Plant Services - July 2008 - (Page 14)

UP AND RUNNING ittelfuse reminds us of the hazards associated with working around electrical equipment that has been exposed to flood water, and provides instructions for a safe restoration. Flood waters are generally contaminated, and can leave conductive and corrosive residues inside equipment that can produce shock and fire hazards. Affected equipment should be replaced or refurbished to avoid risk of fire and shock. Replace any fuses that were submerged, even if they look dry on the outside. Fuses contain filler materials such as sand to quench the arcs that form when the fuse elements open. The filler material might absorb water and compromise the fuse’s ability to safely interrupt an overload or short circuit. Because of the fuse’s body design, the filler material won’t dry out, so all fuses need to be replaced. Avoid mixing fuse brands in a three-phase application. Replace the three fuses with the UL Class and rating from the same manufacturer because performance among fuses can vary slightly. To enhance performance and reliability, replace non-currentlimiting fuses such as old-style UL Class H or Class K5 with Class RK5 or more current-limiting Class RK1 fuses. Class RK1 fuses have the same physical dimensions as UL Class H, K5, and RK5 fuses, but provide better protection for personnel and equipment. Standardizing on Class RK1 fuses simplifies the job of preparing equipment for restart and contract electricians need to stock only one type of fuse. Dealing With Flood-Damaged Electricals L be reused, and must be replaced. Any reusable electrical equipment that has been wet shouldn’t be used until it has been serviced by an authorized electrician or service center. 4. Inspect electrical equipment that wasn’t submerged. Even if electrical equipment wasn’t submerged, a qualified person should inspect it to determine whether moisture has entered the enclosures. More detailed information on what equipment might be refurbished and reused and what must be replaced is available in a set of NEMA guidelines titled “Evaluating WaterDamaged Electrical Equipment.” The full text is available at www.nema.org/stds/water-damaged.cfm#download. Stress the importance of following these and other necessary safety precautions when working on flood-damaged electrical equipment. The conditions this environment presents make this a time to be especially aware of safety procedures. Following this checklist for electrical system restoration will reduce hazards for both equipment and personnel. Resources Appreciate EAM An entertaining and informative mini-book, “The Business Impact of Enterprise Asset Management” covers topics like the aging workforce, the changing role of the plant engineer, green initiatives and risk management from an EAM-centric perspective. Here are tips and information that can be used at any level of an organization by individuals who are responsible for or are interested in managing critical assets. Attendees at IBM’s recent Pulse 2008 user group meeting received copies, and you can get yours at the company’s EAM Resource Center, www.eamresourcecenter.com. Checklist for electrical system restoration Non-experts may not understand the special concerns of electrical safety during flood cleanup, so Littelfuse offers a set of 13 electrical safety tips for flooded equipment (see www.plantservices.com/industrynews/2008/086.html). Examples include: 1. Make sure the power actually is disconnected. Before evacuation, power should have been shut off at the main service switch. If the switch was left in the “on” position and the utility disconnected power outside the building, have an electrician inspect the facility to ensure the power is actually “off” before other workers enter the premises. 2. Inspect the surrounding area for standing water. To protect workers, use a portable ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). 3. Identify electrical equipment that was or might have been submerged. It is hazardous to simply allow equipment to dry and then re-energize it. Some equipment can never 14 Prepare for hurricanes National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center experts have projected a 90% chance of a near-normal or above-normal hurricane season. KimberlyClark Professional’s hurricane-preparedness Web portal offers information about how to prepare for a hurricane, protective equipment, biological and other hazards, and more. Workers involved in hurricane response, clean-up and remediation can find it at www.kc-safety.com/hurricanerelief. Industrial Web store now has more Amazon.com announced expansion of its Industrial and Scientific store to include lab supplies, electronic components and metalworking, now offering “anything from stainless steel tubing, to surface mount capacitors, to indexable carbide inserts, to plastic beakers, to Mil Spec machine screws, to casters to roller bearings to respirators.” Corporate accounts allow business to pay at the end of the month for that month’s purchase orders, and buyers now may create their own lists for consumable items they purchase frequently. See www.amazon.com/industrial. www.PLANTSERVICES.com July 2008 http://www.nema.org/stds/water-damaged.cfm#download http://www.eamresourcecenter.com http://www.plantservices.com/industrynews/2008/086.html http://www.kc-safety.com/hurricanerelief http://Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/industrial http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com

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Plant Services - July 2008 Contents From the Editor Letters The PS Files Up and Running Crisis Corner Asset Manager Technology Toolbox Cover Story Compressors Power Transmission Flooring Web Hunter In the Trenches Product Picks Classifieds Energy Expert

Plant Services - July 2008

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