How to Choose an Arc Flash Study Provider
Seven questions worth asking before you sign a contract.
1. Is the study PE-stamped?
In most states, an arc flash study deliverable used for compliance purposes should be reviewed and stamped by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Ask which engineer will stamp the final report and confirm their license is active in your state.
2. What software/methodology do they use?
Most reputable providers use industry-standard modeling software (e.g., SKM PowerTools, EasyPower, ETAP) and calculate incident energy per IEEE 1584. Ask which standard/edition they follow — this affects how conservative or precise the resulting PPE categories will be.
3. Will they collect field data, or rely on existing drawings?
If your one-line diagrams are outdated or missing, ask whether the provider includes a field data collection visit in their quote, and how that affects timeline and cost.
4. What's included in the final deliverable?
Confirm whether the quote includes: the short circuit/coordination study, the arc flash study itself, printed/adhesive labels, and a written summary report. These are sometimes quoted separately.
5. Do they offer training alongside the study?
NFPA 70E requires periodic electrical safety training for qualified and unqualified workers. Some providers bundle training with the study; others are study-only. Confirm which you need.
6. What is their turnaround time?
Ask for a realistic timeline given your facility's size, not just a generic estimate — timelines vary significantly based on current workload and field data availability.
7. Can they provide references from a similar facility type?
A provider experienced in your specific industry (manufacturing, healthcare, data centers, etc.) will typically move faster and ask more relevant questions during scoping.