IR Windows Save Time, Save Money, Stay Safe: Industrial-grade VPFR series (Viewing Pane Fixed Reinforced) infrared windows from IRISS will enable thermographers to survey critical electrical applications more efficiently and much safer than before. NFPA standards recommend infrared inspection under fully energized conditions; but PPE requirements and panel cover removal and reinstallation are time- consuming and therefore costly. Use of the VPFR series of products nearly eliminates the risks associated with infrared electrical inspection by providing companies with a noninvasive, closed-panel inspection methodology. Thermographers inspecting through the window are never exposed to energized conductors or circuit parts, and are not engaged in risk-increasing behaviors as outlined in the 130.7(C)(9)of NFPA 70E. Consequently, the elevated levels of PPE prescribed by 70E for invasive surveys are not required when utilizing the IRISS VPFR series of infrared windows, thereby minimizing survey time while maximizing safety. Protected by an Unconditional Lifetime Warranty. VPFR Features: Industry's ONLY impact resistant IR window: Patented reinforced optic exceeds high voltage switchgear viewing pane standards Stable transmission rates: Industrial-grade materials unconditionally guaranteed against transmission loss for accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis Born out of necessity: Created by Level III Thermographer as the solution to hazards and shortcomings of traditional techniques / materials. Manufactured from non-conductive UL94 plastics insulated to 30kV/mm. Certifications: UL 50V IEEE C37 20.2.a.3.6: Impact and load UL 746C: Impact and flammability UL 508A; ANSI UL 508A IP65 / NEMA 4 Lloyds of London Type Approval Summary IR windows are intended to remove the risk of triggering an arc flash incident during a thermographic inspection. That being said, the windows should also offer the same level of structural integrity that UL746 requires of other common meters and controls, and the same integrity that IEEE C37.20.2 requires for impact and load of “viewing panes.” However, any claims by any manufacturer to have an arc-resistant IR window are misleading and negligent since there simply is no test which offers a component level rating. Due to the endless variety of switchgear geometry and contents that exists in the field, the forces that a given piece of switchgear or MCC might experience in an arc blast are equally varied. Therefore, regardless of how many arc fault tests the window may have been involved in, it is impossible to infer generic resistance. As manufacturer of the world’s first and only industrial-grade infrared windows, IRISS’s end-user-designed products are the heart of efficient and safer work processes for infrared electrical surveys and thereby provide the means with which companies can reduce and eliminate risk to plant assets and personnel. IRISS can help you and your company “save time, save money and stay safe.” To learn more about infrared windows, Electrical Preventive Maintenance, NFPA standards or electrical thermography please visit www.iriss.com or call toll free 877-704-7477 (if outside the US & Canada dial +1-941-907-9128) |
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Why Use IR Windows?
more efficient access to
the thermographic data recommended in NFPA
70B:
“Dependability can be engineered and built into
equipment, but effective
maintenance is required to keep it dependable.
Experience shows that
equipment lasts longer and performs better when
covered by an EPM
(Electrical Preventative Maintenance) program.” …
“Infrared inspections
of electrical systems are beneficial to reduce the
number of costly and
catastrophic equipment failures and unscheduled
plant shutdowns.” …
“Routine infrared inspections of energized
electrical systems should be
performed annually prior to shutdown. More
frequent infrared inspections, for
example, quarterly or semiannually, should be
performed where warranted
by loss experience, installation of new electrical
equipment, or changes in
environmental, operational, or load conditions.” …
“Infrared surveys should
be performed during periods of maximum possible
loading but not less than
40 percent of rated load of the electrical equipment
being inspected.”
NFPA 70E lists removal of panels on electrical
equipment as one
of the riskiest activities that a worker can perform
on that piece of
equipment. The risk is elevated because the most
common arc triggers
occur either because the panel covers are open or
as a result of removing
the panel covers. Closed-panel inspection using
infrared windows will
eliminate 99.9% of arc flash triggers during
inspection. Therefore, the core
benefit of IR windows is that they comply with the
OSHA and NFPA 70E
focus on removing the risk of an accident—
protection with PPE is only
used as a last resort, and the implementation of
engineered controls is
only used where risk elimination and substitution
are not feasible.
more efficient access to
the thermographic data recommended in NFPA
70B:
“Dependability can be engineered and built into
equipment, but effective
maintenance is required to keep it dependable.
Experience shows that
equipment lasts longer and performs better when
covered by an EPM
(Electrical Preventative Maintenance) program.” …
“Infrared inspections
of electrical systems are beneficial to reduce the
number of costly and
catastrophic equipment failures and unscheduled
plant shutdowns.” …
“Routine infrared inspections of energized
electrical systems should be
performed annually prior to shutdown. More
frequent infrared inspections, for
example, quarterly or semiannually, should be
performed where warranted
by loss experience, installation of new electrical
equipment, or changes in
environmental, operational, or load conditions.” …
“Infrared surveys should
be performed during periods of maximum possible
loading but not less than
40 percent of rated load of the electrical equipment
being inspected.”
NFPA 70E lists removal of panels on electrical
equipment as one
of the riskiest activities that a worker can perform
on that piece of
equipment. The risk is elevated because the most
common arc triggers
occur either because the panel covers are open or
as a result of removing
the panel covers. Closed-panel inspection using
infrared windows will
eliminate 99.9% of arc flash triggers during
inspection. Therefore, the core
benefit of IR windows is that they comply with the
OSHA and NFPA 70E
focus on removing the risk of an accident—
protection with PPE is only
used as a last resort, and the implementation of
engineered controls is
only used where risk elimination and substitution
are not feasible.
