Elteck Services

Electrical Service and Maintenance

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

In general, all electrical equipment generates heat when in operation.  The level of heat generated is relative to the variables of the system involved, notably:

  1. Electrical current profiles, and
  2. Conductivity and/or resistance of the circuit.

When a system is overloaded beyond its design and application limits the heating effect has exponential consequences.  The fixed resistance of the system coupled with the current levels beyond design are a product of heat …

Heat (W) = I2R

Continued excessive overloads will degrade the overall conductivity which will continue to contribute to overloading and overheating cycles.  As the system conductivity further degrades, it will take decreasingly less current and load to overheat the system.  If this pattern is allowed to continue, it will self-destruct through fire or arc flash explosion.

This overheating degradation pattern can also occur and become consequential from age and in operation, thermographic inspections are now considered part and parcel of regular maintenance and required by some insurance underwriters.

The CEC under rule 2 requires regular maintenance, part of a maintenance protocol is exercising of electrical equipment which is a process required to keep pivot points lubricated and keep contact surfaces fresh removing surface oxidization and corrosion and to verify that the operation of equipment is functional and as originally intended.

THERMOGRAPHIC SURVEY (Z463 CEC – MTC Req)

INFRARED INSPECTION / EXERCISING EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE (CEC-Z-CSA Z463A)

CSA Z463 Standard:

  1. A documented Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) shall be established, implemented and maintained and shall address worker and public safety, prevention of losses and property damage, electrical system performance and reliability, reduction of risk and compliance with applicable Federal, Provincial and Territorial regulations.
  2. The EMP shall include electrical equipment asset management requirements.
  3. The EMP shall include a risk management process.
  4. The electrical manufacturer’s recommendations for electrical equipment maintenance shall be considered and followed.
  5. Preventative and protective risk control methods applied to mitigate or reduce risk shall include safety objectives and shall be integrated into occupational health and safety management system.
  6. The EMP shall include safety objectives and shall be integrated into the occupational health and safety management system.
  7. Electrical maintenance activities shall be performed on electrical equipment and systems to retain them in, or restore them to, a state in which they were designed to function safely.
  8. The electrical maintenance plan for the safety of electrical equipment and systems shall include frequency of inspections and the electrical maintenance activities and tasks critical for worker safety.
  9. The organization shall establish a risk process to identify electrical equipment and system failures with the potential to cause harm.
  10. Electrical hazard identification and risk assessment shall be completed for the qualified persons that will complete energized electrical equipment maintenance.
  11. Equipment age can be factored in establishing the appropriate maintenance frequencies, inspections and tasks to be completed.

RULE CEC 2-300 – general requirements for maintenance and operation:

  1. All electrical equipment shall be kept in safe and proper working condition.
  2. Electrical equipment maintained for emergencies services shall be periodically inspected and tested as necessary to ensure its fitness for service.