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Focus on Electric Power
Electric Power System upgrades and maintenance can go overlooked for a while until a major problem or serious interruption occurs.
Seasonal conditions can leave customers vulnerable to outages due to wind and water damage, high power demand, and limited generation capacity. The utility service, switchgear, transformers, switchboards and panelboards, and specialized components must be properly engineered and maintained to assure maximum reliability, equipment life, and personnel safety. Clients should now consider the following:
Security Enhancement – With the heightened threat of terrorism, security measures at vulnerable facilities may be required. Suggested methods include manhole security devices, physical barriers around substations, perimeter motion detection, and enhanced CCTV coverage and capabilities.
Personnel Safety – Arc Flash analyses address recently implemented safety requirements in OSHA 29CFR 1910.132. OSHA requires the workplace be analyzed for danger from high resistance electrical faults. A thorough study is needed to identify Flash Protection Boundaries, Hazard Categories and establish protective equipment requirements, such as specialized clothing. Arc Flash analysis is now a standard in facility design.
Emergency and Mission Critical Power – “Mission critical” refers to ultra-high reliability and availability requirements for electrical and mechanical systems. Every facility that sustains operations must possess some degree of power protection equipment. With the growth of e-commerce and 24/7 business operations, regulatory requirements for availability and integrity of data drive the need for engineered power systems. These systems must meet stringent operating criteria to maintain continuous functionality and minimize costly unscheduled downtime.
Burns Engineering, Inc. helps clients meet the electrical service integrity, security and reliability necessary for the successful operation of their business.
Posted on Mar 23, 12:23 PM