Electrical Room: Essential Safety

By R.W. Hurst, Editor

An electrical room is a critical component of modern infrastructure, housing vital electrical equipment that powers buildings and facilities. These rooms are designed to ensure the safe and efficient operation of electrical systems while providing adequate working space for maintenance and inspections. This article explores the essential aspects of electrical rooms, including their contents, safety requirements, standard dimensions, labelling, ventilation, and maintenance practices.

What is in an Electrical Room?

An electrical room typically contains various types of electrical equipment necessary for the distribution and control of electrical power. This includes circuit breakers, transformers, switchgear, control panels, and uninterrupted power supplies (UPS). These components are integral to an electrical system, ensuring that power is delivered safely and reliably throughout a building. Additionally, monitoring and metering devices may be installed to oversee the performance and status of the electrical infrastructure.

What are the Safety Requirements for Entering an Electrical Room?

Safety is paramount when accessing areas housing electrical systems. Personnel must adhere to specific safety protocols to prevent accidents and injuries. Essential safety requirements include:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Individuals must wear appropriate PPE, such as insulated gloves, safety glasses, and flame-resistant clothing, to protect against electrical hazards.
Training: Only trained and authorized personnel should enter these rooms. Training should cover hazard recognition, emergency procedures, and safe working practices.
Lockout/Tagout Procedures: Before performing any maintenance or repairs, the electrical equipment should be de-energized and secured using lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental re-energization.
Clear Signage: Warning signs and labels should be prominently displayed to indicate potential hazards and restricted access areas.

What are the Standard Dimensions and Clearances Required for Electrical Rooms?

Compliance with standard dimensions and clearances is crucial to ensure safety and accessibility. According to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and other relevant standards, the following guidelines should be observed:

Working Space: Adequate working space must be provided around electrical equipment to allow safe operation and maintenance. The NEC specifies that a minimum clear working space of 3 feet in front of electrical panels and equipment is required.
Height: The room should have sufficient height to accommodate the electrical equipment and allow for safe working conditions. Typically, a minimum ceiling height of 7.5 feet is recommended.
Access and Egress: The room should have clear and unobstructed pathways for personnel to enter and exit safely. This includes having doors that open outward and are equipped with panic hardware.

How Should Electrical Rooms be Labeled and Marked?

Proper labeling and marking are essential for safety and compliance. Electrical rooms should be clearly identified with signs that indicate their purpose and potential hazards. Labels should be durable and legible, providing information such as:

Equipment Identification: Each piece of electrical equipment should be labeled with its function, voltage rating, and any specific safety warnings.
Hazard Warnings: Signs indicating the presence of high voltage, arc flash hazards, and restricted access should be prominently displayed.
Emergency Information: Emergency contact information and procedures should be posted in a visible location.

What Ventilation and Climate Control Measures are Needed in Electrical Rooms?

Maintaining proper ventilation and climate control is vital for the reliable operation of electrical equipment. High temperatures and humidity can adversely affect the performance and lifespan of electrical components. Key considerations include:

Cooling Systems: Air conditioning or ventilation systems should be installed to regulate the temperature and prevent overheating of electrical equipment.
Humidity Control: Dehumidifiers or climate control systems should be used to maintain optimal humidity levels, preventing moisture-related damage and corrosion.
Airflow: Adequate airflow should be ensured to disperse heat generated by the equipment and maintain a stable environment.

How Often Should Electrical Rooms be Inspected and Maintained?

Regular inspections and maintenance are essential to ensure the continued safety and functionality of electrical systems. The frequency of inspections should be based on the operational demands and environmental conditions. Recommended practices include:

Routine Inspections: Conduct visual inspections at least monthly to check for signs of wear, damage, or unauthorized modifications.
Comprehensive Maintenance: Perform detailed maintenance and testing of electrical equipment annually. This includes checking connections, cleaning components, and verifying the operation of protective devices.
Record Keeping: Maintain detailed records of all inspections, maintenance activities, and any issues identified. This documentation helps track the condition of the electrical systems and plan future maintenance.

