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Electric Shock Protection Study

Introduction to Electric Shock Protection Study

Electric shock protection study is a study carried out to calculate and evaluation of
maximum voltage the personnel may be exposed to (touch voltage), proper earthing
system, current carrying capacity and size protective earthing (PE) cable, loop
impedance, loop current, rating and disconnecting time of shock protection devices
such as Ground Fault Current Interrupter (GFCI) or Residual Current Circuit Breaker
(RCCB) or Residual Current Detector (RCD). Sometimes, shock protection analysis is
include in load flow, short circuit and protection coordination analysis studies, and
closely related arc flash studies. This study is an engineering control measure of the
hazard control hierarchy in occupational safety management — Omazaki Consulant is
a consultant that provides electric shock protection analysis study consulting service.
Contact us if you are looking for consultants who serve electric shock protection
studies consultancy services for your electricity systems in Indonesia and South East
Asia by sending an email to [email protected] or by filling in the form in contact. Our
electric shock protection analysis study mostly using ETAP software.

This article presents an overview of basic knowledge of electric shocks, general shock
protection systems, and studies of electric shock protection design. We will only focus
on the engineering design aspects of the electrical system to prevent the impact of a
severe electric shock .

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Basic Knowledge

What is Electric Shock?

Electric shock is a physical stimulation that occurs when an electric current flows
through the human body. The current that flows through the body carries energy in
the form of heat. The amount of energy can be estimated by:

Electrical shock occurs when a person touches any electrically charged object while at
the same time touching another surface that can conduct the electricity to the ground.
Common sources of electrical shock are bare and damaged wires, machinery and tools,
and extension cords. Proper grounding and electrical safety devices can help prevent
electrical shock.

Electric Shock Effect to Human Body

Based on international studies 95% of adults are considered to have a body impedance
in the range of 1000 to 2000 ohms. In the event of a 230 volt supply combined with
1000 ohms body resistance, a current of up to 230 milliamps may flow through the
body. This presents a serious and potentially fatal shock risk.
Five factors are important in understanding the risk of electrical shock:

The magnitude of the current.

The duration of the current.
The path it takes in the human body.
The resistance of the body.
The frequency of the electrical supply.
Direct and Indirect Contact

IEC 61140 standards distinguish two kinds of dangerous contact, Direct contact and
Indirect contact.

Direct contact refers to a person coming into contact with a conductor which is
live in normal circumstances.
Indirect contact refers to a person coming into contact with any part of a electric
circuit which is not normally live, but has become live due to an accidental
insulation failure or some other fault.

Touch Voltage

Touch voltage is potential difference between the ground potential rise (GPR) on the
ground where the network or system is located and the potential of the surface on
which a person is standing while touching a structure connected to the ground. .
The mathematical equation for touch voltage is given by:

The IEC standard specifies a safe touch voltage below 50V for alternating current (AC)
systems and maksimum 120V for direct current (AC) systems.

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Fundamental of Electric Shock Protection

The basic rule of protection against

electric shock is that live parts must be
inaccessible and conductive parts that are
accessible so that the voltage must not
exceed the safe limit. This is true both
under normal conditions and in
conditions of single disturbance or fault.

Under Normal Condition (Basic Protection)

Protection under normal conditions is provided by basic protection. Basic protection

prevent contact with live parts, such protection by the insulation of live parts and
protection by means of barriers or enclosures.
Under Fault Condition

Protection under a single fault condition is provided by fault protection. Fault

protection can be achieved by automatic disconnection of the supply where the
conductive parts of the apparatus are properly grounded .

Enhanced Protective

Protection against electric shock is provided by an enhanced protective provision,

which provides protection under normal conditions and under single fault.

Engineering Control Measure to Prevent Electric Shock

Based on IEC 60364-4-41, the following protective measures generally are permitted:

Automatic disconnection of supply (Clause 411),

Double or reinforced insulation (Clause 412),
Electrical separation for the supply of one item of current-using equipment
(Clause 413),
Extra-low-voltage (SELV and PELV) (Clause 414).

Earthing System

The heart of any electric shock protection system is an earthing system. For a full
understanding of electric shock protection it is necessary to consider the different
types of earthing system in use. To provide earthing for an installation, an earthing
terminal is needed. This is achieved using one of five different methods:

TN-C System – the neutral and the earth terminals are combined.
TN-S System – the neutral and earth terminals are completely separated.
TN-C-S System – the neutral and earth terminals and combined, but the
separated just outside the consumer’s installation.
TT System – no earth terminal is provided, but the star point of the supply is
connected to the mass of the earth, and the consumer’s installation is also
connected to the mass of the earth. The earth at the consumer’s installation is
usually provided by installing local earthing systems (e.g., rods or mats).
IT System – this is similar to the TT system, with the difference that a resistor is
inserted between the star point of the supply and the earth.
Electric shock protection study will focus on subject above.

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Why Need to Conduct Electric Shock Protection Analysis?

Electricity is a silent killer because it cannot be seen or heard. Statistically it has been
shown that electric shock is one of the main causes of fatality in the workplace and
homes. To ensure a negligibly small risk of electric shock in the built environment,
designers and installers adopt good wiring practices and abide by the relevant national
and international wiring rules, e.g. SNI PUIL and IEC 60364, to enable them to produce
a safe electrical installation.

Electrical devices are frequently handled with currents and voltages which is inherently
harmful to animals, humans and structures. Those dangers can be caused by physical
interaction, overloading, short circuiting, and loss of component, or impact of heat or
moisture.

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Electric Shock Protection Analysis Using ETAP

Methodology

Our methodology in proceed electric shock protection consulting service as

engineering control measure in safety management is as follow:

Data collection and verification

Electric shock modelling
Model verification and validation
Simulation
Under normal condition
Under fault condition
Analysis and recommendation
Reporting

Deliverables
A detailed report is provided that includes:

Description of the basis, purpose and scope of the study

System and earthing description
Tabulations of the data used to model system components and a corresponding
one-line diagram
Calculation and evaluation of:
Touch voltage
Current carrying capacity and size protective earthing (PE) cable
Loop impedance
Loop current calculation
Rating and disconnecting time of shock protection devices
Analysis and Recommendation

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Contact Omazaki Engineering if you are looking for a electric shock

protection analysis and study consultant who serves consulting service
using ETAP software to help with your project or for other purposes
related to your electrical system in Indonesia and South East Asia.

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Related Articles

Power System Study & Analysis

Short Circuit Study & Analysis
Protection Coordination Study
Arc Flash Study & Assessment
Arc Flash: Definition, Hazards & Risks
Arc Flash Causes Analysis
Arc Flash Calculation Methods
Arc Flash Boundary and Requirement of PPE

References
 IEC 60364-4-41 Low voltage electrical installations – Protection Against Electric
Shock
IEC 60479-1 Effects of current on human beings and livestock –Part 1: General
aspects
IEC61140 Protection against electric shock – Common aspects for installation and
equipment
NFPA 70EStandard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
The essentials of electric shock protection, earthing systems and RCDs, EEP.
Electric Shock Protection – https://www.westernautomation.com/solution-
centre/electrical-safety-applications/shock-protection/?
doing_wp_cron=1618714149.9945919513702392578125
Protection against electric shock, Electrical Installation Wiki
Legrand – Power Guide 2009: Electrical Hazards and Protecting Persons

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