News

Posted On: 06/25/2008

Littelfuse provides checklist for electrical system restoration of flood-damaged electrical equipment

PlantServices.com

Littelfuse Inc. is reminding electricians and managers of industrial facilities and large commercial buildings of the hazards associated with working around electrical equipment that has been exposed to flood water, and provides instructions for a safe restoration. Flood waters are generally contaminated and leave conductive and/or corrosive residues inside equipment that can produce shock and fire hazards. Affected equipment should be replaced or refurbished to avoid risk of fire and shock.

Workers should replace any fuses that were submerged, even if they look dry on the outside. Fuses contain filler materials, such as sand, to quench the arcs that form when the fuse elements open. The filler material may absorb water and compromise the fuse's ability to safely interrupt an overload or short circuit.  Because of the fuse's body design, the filler material will not dry out, so all fuses need to be replaced.

Littelfuse advises users to avoid mixing fuse brands in a three-phase application. Replace all three fuses with the UL Class and rating from the same manufacturer because performance between fuses can vary slightly.

To enhance performance and reliability, replace all non-current-limiting fuses such as old-style UL Class H or Class K5 with Class RK5, or more current-limiting Class RK1 fuses. Class RK1 fuses have the same physical dimensions as UL Class H, K5 and RK5 fuses, but provide better protection for personnel and equipment. By standardizing on Class RK1 fuses, the job of preparing equipment for restart is simplified, and contract electricians need to stock only one type of fuse.

Checklist for electrical system restoration

Littelfuse offers the following electrical safety tips:

1. Make sure the power is actually off.  
   Before evacuation, power should have been shut off at the main service switch. If the switch was left in the "on" position and the utility disconnected power outside of the building, have the facility inspected by an electrician to make sure that the power is actually off, before other workers enter the premises. After power has been shut off by the power utility, the utility will need written authorization before restoring electric service.
2. Inspect the surrounding area for standing water. 
   Flood cleanup usually begins when locations are still wet. Because water conducts electricity, using an appliance such as a wet vacuum or power saw at the cleanup location may be hazardous. To protect workers, companies should use a portable ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). 
3. Identify electrical equipment that was or might have been submerged.  
   It is hazardous to simply allow equipment to dry and then re-energize it. Some equipment can never be reused and must be replaced (see below). Any reusable electrical equipment or appliances that have been wet should not be used until they have been serviced by an electrician or a service center authorized by the equipment manufacturer. 
4. Inspect electrical equipment that was not submerged. 
   Even if electrical equipment was not submerged, it should be inspected by a qualified person to determine whether moisture has entered the enclosures. 
5. Replace or refurbish large electrical equipment, including the following: 
    Switchgear 
    Panelboards
    Motor control centers
    Motors transformers 
6. Replace small components of wiring infrastructure, including the following:
    Receptacles
    Switches
    Light fixtures
    Dimmers
7. Replace circuit-protection devices and power-distribution devices, including the following:
    Fuses
    Disconnect switches
    GFCIs
    Arc-fault circuit interrupters
    Surge-protection devices
    Molded-case circuit breakers.
8. Examine busways and replace or recondition them.  
   Busways with powder-coated bars may be reconditioned and reused. Busway with Mylar-wrapped bars must be replaced because water and corrosive contaminants cannot be removed effectively from beneath the wrapping. 
9. Inspect motor-control equipment and replace or refurbish. 
   Components containing semiconductors and transistors must be replaced. This includes electronically controlled and solid-state contactors and starters. Overload relays must also be replaced. Some motor-control equipment can be refurbished and reused. Adjustable-speed drives (not the electronic kind) can be saved, as well as manual and magnetic controllers, and motor-control centers. 
10. Inspect power equipment.
    Electronic trip units of low-voltage power breakers must be replaced. High-voltage circuit breakers (AC); low-voltage power circuit breakers; protective relays, meters, and current transformers may be refurbished and reused, and so may low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear.
11. Replace dry-type transformers and analyze liquid-filled transformers.
    All dry-type transformers, regardless of kVA ratings, and all dry-type control circuit transformers and all cast-resin transformers must be replaced. For liquid-filled transformers, analysis of the insulating medium is required for evaluation.
12. Replace wire, cable or flexible cord
    Wire or cable listed for dry locations (such as NM-B) must be replaced. Wire or cable that is suitable for wet locations may be refurbished and reused, provided the ends of the wire or cable have not been exposed to water and the wire is not damaged.
13. Replace or refurbish other devices.
    Signaling, protection and communications systems must be replaced. Cable trays (replace damaged labels), fire pump controllers and motors may be refurbished and reused.

More detailed information about which equipment may be refurbished and reused and what must be replaced is available in a set of NEMA guidelines titled, "Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment." The full text is available from NEMA at www.nema.org/stds/water-damaged.cfm#download.

For more information, visit www.littelfuse.com.