Maintain Your Equipment; Reduce Your Risk, Part 5 of 6
Dave Smith has been an Industrial Maintenance Electrician since 1975. He has taught maintenance, troubleshooting and safety courses to thousands of electricians in mines, mills, refineries, factories, plants, power stations and offshore platforms throughout North America and the Middle East. Dave is a hands-on guy and teache...
One of the most fascinating histories I’ve ever read was the history of the development of standards for nuts and bolts. It was truly amazing to learn that, in the late 1800s, there was a plethora of bolt head sizes, styles, threads and diameters. For those of us who curse metric vs. imperial and vine vs. coarse threads, you can imagine the chaos that existed back then.
Naturally, many manufacturers made proprietary sizes and threads so that customers were forced to come back. This situation was finally resolved in the early 1900s when a committee was formed to standardize nuts and bolts in the marketplace.
In 1997, I became aware of a set of electrical maintenance standards created by an organization that had originated as NETA, the National Electrical Testing Association (www.netaworld.org). NETA had started as a group of American electrical testing and field service firms sharing knowledge among themselves to improve their industry. As it grew beyond the borders of the States, the name was adjusted to InterNational Electrical Testing Association (keeping NETA as the acronym), and it has published several sets of standards specific to electrical systems.
ANSI/NETA “Standard for Maintenance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power Distribution Equipment and Systems” (2011), for example, covers suggested field tests and inspections for assessing the suitability of continued service and reliability of electrical power distribution systems.
It addresses such topics as; Applicable Codes, Standards, and References; Qualifications of the Testing Agency; Division of Responsibility; General Testing Equipment Information; Short-Circuit Analysis and Coordinating Studies; System Function Test; and Thermographic Surveys.
It also includes tests to be performed on: switchgear and switchboard assemblies, transformers, cables, circuit breakers, protective relays, grounding systems and other apparatus.
ANSI/NETA “Standard for Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems” (2009) was developed for use by those responsible for assessing the suitability for initial energization of electrical power equipment and systems, and to specify field tests and inspections that ensure these systems and apparatus perform satisfactorily, minimizing downtime and maximizing life expectancy.
Use ANSI/NETA ATS 2009 as a guide when specifying and performing the necessary tests to ensure your electrical systems and apparatus not only meet project specifications, but that the manufacturer of the equipment supplied you with a product that will perform safely and reliably for many years.
NETA has a four-level certification process (Levels I, II, III and IV) for its technicians, and they expect technicians to continue their professional development according to ANSI/NETA “Standard for Certification of Electrical Testing Technicians” (2010). It provides a recognized procedure for qualifying electrical testing technicians and the agencies that certify them. This standard defines competency on the basis of experience, education and an examination.
In further support of our industry, NETA provides its Frequency of Maintenance Tests, which is a time-based maintenance schedule and matrix. NETA recognizes that the ideal maintenance program is reliability-based, unique to each plant and each piece of equipment but, in the absence of this information, Frequency and Maintenance Tests is an excellent reference.
Historically, electrical standards were developed by individual utilities and, many times, the information was considered proprietary. As many utilities had the benefit of being monopolies, they had the business drive and resources to invest in the development of internal standards. Many large companies had similar drive and resources, but medium to smaller businesses were at a huge disadvantage.
NETA specifications have filled a huge void in a superb fashion. The organization has worked very diligently and is now accredited with ANSI (American National Standards Institute). Again, providing more credibility to these standards, NETA companies contribute to these standards, which are updated every three to four years.
In addition to standards, NETA’s website has a bookstore listing many valuable reference materials. As well, NETA hosts PowerTest (www.powertest.org), an annual conference that brings together subject matter experts from all electrical fields. I was fortunate this past February to speak on electrical safety at NETA’s conference in Fort Worth and, in 2013, I am doing a 4-hour session on maintaining and testing low- and medium-voltage circuit breakers at PowerTest in New Orleans. If you are an electrical maintenance professional, you need to attend PowerTest.
You must be a field service firm to become a full member of NETA, but anyone can join as an Associate, as have I, and it has been an excellent investment.
Every NETA firm has seen unimaginable damage to equipment, production, materials, and unfortunately, people due to poor maintenance. Its standards have saved companies billions of dollars in avoided losses and, more importantly, innumerable lives.
Until next time, be ready, be careful and be safe.©
