Electrical Safety After a Flood
Prevent Production Loss & Protect Your Electrical Equipment
Other than an explosion or fire in your industrial facility, there is very little that can affect the downtime of your facility more than a flood. Why, you ask? Water has the potential to ruin any electrical equipment it touches, and flooding can negatively impact your facility’s manufacturing output, causing you to lose time and resources.
Not to mention, flooding poses many other hazards, including an increased risk of electrical fire and post-flood structural damage. Below, we’ve outlined several tips for to improve your electrical safety after a flood.
Before Entering a Flood-Damaged Industrial Facility
Before you can enter a flood-damaged building, consider that any industrial or manufacturing facility that was submerged or recently exposed to flood waters may have suffered structural damage and may be too dangerous to enter. Additionally, any stairs, floors, roofs, or overhangs should be inspected before being used.
Inspecting Your Flood-Damaged Electrical Equipment
During or immediately following a flood, particularly in areas where electrical equipment and components are present, hazardous conditions may exist. Making contact with any water could be fatal, as electricity may still be flowing to your facility’s electrical equipment. First, we recommend ensuring that all electricity has been disconnected from your electrical equipment to ensure maximum safety from your electrical components after a flood.
No matter if your facility includes electrical transformers, distribution equipment, or a simple GFCI receptacle, be sure all flood-damaged electrical equipment is inspected by a licensed professional before turning it on.
If you have questions about your flood-damaged electrical equipment, contact your manufacturer.
What Electrical Equipment Is Unsafe to Recondition?
Depending on the make and manufacturer of your electrical components, some parts may be eligible for replacement, while others may not. For example, according to NEMA, the following electrical equipment is ineligible to be reconditioned and must be replaced:
- Molded case circuit breakers
- Switches
- Components containing semi-conductors and transistors
- Outlet and junction boxes
- Wire or cable listed for dry locations
- And more
What Electrical Equipment Is Safe to Recondition?
The following electrical equipment is safe to recondition, and may not require to be replaced in the event of a flood in your facility:
- Panelboards
- Switchboards
- Manual and magnetic controllers
- Motor control centers
- Low voltage power circuit breakers
- Conduit and tubing
- And more
Electrical Safety After a Flood – Transfer Switches & Motor Starters
Motor control equipment, like motor starters, contain both control and protective components together with support structures, buswork, and wiring. Because of this protection, motor starters will not always need to be replaced. However, power equipment controlling the flow of electricity to your manufacturing equipment (such as a manual transfer switch or automatic transfer switch) can be impaired by corrosion and cause severe damage to your electrical equipment if damaged by flood waters, causing a degradation to its electrical interruption capabilities.
NEMA Ratings
NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, provides industry standards to keep your electrical equipment safe during a flood. To learn more about NEMA ratings and standards, click here.
About Salient
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