Working distance
Updated 2026-10-27
Data records
- Working distance is the distance between the arc source and the face or chest of the worker performing a task, the point at which the incident energy for that task is estimated.
- Clause 130.5(G) of NFPA 70E-2027 bases the incident energy analysis on the working distance for the task, Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) states a minimum working distance for each row of the category method, and clause 130.5(H) pairs the available incident energy with its working distance on the equipment label.
Sources
- Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy, Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy of test methods, 2026-10 edition, Electrical Testing Reference. Held as: Own observation.
- NFPA 70E-2027, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2027 edition, NFPA. Cited: clause 130.5(G). Held as: Purchased single-user copy. Publisher page for NFPA 70E-2027
Obtaining the documents
- NFPA 70E-2027: available from the publisher
Changelog (2 entries)
| Date | Revision | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.working-distance.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.working-distance.nfpa70e.use) |
Cite this page
Cite the governing standard for the fact itself; cite this page as the finding aid.
"Working distance." Arc Flash Reference. 2026-10-27. https://www.arcflashreference.com/glossary/working-distance/.
Arc Flash Reference, Working distance (Oct. 27, 2026), https://www.arcflashreference.com/glossary/working-distance/.
@misc{etr-glossary-working-distance,
title = {Working distance},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.arcflashreference.com/glossary/working-distance/}},
organization = {Arc Flash Reference},
publisher = {Arc Flash Reference},
year = {2026},
note = {last substantive change 2026-10-27}
}{{cite web |title=Working distance |website=Arc Flash Reference |publisher=Arc Flash Reference |url=https://www.arcflashreference.com/glossary/working-distance/ |date=2026-10-27 |access-date=}}