Reduce The Risk of Equipment Fires & Downtime, Thermal Imaging a Worthy Panacea for Electrical PM’s.
The use of thermal imaging technology to aid industry PMs is fast becoming the norm. The technology is safe and surveys cost-effective, resulting in the identification of electrical and mechanical thermal deficiencies without plant intervention, to maintain up-time. By pinpointing thermal deficiencies, a competent technician certified to operate the device can precisely identify and plan to mitigate the risk of service failure. This is where Geo Therm Ltd inspection services excels, providing its stakeholders with global service experience and MO excellence developed over 20 years.
The technology detects "hot spots" in wiring, caused by poorly connected cabling, loose terminations, breakages, and overloads, which if undetected, can lead to extreme overheating. On average 16,000 commercial fires occur every year in the UK alone, approximately one third are attributed to electrical distribution system failures.
Utilising thermal imaging provides real-time, non-invasive temperature measurement to capture the early signs of component heat generation. Invisible to the naked eye unless glowing cherry red. The technology is highly effective and complements existing fire risk avoidance measures for commercial properties, factories, marine assets, and offshore platforms.
Furthermore, helping legal compliance requirements related to the Electricity at Work regulations. By complementing the electrical periodic tests and inspections regimes. Likewise, surveys and reports satisfy insurance prerequisites and technical notifications.
However, before you race off to procure the latest thermal imaging device. Take in consideration initial equipment start-up costs, specialist PPE, and annual calibration OPEX. Notwithstanding the personnel training requirements and ongoing competency validation. So, a rather daunting and cost prohibitive exercise when other options exist.
All too often we see >£8-16K mid-range non-calibrated or broken imagers collecting dust on shelving, or no on-site technician qualified or competent to use the equipment. Often this is attributed to an initial company maintenance initiative, that did not fully understand the process controls and independent supporting documentation requirements. In contrast, the real panacea is hiring a specialised 3rd party service provider to kick-start the thermal program. And shepherd the program by drawing upon an annual service agreement.
Contracting a 3rd services provider for your localised condition monitoring like Geo Therm Ltd has other longer-term benefits. As routine inspections become increasingly efficient and ensures impartiality and professional due diligence, over the operative’s survey inexperience, bias, and time constraints. Furthermore, the duty manager knows the exact cost per visit so can forecast future maintenance finances and expenditure.
In short, the use of a specialist service providers like Geo Therm Ltd gives stakeholders that one stop-shop to a cost effective, professionally planned inspection service that asset manager’s value, and auditors and insurance company’s recognise.
For more information on Geo Therm Ltd please visit: https://www.geothermltd.co.uk/