Aluminum Pressure Relief Flaps for Arc Fault Test

What standard are you working to?

My exposure to switchboard arc fault design is limited but the pressures involved are enormous, I cannot see how a slightly lighter pressure release flap would make any difference at all!

I have seen switchboards explode under controlled outdoor laboratory tests like they were hit with a howitzer!!! Orange vaporised copper smoke and all.

Why aluminium (is this your idea)?

I just felt that a few milliseconds of earlier opening of flaps could help in reducing the pressure on my structural parts. Just an idea i wanted to discuss. I saw one of the manufacturer showing aluminium flaps for quick opening.

Check here:

Minimizing the risk of arc flash incidents - Graybar

Someone once tried to convince me that the reason thugs in the movies pushed the hand gun forward before they pulled the trigger was that it increased the speed of the bullet. This sounds a bit like that to me.

The stress to the (properly vented) enclosure is far less of a concern than the stress to the bus bars and supports due to the current.

It might work however I am not sure the cost would be justified by any real improvement in perfromance.

Aren't you concerned that it will create a much weaker structural barrier (weak point) which most likely will partially or completly vaporize the first time an arc flash of any magnitude occurs?