The IEEE NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) uses slightly different terminology from the NEC/NFPA 70E.
While NFPA 70E and the NEC refer to it as an “arc flash hazard”, the NESC (particularly in IEEE C2, the standard) tends to use the term:
“arc exposure” or “thermal energy from an arc”
Example from the NESC:
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Rule 410A3 (in NESC 2023): Discusses the need to assess “the thermal energy exposure from an electric arc.”
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The term “arc flash” may still appear in explanations or guidance materials, but the official terminology leans toward “thermal incident energy” or “arc exposure” rather than “arc flash hazard.”
Summary:
| Standard | Term Used |
|---|---|
| NEC/NFPA 70E | Arc Flash Hazard |
| IEEE NESC | Arc Exposure / Thermal Energy |
