Survey Protocol

Pepper Maintenance Systems Inc. personnel will:

• Discuss any known or suspected problems in the electrical system with plant personnel before any power room is entered.

• Ask plant personnel for estimated run time of electrical room and percent load of system at that given moment.

• Use the Infrared Imager to survey all panels and MCC (Motor Control Center’s) exterior surfaces to identify any abnormal surface heat before panels and MCC’s are opened.

• Analyze surface and door gap temperatures to note any suspected trouble spots. This preliminary inspection helps to alert the thermographer of any high to extreme risks under the panel door. NOTE: They are not always identifiable from this procedure.

• If this procedure identifies any high or extreme areas of concern or identifies a suspected problem, unit will be de-energized and analyzed under no load.

• If problem is not fully identifiable, a small percentage load may be added (10-25%) once panel is opened and if it can be safely done.  (High and extreme anomalies will be identifiable because of residual heat.)

• If exact location of anomaly cannot be determined but is obviously an area of high concern, company authorized electricians will be notified and brought in to assist in locating the exact location of the problem.  Extreme risk problems usually have already begun physical deterioration of surrounding material and are readily identifiable.

                                                                                      

Circumstances do exist where the exact source of heating cannot be determined without full cabinet access from all sides. Pepper Maintenance  thermographers will make this determination and authorized personnel will be notified. No further infrared imaging will proceed on this particular component of the electrical system. Full access to control cabinet may be too dangerous to proceed and the Pepper Maintenance thermographer will make this determination and the inspection will cease.

 

While the above circumstances are rare, they do exist and the above protocol will be followed.

 

As equipment is most effectively analyzed under at least a 25% electrical load, all doors, cabinets and panels must be opened. Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will be worn while opening panels, doors and cabinets for access.

 

1. Rubber insulating gloves and leather over-protectors will be worn until image analysis begins.

2. Steel-toed shoes, eye protection and hard-hat are required to enter the facility.

3. Flash shield on helmet will be in place and covering the face as long as the thermographer remains inside the minimum distance for viewing an open panel.

4. Gloves may be removed and face shield raised when infrared survey work begins.

 

 

Electrical controls located within panels hinged from the top that disengage from the panel when raised are an area of special concern when accessing for inspection. If these controls contain a front mounted indicator light and/or control circuit push-buttons, they will be operated for a sufficient length of time to allow proper warm-up and then shut down and de-energized for access. This means de-energizing each control main to disconnect power to the individual starter. Control switch deactivation will not suffice.

 

All Infrared Survey work will be done with plant personnel assistance and co-operation. Pepper Maintenance Systems Inc. does not energize any equipment and believes the most effective survey work is done with the direct assistance of plant personnel.

 

Full survey work may proceed to finish on all equipment once these steps are followed.

 

A checklist for the above procedures will not be required for Pepper Maintenance Systems Inc. personnel as this protocol is required for all electrical controls and is part of our overall training procedure.