QUINCY, MA -- The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the independent research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), is leading a three-year research project to advance direct current (DC) arc flash hazard calculations, with sponsorship support from NFPA, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Eaton, ABB, and Mersen.

The project, Development of a Model for Direct Current (DC) Arc Flash Phenomena, aims to address a growing safety need as DC power applications expand across a range of settings, including data centers, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, photovoltaic systems, and other industrial and commercial environments. Because arc flash events can expose workers to serious, life-threatening hazards in a fraction of a second, reliable safety guidance is essential to help organizations assess risk and protect personnel and equipment.

“As DC power systems become more common in critical facilities and emerging technologies, the need for practical, evidence-based safety guidance continues to grow,” said Amanda Kimball, executive director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation. “The Foundation is pleased to support this important research and we’re grateful to the sponsors’ commitment to helping close a critical knowledge gap, and to providing information that can inform future electrical safety guidance and standards development.”

Most arc flash hazard calculation methods used today are based on alternating current (AC) systems. While established models exist for AC applications, there is a need for validated, practical approaches for assessing DC arc flash hazards. This Foundation-led project will focus on developing models and guidance that can be implemented by designers, facility operators, electrical safety professionals, and others responsible for evaluating arc flash risks in DC systems.

The research will include planning, method development, validation testing, and analysis over the three-year project period. The first year will focus on 800V Data Center applications with initial testing to support model development at a specific voltage and source configuration. Subsequent phases broaden focus on testing and general DC model development informed by phase one results and expanding to additional DC power sources such as batteries, photovoltaic systems, converters, DC motors and DC capacitors.

The models and guidance developed through the project, including the underlying equations, are expected to be made publicly available and free of charge in the Foundation's final project report. The findings will also be used to inform future consensus standards development efforts, including the 2030 edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®.

The project, conducted under the auspices of the Fire Protection Research Foundation, will be guided by independent technical experts as well as technical representation from NFPA, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Eaton, ABB, and Mersen. This team will provide technical oversight, review progress, and offer feedback on project deliverables.