FIRE SAFETY IRE


safety testing specialist Calbarrie egular assessment and maintenance can minimise risk to employees and


usiness.


through both direct and indirect contact with the battery causing electric shock and potential fire hazards due to short circuits. Furthermore, arc flash caused by electrical faults can produce powerful explosions.


Planned preventive maintenance will dramatically improve the performance, reliability and lifespan of this critical equipment. A trained engineer can perform a combination of visual and specialist diagnostic checks and inspections. Infrared thermography, for example, can be used to identify loose connections, which show up hotter than secure connections. Visual inspection of connection points shows evidence of degradation or soot marks that could signal a short circuit or poor connection. Carrying out repairs and maintenance procedures to a unit that is still energised, however, poses a direct risk of electric shock. A maintenance bypass provides an alternate power path that bypasses the UPS circuitry altogether leaving the engineer safe to service or replace a UPS without interrupting power to loads and without danger of electric shock.


The IET in the 18th edition of the British wiring regulations stipulates new standards for electrical installations


twitter.com/TomorrowsHS


from 1 January 2019 to prevent fire hazards due to electrical faults. The regulations apply to the design, erection and verification of electrical installations, also additions and alterations to existing installations. The new standards include enhanced requirements for RCDs; a recommendation that Arc Fault Protection Devices are installed at origin to help mitigate the risk of fire in AC final circuits of fixed installations due to the effects of arc fault currents, for instance in sleeping accommodation; a requirement for protection against transient overvoltages by means of Surge Protection Devices to be provided in certain circumstances; and wiring systems (not just those in escape routes) to be supported such that they will not be liable to premature collapse in the event of a fire. Your electrician should be able to advise on what the new regulations mean for your business. Further guidance is also available on the IET website or onwww.niceic.com.


https://electrical.theiet.org/bs- 7671/18th-edition-changes/


Through early diagnosis and rectification of electrical faults employers and facilities managers can significantly reduce the risk of fire due to faulty electrics, whilst also ensuring that operations continue to run smoothly and safely. At the time of testing an electrician should make safe any faults requiring urgent remedial action, rectify minor faults and automatically schedule any non-urgent faults for a remedial repair. This streamlining of processes not only maximises efficiencies, improves performance and increases control, but also provides the confidence that electrical systems remain safe and compliant.


www.calbarrie.com 11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18