THOUGHTS ON THE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Transcription

1 THOUGHTS ON THE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

2 Agenda Why maintain electrical equipment How much maintenance is enough How much documentation is needed Who should maintain the systems and how should they be trained Benefits of maintenance Case study example Q&A

3 Why Maintain Electrical Equipment Here is how a circuit breaker operates

4 Why Maintain Electrical Equipment Proper breaker operation is important!

5 How much Maintenance is Enough How often? Depends on the system/equipment Power distribution systems Fire alarm versus sprinkler system Depends on geographic location Coast versus valley versus desert Schedule it! Weekly/Monthly/Quarterly /Bi-annual/Annual

6 How much Maintenance is Enough Consistently research and understand the facilities electrical systems. Consistently document electrical system alterations

7 How much Maintenance is Enough Documentation Code Required What is important for your facility Centralize your documentation Set scheduled documentation updates Cross Check the documentation

8 Resources OSHE (The folks in this room) NETA (International Electrical Testing Association) ( ASHE ( NFPA Standards ( NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) NFPA 70E (National Electrical Safety Code) Design professionals/consultants JCAHO standards ( OAR standards ( ve_rules.aspx)

9 Resources The Purpose of NFPA 70E Avoid injury/death Reduces Liability Avoid unexpected downtime Avoid revenue loss and repair costs

10 Resources NFPA 70E Equipment Properly rated gloves, clothing, glasses, face shield and tools for the equipment being worked on. Ensure all equipment is properly calibrated on a manufacturers recommended schedule.

11 What Documentation is Helpful? A contractor s perspective Record Drawings Facility Standards Accurate Documentation

12 What Documentation is Helpful? A designer s perspective Description of maintenance program Peak demand information Generator Test logs Record Drawings Infrared scanning Facility Standards

13 How Much Documentation is Needed What does a contractor look for when they step into your facility? Eye test Cleanliness Facility condition Personalities Documentation availability Documentation quality

14 Who Maintains this Stuff Contractors Onsite versus on call Work/inspection logs kept Bid/negotiated work On site personnel Journeyman electrician Plant electrician

15 How much Training is needed? Training Ensure cross training is done System updates Contractor training Hold the specs How do you want your Contractors to act at your facility? Yearly at a minimum

16 Journeyman Electricians OAR General Journeyman License (1) A general journeyman: (a) Is authorized to make any electrical installation; and (b) Shall work under the supervision, direction and control of a general supervising electrician unless doing the type of work that may be supervised, directed or controlled by a person holding a specific limited supervising electrician license, or the type of work requiring no supervision. (2) A general journeyman working in a manufacturing or industrial plant without a supervising electrician or engineer is limited to maintenance work.

17 Limited Journeyman Manufacturing Plant Electricians OAR (a) Installs, maintains, replaces and repairs electrical wiring and electrical products on or in an existing and operable manufacturing or industrial plant owned or used by the licensee's employer; and (b) Is limited to repair and maintenance work if no supervising electrician or engineer is employed.

18 Benefits of Good Electrical Maintenance Practices Cost control Working knowledge of systems. Faster response times to incidents Proactive versus reactive Voice in decision making Renovations cost less Minimize UNINTENDED outages

19 Real World Test Case Situation: Local college with no licensed electrician on staff Issue: Aging 12.5kV distribution system Resolution: 1. Developed an approach with a BRAVE owner 2. Performed preventative maintenance and assessment on the system 3. Quantified various options to address the Issue

20 Real World Test Case Issue: Aging 12.5kV distribution system Equipment installation date ~1970 Equipment maintenance had never been completed Process: Shut down the entire campus for a weekend Discoveries?

21 Real World Test Case

22 Real World Test Case Discoveries in the field

23 Real World Test Case Discoveries in the field This shows possible degrading of a termination and/or cable that needs monitoring.

24 Real World Test Case

25 Real World Test Case

26 Real World Test Case Easy to read information for your decision makers

27 Real World Test Case Results Determined existing system had years of life left Owner s original design request = $3.2mm project Improvements to the existing system = $2.2mm project Developed master plan that allowed for cash flow planning Added $20,000 in average annual maintenance costs Avoided $40,000 - $50,000 increase in annual operational costs Identified critical maintenance issues that could be addressed thru scheduled, INTENDED outages

28 Conclusion You can be your best asset. Advocate for your maintenance needs thru standards and document maintenance by your designers and installers.

29 Questions?

30 Thank you Mark Peckover, PE Scott Mears