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Keep Data Centers Running with Infrared Testing

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Many companies and business owners think infrared testing is just for heavy machinery and things like a building’s roof or HVAC system. However, having thermal imaging electrical inspections in data centers can help ensure the entire company is running at peak efficiency.

The hardest part for thermographers is surveying the numerous circuit boards and other devices and comparing them among the different surveys. However, this type of detail is exactly what companies need to keep their data centers running.

Negative Impacts of Data Center Downtime

Companies today use infrared testing to avoid costly shutdowns. The financial impact alone of shutting down production for even one hour can be significant. Any industry is negatively affected by data center downtime, so it’s crucial for thermographers to do a thorough job any time they conduct an infrared electrical systems survey. That’s why so many hire a professional.

What happens with an electric systems failure could vary depending on the type of equipment. That’s why thermographic scanning will analyze circuit boards, servers, cooling systems, switchgears and any other electrical equipment. With the highly sensitive equipment, certified thermographers have to keep detailed records just in case some equipment becomes faulty shortly after the testing; it’s that good. The thermographer has to be able to indicate the equipment was in good working condition at the time of the scan.

How Infrared Testing Prevents Electrical Failure

Numerous things can go wrong when dealing with electrical equipment. A plug can overheat, a wire can be exposed or a server could become overloaded. The importance of electrical testing and inspection in data centers can’t be overstated. Due to the size of some data centers, it’s nearly impossible for a maintenance professional to inspect every plug or piece of equipment on a routine basis. That’s why infrared testing is critical to help locate faulty equipment more efficiently.

Servers are Constantly Running

Even when employees go home for the day, data centers and servers never take time off. These pieces of equipment are designed to handle big loads, but malfunctions can happen at any time. As a result, data centers have to have more frequent infrared electrical inspections than other pieces of equipment in the building. Even one server going down could quickly and drastically impact a business.

Performing IR Testing at Data Centers

When you hire a certified thermographer to conduct an IR electrical systems survey at your company, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing every piece of equipment is in good shape. If something needs to be repaired or replaced, you’ll know it right away.

The cost of infrared testing is minimal when compared to the potential consequences of having to shut down a data center. Whether you’ve done infrared testing in your company in the past or not, contact us for details about the process.

thermography inspection

IR and OSHA: How Infrared Testing Improves Worker Safety

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The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was adopted to keep employees safe at work, especially those working in manufacturing plants or with high voltage electrical equipment. Many companies use infrared testing to avoid costly shutdowns and to prevent equipment from becoming faulty, but in some cases, IR testing is also a standard for OSHA. Infrared inspections and OSHA are both designed with worker safety in mind. Plus, infrared inspections are beneficial to companies from a cost standpoint. Check out these ways a thermography inspection can keep your employees safe and costs low:

Prevents Dangerous Problems

Infrared problem prevention is only possible with regular IR testing. Many times, a maintenance professional can’t detect certain issues before they become big and potentially dangerous problems. When it comes to electrical equipment, a small failure may produce devastating results, whether it’s from a business or personal injury standpoint.

There are no benefits to what happens with an electric systems failure, so why wouldn’t companies be proactive in preventing problems from happening? OSHA requires regular maintenance to be performed to keep workers safe, and infrared testing plays a big role in this maintenance.

High Safety and Health Standards

The safety and health standards developed by OSHA are only intended to protect employees while they work. When companies hire certified thermographers to conduct regular thermal inspections, the necessary safety guidelines set forth in OSHA are being satisfied.

But simply conducting an IR thermography inspection isn’t the only thing companies have to do. They also have to act on any issues found during the testing. If there is a faulty plug in an electrical system, then the plug has to be replaced before a worker gets injured. Some machines may show signs of wear and tear that could eventually be problematic. Instead of waiting until the machine completely malfunctions and or a worker is hurt, employers have to act quickly to prevent problems.

Requires Continuous Maintenance

OSHA requires continuous maintenance in any company. It’s not required to get an infrared thermography inspection every week, or even every month, but setting a regular schedule is recommended. Not only will these regular inspections detect problems before they occur, but they will prevent serious injuries to employees.

When machinery isn’t working like it’s designed to, employees will use different methods to work efficiently and make production goals. Sometimes, these methods can be dangerous, which is why OSHA requires maintenance like infrared testing. When a potential problem is detected, employers have to act swiftly to correct the issue to prevent injury. Liability here rests with the company, not with the employee, and OSHA fines are steep.

It’s in every company’s best interest to take all the necessary steps and precautions to keep worker safety a priority. If a company takes these steps to become OSHA compliant, then they will at least be covered from a liability standpoint.

 

To learn more about OSHA and how it relates to infrared testing, contact us today.

