ARC FAULT TECHNICAL INFORMATION SHEET

1. Introduction

Arc faults are unintended, sustained electrical discharges through an ionised path (plasma) between conductors or to earth. They arise when insulation degrades or conductors are brought sufficiently close that the electric field initiates ionisation. Typical initiating causes include contamination (dust, salt, moisture), mechanical damage, loose terminations, tracking over polluted surfaces, tool drops, rodent ingress, and improper work practices.

Why they matter: An arc produces extreme heat (metal vaporisation and molten ejecta), intense light (UV), a pressure wave ("arc blast"), toxic gases, and high acoustic energy. These effects can injure personnel, ignite fires, and catastrophically damage equipment in milliseconds. Because severity scales with available fault current and clearing time, engineered prevention and fast protection are essential before any procedural controls can be effective.

For industrial and infrastructure applications where reliability and safety are paramount, mitigating arc fault risks is not optional—it is an essential part of compliant engineering design and safe operation.

2. AES Arc Fault Solution Overview

AES has developed and tested an advanced IP66-rated arc fault protection solution, specifically engineered for use within custom-built AES enclosures.

Key features include:

• IP66 Rating: Ensures total protection against dust ingress and high-pressure water jets.
• Custom Integration: Designed to be adaptable across the full range of AES’s custom enclosure builds.
• Proven Design: Tested and validated to maintain enclosure integrity under arc fault conditions in accordance with IEC 61439 standards.
• Harsh Environment Reliability: Built with marine-grade stainless steel and precision-engineered sealing systems.

3. Certification Service: Certification-Arc_Flash

To support compliance and safety validation, AES has done a series of tests and offers a dedicated certification service under SKU: Certification-Arc_Flash.

Service details:

• Comprehensive design validation against relevant IEC 61439 requirements.
• Independent verification of arc fault withstand capability for the custom-built enclosure.
• Certification documents issued for integration into project compliance and regulatory submissions.
• Applicability is strictly limited to AES custom enclosures. Certification cannot be extended to third-party or standard enclosures.

4. Technical Limitations

To ensure engineering accuracy and regulatory compliance, AES’s arc fault certification is subject to the following limitations:

• MCCB Maximum Rating: 630 A
• Maximum System Short-Circuit Capacity: 150 kA
• Maximum Icc (Fault Current): 65 kA

7. Summary

Arc faults pose a significant threat to both equipment and personnel. AES’s IP66-rated arc fault protection solution offers a rigorously tested and certified pathway to mitigate these risks—ensuring enclosures are both safe and compliant for use in demanding industrial environments.

• Certification applies only to AES custom-built enclosures.
• Technical limits must be respected: MCCB ≤ 630 A, System SCC ≤ 150 kA, Icc ≤ 65 kA.
• Certification service available via SKU: Certification-Arc_Flash.