Understanding the components, safety requirements, and maintenance practices of electrical rooms is crucial for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of electrical systems. By adhering to these guidelines and standards, facilities can maintain high-quality electrical infrastructure, providing reliable power and a safe working environment.

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Evluma Launches Line of Post Top Globes to Complement LED OmniMax

March 12, 2020, Renton, WA…Street and area lighting manufacturer Evluma, announces the release of a new globe accessory line, OmniMax Lighting Solutions (OLS) to complement their OmniMax family of LED replacement lamps. OLS is a custom, curated selection of spherical and acorn style globes for decorative streetlights. The OmniMax is a Bluetooth-connected, screw-in replacement lamp for use in decorative post top globe and acorn lights. The release of a globe line to complement the OmniMax is designed to make the HID to LED conversion and maintenance process easier for Evluma customers.

Customers executing a retrofit project can conveniently purchase a replacement globe at the same time they purchase the OmniMax. “The wide variety of styles and materials offered means that we can typically provide a customer with a globe that matches an older style,” said Marketing Director, Cathleen Shattuck. “Customers can refresh globes simultaneously with OmniMax installation to save on labor, or if they suddenly discover damage to individual light fixtures, we can quickly provide them with a solution. Our high level of customer service means we are well-adapted to quick turnaround on orders of any size, keeping the process convenient and low cost.”

Using OmniMax, municipalities, utilities and electric departments converting post top fixtures from HID to LED can do so in under 5 minutes a fixture. The OmniMax is available in both Premium and Standard models. Premium models are Bluetooth-enabled and are compatible with Evluma’s wireless control application, ConnectLED. Both models carry a ten-year warranty and offer Evluma’s signature low-glare illumination.

About Evluma

Formed in 2008, Evluma is committed to developing affordable, long-lasting and environmentally low-impact LED lighting solutions that fundamentally change the landscape of the outdoor utility lighting market. Evluma’s high standard of customer service and background in innovative lighting technologies, automation and software design creatively ideate and inform its utility-grade products. Evluma is located in Renton, WA, USA.

09/24/20

Evluma's Build-Your-Own Acorn is an Affordable Answer to Decorative Streetlight LED Upgrades

Street and area light manufacturer Evluma announces the release of Build-Your-Own Acorn; a full-fixture, decorative streetlight replacement solution that includes the customer’s choice of acorn globe, finial and capital fitter. This solution is designed for utilities, municipalities, facilities and property managers looking to upgrade their existing decorative lighting from HID to LED and features the OmniMax™ LED lamp as its light source.

“Build-Your-Own-Acorn is a tailored solution that puts control in the hands of the customer,” said Evluma Product Manager Jason Dobbs. “With the value-driven OmniMax at the center of quality, cost-effective options, this is an affordable approach to complete head replacements. Build-Your-Own-Acorn offers the freedom to replace and repair fixtures without being locked into a proprietary OEM solution that may be hard to change later and typically costs more. It’s everything but the pole.”

Build-Your-Own Acorn includes multiple styles of acrylic and polycarbonate globes, in addition to a cast aluminum capital fitter. The capital fits 3 inch and 4 inch poles and is offered in black or green. The 70W OmniMax LED lamp is offered in six different color temperatures ranging from 2000K-5000K in either the Premium or Standard. OmniMax Premium includes Evluma’s patented, maintenance-saving Photocontrol Failsafe™ and compatibility with Evluma’s Bluetooth lighting app ConnectLED™. OmniMax Standard ships without connectivity features or Photocontrol Failsafe built-in.

“Photocontrol Failsafe means never having to replace a failed photocontrol ever again,” said Janine Soper, Evluma’s Regional Sales Manager. “With ConnectLED, the OmniMax Premium can be quickly dimmed or programmed with a dimming schedule, offering additional aesthetic and energy saving opportunities,” said Janine.

