Switchgear, Panelboards & Electrical Distribution worked example
Heat Rise Estimate with temperature-rise severity of failure of 3 score: a worked example
Suppose temperature-rise severity of failure falls to 3 score. This page works the full calculation at that level so you can see exactly which result moves and by how much. Heat rise inside switchgear is the leading precursor to insulation failure, loose-connection burndowns, and arc-flash events, so quantifying its risk is central to preventive maintenance.
The inputs for this scenario
- Temperature-rise severity of failure: 3 score (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 6)
- Likelihood of overheating event: 4 score (held at the documented default)
- Detectability before damage: 3 score (held at the documented default)
Working through the calculation
- The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Heat Rise Estimate risk score = severity × 0.40 + occurrence × 0.35 + detection × 0.25.
- Risk score works out to 3.35 score at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
- Severity works out to 3 score at these inputs.
- Occurrence works out to 4 score at these inputs.
- Detection works out to 3 score at these inputs.
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 26.37% below the baseline at 3.35 score.
- It computes a weighted risk score from severity, occurrence, and detection ratings for a potential thermal or overheating failure. When the numbers land here, the stressed input is the lever to work; the walkthrough above shows exactly how much each output recovers as it climbs back toward the baseline.
Results at a glance
- Risk score: 3.35 score (headline result)
- Severity: 3 score
- Occurrence: 4 score
- Detection: 3 score
Run it with your numbers
- To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Heat Rise Estimate calculator, set temperature-rise severity of failure to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.