Short Circuit and Coordination Studies & Arc Flash Analysis

The purpose of a short circuit and protective device coordination study is two-fold.  A short circuit study ensures that the electrical equipment design for the facility is braced to handle the amount of potential short circuit energy in the system.  A coordination study ensures that the facilities overcurrent protection devices are properly set to ensure proper sequence of tripping in the event of an electrical overcurrent or fault.

Without this study, buildings can experience unnecessary interruptions in power service due to miscoordination and nuisance tripping. Also, this study models the worst-case-scenario condition for electrical power. That can minimize damage to any electrical system components.

This study addresses questions such as:

• What are the best size and type of circuit breakers needed for the facility?
• Is the panel rated for the amount of fault current available?
• What are the appropriate settings for the protective devices?

The RWB team utilizes a combination of the provided electrical drawings and information from the electrical contractor to model the electrical system. With a short circuit and coordination study, owners can rest assured that their electrical building systems are correctly set up for smooth operation.