Server: Microsoft-IIS/3.0 Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 10:31:00 GMT Content-Type: text/html Accept-Ranges: bytes Last-Modified: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 16:26:44 GMT Content-Length: 7783 Severe Weather Alert

 

Flood Recovery Alert:
Equipment Protection Action Steps

The Risk Does Not Recede with the Water
If your business equipment,
boilers, electrical equipment and systems, or machinery have been exposed to flood waters, you risk their loss even when the water level has dropped. Equipment and machinery may have water, silt or other contaminants within them. Your equipment could be damaged or destroyed if you attempt to start or test it without adequate cleaning and preparation for operation. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPERATE OR TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT WITHOUT PROPERLY RESTORING IT. Even when your equipment's exterior appears normal, residual moisture and contaminants can lead to permanent damage and extend the interruption of your operations.

Dry and Clean Before Using
The following steps will help you prepare your equipment for operation. Most actions involve careful draining, drying, cleaning or lubricating of equipment before attempting to start or energize it. Taking these simple precautions can help you avoid a major equipment failure and restore operations sooner.


Boilers: Do Not Operate Until Inspected and Tested

  1. Carefully inspect foundations and settings of boilers for settlement. DO NOT OPERATE a boiler if there is any evidence of undermining of the foundation.
  2. Make sure the setting is thoroughly dry.
  3. All safety appliances, such as safety and relief valves, steam gauge, water column, high- and low-water cut-offs, and blow-down valves must be cleaned and repaired as needed.
  4. All controls must be inspected and tested before operation, especially the water-level control and low-water fuel cut-off.
  5. Burners should not be fired until checked by a burner technician. A furnace explosion may occur if the combustion controls do not function properly.
  6. Boilers should not be operated if proper feedwater is not available. If operation is essential, and if feedwater contains mud, it will be necessary to blow down the boiler every eight hours and to open and clean it once a week until proper water quality is reestablished.

Electrical Equipment: Keep It Turned off Until Dried and Cleaned

  1. DO NOT ENERGIZE equipment that has been flooded until it has been properly cleaned, dried out, and until its insulation has been tested. This includes enclosures, bus ducts, conduit, and cables.
  2. Windings in electrical machinery should not be dried at temperatures exceeding the rating of the insulation system. In general, a maximum temperature of 194ºF or 90ºC may be used. If possible, check with the manufacturer for information and recommendations.
  3. Dry-type transformers should be cleaned and dried as prescribed for machinery windings.
  4. Oil-filled transformers should be thoroughly inspected and oil samples should be drawn for lab analysis. The laboratory should be requested to include a Karl Fisher test for water content. The maximum permissible water content is 35 ppm.

Machinery: Drain, Clean and Lubricate Before Testing

  1. Contact the manufacturer, if possible, for recommendations.
  2. Inspect foundations for cracking, weakness, or settlement. If settlement is suspected, check alignment of all shafting, as well as coupled connections.
  3. Inspect all machine internals for silt accumulation and clean as needed.
  4. Drain and clean lubrication systems. Wipe oil-containing elements with lint-free rags and refill with new lubricants as required.
  5. Open the cylinders of all reciprocating machines and remove foreign material or water.
  6. Carefully clean and TEST governors and controls.

These instructions are a general guide and are not intended to supplant information or instructions from the equipment manufacturer. For complete information on your particular equipment consult with the manufacturer or its service representative.


Tuesday, October 28, 1997
© The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.