A blog published by Corey Hannahs, NFPA Senior Electrical Content Specialist, delves into the role of NFPA 79, Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery, in ensuring safety in industrial environments.
According to the blog, the National Electrical Code (NEC) forms the foundation of safe electrical installations, but NFPA 79 provides additional guidance specific to industrial machinery.
Hannahs explains that NFPA 79 applies to machines operating at 1000 volts or less and begins where the supply circuit conductors connect to the electrical equipment of a machine.
This standard complements the NEC by focusing on the internal electrical systems of machines.
Industrial machines covered under NFPA 79 include injection molding equipment, industrial robots, and material-handling machinery.
Annex C of the standard categorizes machines and outlines safety measures to reduce risks such as electrical shock and arc flash.
NFPA 79 emphasizes protection against electrical hazards within industrial machines, going beyond NEC requirements for supply wiring.
Chapter 6 addresses hazards that may arise from factors like vibrations, chemicals, and processes in industrial environments.
Protective measures outlined in Chapter 6 include interlocking, fault protection, and the use of protective extra low voltage circuits.
These measures help mitigate risks to employees operating or maintaining equipment and safeguard machinery to avoid production downtime.
Chapter 7 focuses on overcurrent protection, ground faults, and other electrical risks specific to industrial machinery.
For example, it addresses how to protect against overvoltages caused by lightning or switching surges and abnormal temperatures.
Chapters 6 and 7 of NFPA 79 provide a broad framework for electrical hazard protection while also addressing specific equipment components such as grounding, bonding, and control devices.
Proper implementation of NFPA 79 alongside NEC guidelines ensures that industrial machinery remains safe and operational.
The annexes in NFPA 79 offer technical insights, such as minimizing control function failures and addressing documentation requirements.
The blog highlights how compliance with these standards supports production efficiency and employee safety.
For those seeking more information, NFPA 79 can be accessed digitally through NFPA LiNK, a subscription-based platform.
This resource allows professionals to explore NFPA codes and standards, including purchase options for NFPA 79, via the NFPA website.
The NFPA blog authored by Corey Hannahs examines NFPA 79, which supplements NEC requirements to address electrical safety in industrial machinery.
It outlines safety measures for machines operating at 1000 volts or less, detailing how NFPA 79 helps mitigate risks such as electrical shock, arc flash, and overvoltages.
The blog highlights Chapters 6 and 7, which focus on hazard prevention and equipment protection.
Annexes in NFPA 79 provide additional technical guidance.
For further details, the standard is available through NFPA LiNK or on the NFPA website.
