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Whats New - DesignBase 7.0 Release Notes

EasyPower LLC is excited to announce the release of DesignBase 7.0, with new features to update the software to the IEEE 1584-2018 arc flash calculations standard as well as other safety and workflow enhancement improvements. This release includes features such as a new arc flash tab in the device data editor, an equipment class type for enclosure sizing, user defined enclosure sizes and the ability to choose which general approach you want use to run arc flash analysis.

Watch this video showing some of the updated features in the DesignBase 7.0 release.

Functionality Summary, DesignBase 7 and Arc Flash IEEE 1584-2018

IEEE published the 1584 Arc Flash calculation standard in 2002 and it was the first standard to provide a
method to calculate arcing short circuit current, incident energy, and arc flash boundary. It took the IEEE
1584 Arc Flash committee sixteen years to publish a second revision of 1584 standard to address all concerns
raised by the global IEEE community.

Now the question is, what changed in IEEE 1584 2018? It would be easier to answer what did not change.
New equations, new methods, new approaches, many new steps, and much more robust and complex
equations based on more than 2000 tests conducted in five different configurations are now part of the 2018
standard.

As we continue our efforts to enrich the features beyond what is included in the IEEE 1584 2018 Arc flash
calculation standard, here are a few of the most important features:

New Arc Flash Tab

This is a new Arc Flash tab added into the bus, generator, motor, and related devices’ editor on
DesignBase 7. If a user wants to include each device in an arc flash study, the Run Arc Flash checkbox
must be selected.

The risk assessment standards, defined to guide the user through two general approaches to run arc flash
analysis in DesignBase 7, are as follows:


Figure 1: Bus Editor Arc Flash Tab

Due to significant changes with the new 2018 Arc Flash method proposed by IEEE, DesignBase now has
the option to select the Risk Assessment Standard.


Figure 2: Risk Assessment Standards

One of the important changes in the new IEEE method is considering the electrode arrangement in a Metal
Box versus Open Air. DesignBase includes a visual representation of all the different electrode configurations
introduced by new IEEE standard as follows:


Figure 3: Equipment Class

To determine the typical gap and enclosure size, IEEE 1584-2018 introduced new categories (Table-8)
which is shown next to the Electrode type in DesignBase 7 as shown in Figure 3. The enclosure size correction
factor (CF) can be defined by the user or will be computed directly from the enclosure geometry as
outlined by the IEEE 1584-2018 standard.

The DesignBase Arc Flash Program study editor includes the IEEE 1584 2018 Arc Flash calculation
method while keeping all previous standards in similar visual representation for current DesignBase customers.
This also provides the ability to compare the feature for current customers to validate or compare
the IEEE 2018 Arc Flash standard. With this approach and the resulting data, you can quickly recognize arc
flash boundary and incident energy changes to mitigate personal hazard risks.

The DesignBase Arc Flash module recognizes arc flash data entry based on latest IEEE 1584 or previous
revision. This smart feature enables DesignBase users to analyze selected bus in a specific zone based on
IEEE 1584-2018 which is especially useful in the event you have limited information regarding the whole
network.

The selected Devices box allows the DesignBase user to group selected buses to locally run an arc flash
study or all buses in the current project page.


Figure 4: DesignBase Arc Flash Study Editor

The Results box enables DesignBase users to view arc flash analysis results in both a tabular and detailed
mode representation.

The tabular view allows DesignBase users to manually change the following arc flash input data by enabling
the correct checkbox, as shown in Figure 4:


Figure 5: DesignBase Arc Flash Tabular Result View

Controlling Path

This feature provides the DesignBase user the ability to “refresh” the arc flash calculation results based on
an energized source that is feeding the selected bus.

Output Report

The output report presents the arc flash analysis result and exports it in an Excel format, based on the
user’s preference.


Figure 6: Output Report Type

Plot

The Plot visually presents the incident energy mitigation versus distance from arc blast and allowable working
distance.


Figure 7: Plot Results

Graphic Labels

The Graphic Label button generates the equipment arc flash warning labels. The user can choose their colors
and decide for which buses the labels should be printed.


Figure 8: Arc Flash Graphic Label Color Option

By clicking on the Display Labels icon on the arc flash toolbar, the label will be shown in the main
DesignBase window. Seven label formats, as shown in Figure 8, along with a custom label format are available
for the DesignBase user to print different style of arc flash warnings. Labels can be generated in English
and French languages.


Figure 9: Label Print Style Options


Figure 10: Arc Flash Warning Label

Work Permit

The Work Permit button generates the variety of work permit reports. The work permit appears as a Word
document, which the user can edit, print, and save. A partial sample of the work permit is shown below.


Figure 11: Choice of the Task List for a Work Permit


Figure 12: A Partial Sample of the Work Permit

Worst Case

The Worst Case feature enables the DesignBase user to find the worst-case arc flash condition between
all different configurations in each project. This feature provides a higher level of assurance for a plant operation
manager to recognize the worst electrical configuration and appropriate personal protection equipment
(PPE).


Figure 13: DesignBase Worst Case Scenario Result

Ralph Lee Method

The Ralph Lee method is now implemented in the following conditions:

Text Editor

The Electrode Type and Equipment Class fields have been added to the text editor.


Figure 14: Electrode Type and Equipment Class in the Text Editor

DC Arc Flash

In DC Arc Flash, a new option for 2018/2021 is available to select for the standard.


Figure 15: 2018/2021 Standard Option in DC Arc Flash

For more detailed information on the arc flash changes related to the new standard, refer to "3.0 IEEE Std
1584-2018, 3-Phase AC Arc Flash Tutorial" in the DesignBase Help.

7.0 Bug Fixes

The following issues have been addressed in this release:

Arc Flash

Short Circuit

Protective Device Coordination

Database and Equipment

Motor Starting

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