Case Study: Schneider Electric improves data center arc flash safety with ETAP

Schneider Electric identifies 2 high-risk arc flash locations with ETAP

Schneider Electric faced the challenge of ensuring safety maintenance for a new data center in Italy, which was powered by a complex 132/15kV distribution network. Their primary hurdles included evaluating arc flash incident energy across a multifaceted power architecture with numerous operating configurations and applying advanced North American standards like IEEE 1584 in a European environment where such analysis was less familiar. They turned to vendor ETAP for a solution using its AC arc flash analysis and digital twin technology.

The solution implemented by ETAP provided high-quality modeling of real equipment dimensions and applied IEEE 1584 standards to precisely identify high-risk locations, with some spots exceeding 100 cal/cm². This enabled the engineering team to develop actionable mitigation strategies, such as adjusting protection settings and modifying maintenance procedures. The results gave Schneider Electric the data needed to support proper PPE selection for workers and deliver a practical, risk-based approach to arc-flash safety, advancing maintenance standards at the facility.

Schneider Electric