Both OmniMax models are supported by robust 20kV/10kA surge protection and the OmniMax’s four layers of thermal management for extended operation in enclosed environments. The capital has a 5 year warranty on the finish. Acrylic globes are warrantied for 5 years against yellowing. The OmniMax and all electronics, including the capital’s optional photocontrol are warrantied for 10 years.

About Evluma

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Parallel Resonant AC Test Sets

High Voltage, Inc. is an American test equipment manufacturing company located in rural Copake, NY. We are known for high quality, easy to use equipment and for our commitment to providing the best customer and product support in the industry.

As we matured we expanded into larger products. Cable fault locators (thumpers) as well as higher power ac (HPA) dielectric testers as might be used in a factory environment. Our HPA line of ac testers are available with outputs up to 300 kV ac and power levels up to 40 kVA and can be customized with various levels of control sophistication.

Our new PAR line of ac dielectric testers are designed to meet the needs of those who need power levels up to 250 kVA, to be able to test their highly capacitive test loads. Using ac resonant technology outputs of 50 kV at 5A (for example) are possible with an input of only 230 v, 90 A. That is an input of 20 kVA for an output of 250 kVA. (Model PAR-50250FC5)

The PAR models consist of a control section and a high voltage section. While large, they are transportable by van or trailer for field work. The control section includes the input breaker, variable (motorized) input control, a PLC controller, and connections for controlling the hv section. The high voltage section is a steel tank with a phenolic output bushing. Inside this tank is a variable-core reactor in an insulating oil bath with an air space at the top to allow for thermal expansion.

The variable reactor looks similar to a transformer but has a moveable core that allows the inductance value to vary to match the capacitance of the load, thereby achieving resonance. This effectively cancels the load capacitance, as far as input power requirements are concerned. Once in resonance, the input voltage is increased until the desired output voltage level is achieved. For a capacitive load that must be tested at power frequency the PAR reduces power requirements, as well as test equipment size by one tenth to one thirtieth, compared to a test transformer.

The HVI PAR family of resonant as dielectric testers are perfect for power frequency testing of power cables, rotating machinery, bushings, instrument transformers, transformers, shunt reactors, and many other products.

For more info please contact sales@hvinc.com to discuss your application.
For more information on these and other high voltage test products, contact High Voltage, Inc. at www.hvinc.com, sales@hvinc.com, or call 518-329-3275.

03/07/22

Evluma Launches Low-Glare LED Roadway Luminaire

LED lighting manufacturer Evluma announces the launch of a new roadway lighting product RoadMaxTM. The RoadMax series will include three sizes: small, medium and large and a range of wattages designed to replace legacy HID 100w, 250w and 400w cobraheads. The first model in the series, the RoadMax RX1, with wattages ranging from 30W-70W and an estimated output range of 3,000 to 9,000 lumens, is estimated to start shipping at the end of April 2022.

This sleek and stylish luminaire was designed with RP-8-18 roadway requirements in mind. The unique optical design offers a combination of roadway performance and glare control unprecedented in the industry. “RoadMax is an advancement of Evluma’s reputation for low-glare, visually-pleasing outdoor lighting,” says Taisha Bezzo, National Sales Director. “RoadMax addresses contemporary concerns regarding disability glare and light trespass from roadway lighting while maintaining exceptional pole spacing.”

Multiple luminaire configurations for Type II, Type III and Type V, all with zero-uplight (U0), are offered. Additional features such as a field adjustable wattage selector (FAO), light trespass shields and a choice of photocontrol sockets are available. RoadMax can be customized to include Evluma’s Photocontrol FailsafeTM, a patented technology that solves photocontrol failures on street and area lights. Compatibility with ConnectLEDTM, Evluma’s Bluetooth app for wireless lighting controls, enables dimming and dimming schedules without the need for a network. Evluma’s comprehensive 10-year warranty and signature 20kV/10kA surge protection comes standard with every model.