A circuit breaker having first and second electrical contacts configured to generate an electrical arc upon being separated, an arc chamber surrounding at least a portion of a space between the first and second electric contacts, at least one expansion chamber positioned proximate to the arc chamber, and an arc pressure control valve assembly configured to allow threshold-based flow into and out of the at least one expansion chamber. An arc pressure control valve assembly and method of operating a circuit breaker are described, as are other aspects.