• • • COVER STORY• • • Safe way to protect
employees and equipment By Alan Durrant, Panduit
E
lectrical and maintenance engineers have no time to waste. So, an AVT (Absence of Voltage Test) safety solution, which takes almost no time to use and can save them hours, is too good to miss out on. If it also saves money on the cost of maintenance, downtime and lost production, then ignoring it would be shocking. Regular and frequent predictive maintenance tests of electrical panels is the most effective way to maintain the efficiency of manufacturing equipment. But with dozens of panels across sites numerous businesses experience excessive downtime for maintenance activity. As all engineers know, before any maintenance can be carried out, the panels have to be disconnected from the power source and have their absence of voltage verified. Disconnection is relatively quick and easy, but the traditional method of verifying absence of voltage is slow, complex and open to error, complacency and risk. Panduit’s AVT system minimises the risk of electrical hazards by confirming that any electrical cabinet is voltage-free before allowing access. Compared to other portable test instruments, plant operators, machine builders and onsite engineers and electricians can check whether an electrically safe environment is present with the touch of one button.
VeriSafe 2.0, automatically ensures that the entire test process is followed for every single test. With a push of a button, operators can achieve tested safety in both 3-phase and 1-phase applications in the extended voltage range up to 1000 V for AC and DC applications. The fail-safe design uses active indicators for plant status and complies with SIL 3 (IEC 61508-1) safety functions. According to the NEC, specified in NFPA 70E, an electrically safe environment must be ensured before working with electrical installations without voltage, and the measurement procedure is precisely defined. Panduit’s solution complies with industry requirements and simplifies the process, saves time and money:
• Improved safety and risk reduction – No exposure to electrical hazards while testing and the system reduces human failure factors.
• Simplified process for easier compliance – Satisfies criteria in NFPA 70E 120.5(7) Exception 1 & CSA Z462 4.2.5 (g) Exception 2, and UL 1436 listing.
• Reliable Results – Fail-safe design with active indications. Safety functions meet SIL 3 (IEC 61508-1), as well as redundant channels for measurement and detection.
• Increased productivity – Actionable results within 10-seconds of button push, troubleshoot abnormal power conditions and utilise network module for remote monitoring.
8 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JUNE 2025
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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