Electrical Assets

Electrical Assets

Electrical Equipment

Modern facilities use electric power to process raw materials, to move end products and to provide essential services to the customers. The key building blocks of electrical distribution systems are cables, transformers and switchboards which together with control and protection systems deliver safe and reliable electricity to end user.

The system design defines facility electrical availability and reliability with the key assumption is that the basic electrical maintenance is completed as defined in the Facility Maintenance Strategy. In the unlikely event of total power outage the emergency power system must be available on demand and battery system capacity must be adequate to black start the facility.

Electrical Standards

Operation of electric energy systems can result in heat dissipation and insulation degradation over period of time and electrical equipment must be designed, constructed, inspected and tested to ensure safe operation.

The main objective of electrical diagnostics tests is to check insulation system (solid, gas or liquid) condition, additionally temperature rise thermography may be also recommended. The electrical protection system may be also required to be checked depending on the jurisdiction requirements and local site best practices.

A number of electrical inspection and testes are prescribed in Australian regulation and legal framework in state Electricity Regulation, QLD Electricity Regulation 2006, or Western Australian Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 where electrical work must comply with:

• AS 2067 Substations and high voltage installations exceeding 1kV a.c.
• AS/NZS 3001 Electrical Installations – Transportable structures and vehicles including their site supplies
• AS/NZS 3002 Electrical Installations – Shows and Carnivals
• AS/NZS 3003 Electrical Installations – Patient Treatment Areas of Hospitals and Medical, Dental Practices and Dialysing Locations
• AS/NZS 3004.1 Electrical Installations – Marinas
• AS/NZS 3004.2 Electrical Installations – Recreational Boats Installations
• AS/NZS 3008.1.1 Electrical Installations – Selection of Cables
• AS/NZS 3010 Electrical Installations – Generating Sets
• AS/NZS 60079 Explosive Atmospheres
• AS/NZS 61241 Electrical Apparatus for Use in the Presence of Combustible Dust.

The above mentioned standards are mandatory as failure to comply with these electrical minimum requirements may result in harm to humans, injury or safety incident. Inadequate electrical maintenance can be viewed as negligence especially for high energy and high voltage equipment where poor reliability may result in fire event or electrical safety incident.

Electrical Maintenance

Electrical equipment sold in Australia must comply to relevant Australian Standards or equivalent, however electrical design integrity can be degraded over time and system utilisation and the equipment should be maintained periodically to comply with relevant electrical standards.

It is recommended that facility manager is aware of potential hazards with operating electrical equipment and current maintenance plan to safeguard against operational and dynamic events which can result in not tolerable risk exposure. The best practice is to keep maintenance records for all high risk equipment in safe location online or offline accessible from site location.

As facility owner and/or operator you are responsible for staff and contractor safety who conduct business on your facility. The evidence of site due diligence and duty of care are the maintenance record and procedures.

Inspection and Test Results Management can be effective method to comply with best industry practices to store at results at multiple locations. The ITP subcomponent is directly integrated with Maintenance System where the Work Request can have prescribed Inspection and Test Plan template to ensure consistency of results quality.