Switchgear, Panelboards & Electrical Distribution worked example

Heat Rise Estimate with temperature-rise severity of failure of 15 score: a worked example

This scenario runs the heat rise estimate calculation on the strong side: temperature-rise severity of failure of 15 score, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when heat rise estimate in switchgear, panelboards and electrical distribution needs a defensible ranking against other switchgear, panelboards and electrical distribution risks for the next review.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Temperature-rise severity of failure: 15 score (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 6)
  • Likelihood of overheating event: 4 score (unchanged)
  • Detectability before damage: 3 score (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Heat Rise Estimate risk score = severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 8.15 score for risk score, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 15 score for severity.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4 score for occurrence.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3 score for detection.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where temperature-rise severity of failure sits at 6 score and the headline result is 4.55 score, this scenario comes in 79.12% above the baseline at 8.15 score.
  • Use it to prioritize infrared inspections, connection torque audits, and load balancing across a fleet of panels and switchgear. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Risk score: 8.15 score (headline result)
  • Severity: 15 score
  • Occurrence: 4 score
  • Detection: 3 score

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Heat Rise Estimate calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.