AFRA identifies the arc flash incident energy (in cal/cm²) at each piece of electrical equipment in your installation, which helps to understand the real hazard level people are exposed to when working on or near it. It is based on a full system model and standards such as IEEE 1584, DGUV203-077, and NFPA 70E. 

It is rarely spelled out as a single obligatory document across all EU countries, but it is effectively required to protect people against arc flash. EN 50110 (harmonized into national standards) identifies arc flash as a hazard and requires a risk assessment — non-compliance can result in serious penalties, including fines and, in some jurisdictions, criminal liability. 

As a rule of thumb, anything above 50 V AC with a feeder rated ≥63 A (3-phase) is typically included in the scope. The exact boundary of the assessment is agreed with  the client at the start of the project — usually from the utility connection point down to a defined protection level.

It is a structured, multi-step process: scope definition, data collection (site inspection + documentation review), system modelling in software (SKM, ETAP, CYME, EasyPower), short-circuit analysis, equipment short-circuit rating verification, arc flash calculation for the current system configuration, a results review, protection setting recommendations to improve selectivity and limit arc flash energy, recalculated arc flash results for the improved scenario, and a final report with labels, single-line diagrams, and supporting data. See it here. 

 Yes — a results table alone is not very useful on its own. Our reports include actionable recommendations (protection setting changes, equipment upgrades, PPE requirements) rather than just raw incident-energy figures, plus optional introductory training for your team.

Before ordering new equipment, if possible — results can influence design choices, PPE selection, and investment priorities. It is also essential after major changes (new transformer, added generator, PV connection, parallel transformer operation), when protective devices trip unexpectedly, or simply if your installation has never been formally assessed. 

Short Circuit Current Study is a required input for AFRA — you can not get accurate arc flash results without it. It is included as part of the overall AFRA process, since both feed into (and are influenced by) Protective Device Coordination.

Not necessarily. PPE selected “by default” rather than based on calculated incident energy at each specific location can leave the personnel under-protected. Two points on the very same panel (line side vs. bus side) can have very different incident energy levels and need separate labels and separate PPE requirements. Also it is often cheaper to reduce energy than buy PPE when its not necessary.  

Not necessarily. If protection settings are simply replicated from the old installation, the incident energy can remain exactly the same as before, even with brand-new equipment. Real improvement comes from combining AFRA with selectivity, short-circuit, and equipment analysis — not just from buying new hardware. 

Yes. Once the analysis is complete, we prepare labels compliant with relevant standard showing the required information — nominal voltage, incident energy, arc flash boundary, and required PPE — along with the full report in PDF/Excel format.