Feature Maintenance management Infrared windows cut maintenance costs


Whilst there are clearly cost savings to be made by bringing outsourced electrical maintenance services in-house, many companies lack the resource to do so. Thermal imaging is a good case in point but the inclusion of infrared windows can make all the difference


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he cost of this technology is falling in line with increased demand whilst the functionality of cameras continues to increase. On this basis there should be ample opportunity for maintenance savings to be made. But the problem lies not with the cost of the survey equipment itself but with the necessary and time consuming safety procedures that must be observed when inspecting energised systems.


A company without in-house ther- mal imaging typically needs a team of people to undertake this work. One or more of its own electricians is required to accompany the thermographic con- sultant on-site to remove panels for testing. And all need to be kitted out with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the purpose. So, not only is it a minimum of a two-person job but man hours are lost in suiting up and down and in waiting for each other to perform their respec-


tive tasks. The non-productive time involved is staggeringly high. Alongside this is the need to min- imise risk, a factor often driven by insurance. The frequency of preven- tive maintenance is key here but this only serves to exacerbate the problem. The safety considerations involved in the survey add cost and this increases exponentially with every inspection added to the maintenance schedule. It’s hardly surprising to learn there- fore that many sites do the best they can with the resources they have, omitting to carry out regular checks on energised systems as it is just too oner- ous a task. The problem here is that these systems are often critical to the production process and could there- fore cost the company dearly in the long run. It’s a high risk strategy. There is an easy solution however - the inclusion of infrared windows. This simple move can make a big dif- ference to the economics of effective


electrical maintenance, making it viable for any manufacturer to implement its own thermal imaging programme.


A local power generation site pro- vides a good example of what can be achieved. It saved an impressive 90% on its maintenance costs by installing 203 IRISS windows. Their installation has allowed the routine inspection of energised systems that were previ- ously bypassed. Furthermore the entire task has become a one man job as there is no need to remove panels or wear increased levels of PPE. Total man hours required to com- plete an inspection dropped from 468.3 hours to just 33. And as a result of these important improvements, the site is now planning the purchase of its own infrared camera and to provide thermography training for its in-house maintenance engineers. This will lead to even more cost savings and help ensure its plant remains fully produc- tive. To help others assess the poten- tial cost savings of adopting infrared windows IRISS provides a return on investment calculator Iriss T: 01245 399 713 www.iriss.com Enter 307


Polymer infrared windows offer superior shatter-proof solution W


ith the launch of its new Platinum Series infrared inspection windows Iriss poses an important question. Why choose a traditional, limited life fluoride crystal window that could shatter when there is now a superior and clear, polymer alternative that is impact resistant and which carries an unlimited lifetime warranty? The introduction of the Platinum Series is the result of continuous development of the original concept and in response to customer requests. The capabilities of this IR window are made possible by the new Iriss Poly-View System patented clear polymer. And this is said to remove the benefit that a crystal window could claim over the originally opaque Iriss alternative – visual inspection.


Platinum is said to exceed industry standards as the only IR window suitable for electrical inspection in the UV, visual and all three infrared spectrums. A fixed and stable transmission rate is assured for accurate quantita- tive and qualitative analysis. It helps companies comply with NFPA 70E electrical safety standards and is fully certified and tested to UL, IEE, IP65/NEMA 4, Lloyds of London and the American Bureau of Shipping standards. By comparison with Platinum, a crystal window car- ries the significant risk of breakage, especially in the presence of vibration. Even an electrician slamming an enclosure door can cause a crystal window to shatter. This presents manufacturers, particularly those in the


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food and pharmaceutical sectors, with a problem. Platinum has an unconditional lifetime warranty


against breakage. It is reinforced by an aluminium hon- eycomb grill and is not degraded by acids, alkalis, UV, moisture, humidity, vibration or high frequency noise. Whilst its competitors have to rely on features such as unique locking mechanisms as key selling points, Platinum can count on its proven and far superior, long term performance that saves customers time and money and assures personnel safety. Process critical electrical components can be easi- ly monitored by the thermographer without any danger


of being exposed to energised equipment. And in addi- tion Platinum eliminates the need for PPE. The poten- tial cost savings achievable through the adoption of Platinum are therefore huge.


The Iriss Platinum Series is available in both round


and rectangular window shapes with customizable fea- tures such as housing materials, gaskets, covers, lock- ing devices, private labelling and colour. In addition, custom solutions with Poly-View System technology can be configured to virtually any shape or size – a capability that is not achievable with crystal technology.


JULY/AUGUST 2012 Factory Equipment


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