Page 37 - OHS, October 2021

imagescanbeenteredintosoftftware, creating a centralized, comprehensive and accessible database that can be fifiltered by equipment classifification/type, equipment size/capacity, manufacturer name, model number if available, rated amps/capacity, voltage, equipment priority and equipment location by room.
Infrared inspections simply use an infrared device (camera) to scan exposed, energized electrical assets to determine if a problem exists. An image of the problem should be included in the report, but this imagery can be difficult to understand or use to identify the exact problem. More advanced, in-depth services can provide comprehensive data management and reporting systems.
This type of infrared inspection goes beyond just looking for hot spots in the largest equipment. By providing complete information, users get a high-level view of all problems and assets inspected and can drill down by problem type and severity, asset type, asset priority, location and more. Taking into consideration the problem component type, rating, load and ambient temperature, sophisticated calculations can be used to confirm problem severity from minor issues to the most critical. Problems can then be forecasted at different loads to help identify risk and prioritize repair.
In addition, visual inspections by trained, certified technicians identify non-thermal problems of facility assets by looking for NEC and OSHA compliance issues. These issues include missing covers or knockouts, exposed wires, foreign materials inside electrical equipment and other life-safety issues that can cause injury, failures and fines.
A full and complete infrared program will greatly contribute to a risk management program.
Consider the
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Now that you might be interested, let’s talk about the additional benefits of electrical infrared inspections. When considering an electrical infrared inspection, costs and return on investment should also be considered. Standard infrared inspections may give you results and recommendations, but they will not give you any information on energy savings or other return on investment data. There
is software is available that provides extensive cost-benefit analyses and forecasts of potential energy repair cost, production and materials loss savings.
Your facility’s electrical safety and code and regulatory compliance result from inspecting, seeing what was inspected, identifying problems, making and documenting repairs and mitigating risk. Innovative technology today makes this possible. The goal is not to simply know that there are electrical problems in your
facility. The goal is to keep your people safe, maintain efficient operations, and save money in the process. Best-in-class infrared inspection services deliver on these expanded benefits. As stated at the beginning of this article, it is critical to start now to proactively identify, prioritize and control risks associated with your facility’s electrical assets.
Bret Bevis is the SEAM Group Managing Director.
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