We often get asked the question “Is your product NFPA 70e compliant or Arc Flash Rated?” While the question is simple the answer is not. The complexity of being electrically safe can not be boiled down to a yes or no answer. Examining the NFPA 70e not as a list of “do’s and don’ts” but rather as a list of sequential priorities is the key. Consider this analogy: Let's say you take your car in for a check-up and discover you have bad brakes and balding tires, but you only have the money to fix one, what would you do? Fix the greatest risk first? The same is true with electrical safety. In the world of NFPA 70e, everything starts with an arc flash study – without which you can only guess how best to protect yourself. Unless you understand how much potential energy is contained within an electrical enclsoure, you don't know how to be safe. It is important to remember that sooner or later, an electrican must be exposed to voltage to do his job.

Once you start down the road with NFPA 70e, then you get to decide if a certain procedure or product can make your NFPA 70e compliance easier. In the case of Grace Engineered Products, the NFPA principle is simple: Find as many ways to reduce voltage exposure as possible. This is what our products do. Instead of asking if our products are compliant a more precise question is, “Which part of the NFPA 70e do our products help address?”

Since there is no such thing as perfect compliance to any regulation one must be able to understand the foundational principles of NFPA 70e and begin to put in place a process that results in fewer injuries and more safety. That's where Grace comes in...

A Fallen Hero

American flags flew at half-staff yesterday in Davenport, Iowa. Our small metropolis fulfilled an obligation it had done twenty times before; we buried a fallen soldier.

CPL Jason Graham Pautsch was killed on Good Friday by a suicide bomber while serving in Iraq. He is survived by both his parents, three brothers, a sister, and a community of supporters. His sacrifice and service to his country and fellow man is enough to make even the strongest of individuals weep. Yet, our tears are not for Jason or the life he doesn't get to live. No, we cry for his family and the emptiness they are burdened with for the months and years to come. This is because there is more to the testimony of Jason than just being a son, a brother and a solider. You see, Jason was a Christian. We don't weep for Jason because we know he is in the loving arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ. For that we give praise to God.

As an American and Christian company, we'd like to pause this week and break away from the typical Blog entry to which you have grown accustomed. We'd like to honor the memory of Jason by taking a moment to thank his family for their sacrifice. Furthermore, we'd like to thank the men and women who now serve and who have served in the American Armed Forces. Your courage and commitment to service is humbling. Stay safe and God speed. You are all in our prayers.

Dude, I love you!

We have an intern at Grace. His first name is Drew. His last name is Allen. For those who know our company well will be able to figure out right away that he is our boss's son. That right there takes all the fun out of having an intern…until today.

Drew has been spreading his wings in the world of Grace Engineered Products and has recently started to answer a few sales calls. Like it was for all of us, building a GracePort® from a description poses a few challenges. Today was no different. Drew picked up a call from a guy. A big, burly guy, or so Drew described him. You know the breed. A seasoned electrician-type. A man’s man. The caller was asking one difficult question after another. We listened as Drew stumbled a bit as he was thinking through his answers. Finally, he answered all the questions and we could hear the relief in Drew’s voice. Then, it happened. As Drew was wishing the caller a good day, he ended with, “Alright then, love you!”

It just goes to show you that, at Grace, we’ll stop at nothing to win your affections! To prove it, we are auctioning Drew off on Ebay. Going once, going twice...

UL Type 12 vs. UL Type 4

In years past, UL unofficially recognized a UL Type 4 housing as a suitable alternative for a UL Type 12 enclosure. Last year, however, the local UL inspectors suddenly did not allow a Type 5 GracePort® on a Type 12 enclosure. The required the enclosure to be detracted to a UL Type 1 rating. It did not seem to be an issue with the enclosure manufacturer that built a Type 12/4 rated enclosure.

We responded by submitting our GracePort® housings to UL to obtain the needed Type 12 rating. We were able to insert a cut gasket into the lid to pass the oil test, which is the only difference between UL Type 4 and UL Type 12.

We realize that a programming port is such a small piece of the automation puzzle. It is so small, in fact, that you can only afford to spend about 10 minutes specifying a GracePort® for your projects. Keeping up with UL is huge, but a very necessary investment. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to help you with your programming needs. We appreciate your business.

Phil Allen, PresidentGrace Engineered Products