The Essentials of Hazardous Area Electrical Inspections

The Essentials of Hazardous Area Electrical Inspections

Thursday 19 March

Hazardous Area Inspections determine whether electrical installations are safe and suitable for use. As well as this, they help ensure installations will not lead to any serious consequences that may cause risk to the workforce, business, or processes – for example, fire and explosions.

Grades of Hazardous Area Inspections:

When electrical equipment is installed in a hazardous environment, there are three main inspection stages that must occur to make sure the equipment doesn’t become the ignition source in the “Triangle of Fire”. The triangle of fire refers to the three elements required for a fire to ignite which are known to be: heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent.

As a result of this, our electrical engineers would undergo inspections using the following grading systems to ensure there’s continued reliability of plant equipment used in a hazardous environment:

1. Visual Hazardous Area Inspections

Visual hazardous area inspections detail all defects which can be determined visually either from the ground or from permanent access platforms, without the use of hand tools, switching off or climbing and using ladders.

2. Close Hazardous Area Inspections

Close hazardous area inspections include those aspects covered by a visual inspection, and identifies those defects, such as loose bolts, which will be apparent only by the use of access equipment.

3. Detailed Hazardous Area Inspections

Detailed hazardous area inspections will include those aspects covered by a close inspection and identify those defects, such as loose terminations, which will only be apparent by opening the enclosure and using tools and test equipment where necessary.

During the Hazardous Area Inspection, a thorough examination of electrical installations is performed, which would cover a close examination so that it meets all regulations and requirements:

• Safety
• Wear and tear
• Corrosion
• Damage
• Age
• External influences
• Suitability
• Overloading

As a result of this, it can lead serious consequences if you don’t have hazardous area services in place for your business. Ask the experts and see what we can do for you - https://www.srelectrical.com/hazardous-area-services/