliance with OSHA and avoid hey OSHA fines. Establishing an effective safety program per the guidelines also promotes system performance and efficiency, and it prevents disruptions and downtime in your data center. Most importantly, it could pre- vent injuries and save lives. e effort to comply may seem timely and intense. But working with a qualified electrical-engineering or electrical-testing service provider can help. e right service provider can help you navigate the latest changes to electric codes, avoid the risks of noncompliance and create and implement a cost-effective program tailored to your facil- ity's unique needs. If your program helps prevent just one downtime incident or just one injury, you'll agree, the effort to comply is well worth the cost. n about the author: Wally Vahlstrom brings more than 40 years of electrical-engineering experience to his position as the director of technical services for Emerson Network Power's Electrical Reliability Services group, where he is responsible for failure-investigation work, conformity-assessment services, power-system studies and reliability analysis. Increased coverage and better defense. Don't let fire events or downtime block your operations! You need the strongest defense to keep your data center facility running 24/7: the FAAST XT aspirating smoke detector from System Sensor. Its 4-inlet technology protects up to 28,800 sq.ft. and provides very early warning of smoke so you can respond to potential problems before disaster strikes. To celebrate FAAST XT's launch, we're offering a chance to win tickets to the Big Game in Feb. 2016! ©2015 System Sensor. All Rights Reserved. We've got you covered. To watch the intro video, visit: go.systemsensor.com/ faastxt-dcj Assembled in the U.S. Maintaining compliance with the latest electrical codes can be a difficult task for data center managers to accomplish in house. Many industry experts recommend working with well- trained, NETA-certified engineers and field technicians with a solid understanding of all new requirements.