Let the experts handle electrical testing.

Four Signs You May Have Electrical Problems – and What to Do About Them

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Electricity is something you never want to mess with unless you’re trained and experienced. Electrical shock and fires are common in households and businesses across the United States. However, most accidents can be prevented with proper care. Sometimes the average homeowner can diagnose and fix an electrical problem, but other times you have to have specific electrical testing equipment. Here are four signs you may have electrical problems and what you need to do about them.

Electrical Outlet Isn’t Working

If a certain electrical outlet isn’t working, you can do a little electrical testing on your own to see where the problem lies. Try out some of the other outlets and see if they are working. If they are, you know the problem is confined to just that single outlet and can replace it accordingly. If multiple outlets aren’t working, you probably have a tripped breaker and need to reset it.

Sparks from Electrical Outlets

Sometimes an outlet will give off a tiny spark immediately when you plug something in. However, if you see sparks after the device has been plugged in for a few seconds, you have a problem. The outlet could be generating too much heat and melt some of the insulation protecting the wires. When the wires are exposed, the chances for an electrical fire increase. Replace the electrical outlet immediately if you start seeing sparks from it.

Breaker Keeps Tripping

Now we are getting into areas requiring more advanced knowledge and skills. If your breaker continues to trip after you reset it, there’s usually a reason behind it. Don’t continue to reset it because you could cause severe damage to your system. Instead, you may have to call on an expert to do some electrical thermography testing to determine why the breaker won’t reset. When you’re dealing with the main electrical system, you don’t want to risk electrical shock or worse.

Lights Are Too Dim, Too Bright or Flickering

Sometimes the light will dim or brighten when you plug in other appliances. That is completely normal. However, if there’s no real reason they should be dimming, brightening or flickering, you know there’s a problem with your electrical system. While this may seem like a small problem, it could require electrical testing by a professional to see where the problem lies.

Electricity is not something the average homeowner should deal with. Instead, contact us at Infrared Consulting Services for all your electrical testing needs!

Electrical thermography was changed by the NFPA.

What Impact Could the NFPA Leave on Electrical Thermography?

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For an organization with no regulatory power, the NFPA sure is influential. When it comes to infrared thermography, no other organization has generated more of an impact over the last few decades than the NFPA. It all starts with two documents that have completely changed the face of electrical thermography.

Since the NFPA doesn’t have any regulatory power, they rely on other organizations to give their recommendations some legs. When OSHA adopted the recommendations from the NFPA documents, it created a huge demand for infrared cameras in the United States and worldwide.

Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance

This is the first document from the NFPA to leave an impact on the IR thermography industry. It goes into detail about the importance of preventive maintenance, which could reduce overall costs, increase safety and even provide a boost in production. The document goes on to state the conditions under which a routine thermography inspection should be conducted, especially with newer equipment or any type of change in the current systems in place. This may seem like a common sense rule of thumb, but it wasn’t a standard until the NFPA took a stand.

Workplace Electrical Safety

This is the second document from the NFPA, which discusses the types of protective equipment people must wear when working with live equipment. Different types of equipment require people to be a certain distance away or wear a certain amount of gear to protect them. If you don’t comply with these standards, you are putting yourself and your company at risk of being fined for violating them.

The new performance procedures for electrical thermography inspections have completely changed the industry. Companies are able to manufacture and distribute new infrared technology in many shapes and sizes, and it’s all due to the standards set forth by the NFPA.

At Infrared Consulting Services, we can help your company comply with the strict standards and regulations set in motion by the NFPA. Our professionals provide businesses with the highest quality IR thermography inspection services to help keep your property safe and also help you save money. Contact us today to learn how we can work together to improve your standards and processes when it comes to infrared thermography preventive maintenance.

Prevent problems with an infrared inspection.

How Can an Infrared Inspection Help You Fix Electrical Issues?

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Look for overheating issues with an infrared inspection.

An infrared inspection identifies potential problems.

Prevent problems with an infrared inspection.

An infrared inspection can prevent problems.

How familiar are you with electrical thermography? It is an invaluable tool for those any commercial facility, as it easily detects issues with your equipment through careful temperature readings and enables you to create a plan of action should any signs of malfunction be found. You may be wondering just how this could be true. In this blog, we’ll be going over just how infrared inspection works and how it can be used to save you valuable equipment, time and money. There are a number of different equipment types that electrical thermography can detect problems with, including:

Transformers

One of the ways in which infrared inspection equipment can be used is for the transformers in your facility. Transformers are important to your facility’s operation and equipment, as without it your equipment wouldn’t be able to function whatsoever—yet most facility managers neglect to have the transformers in their facility properly inspected by a professional thermographer. When an infrared inspection is performed on your transformer, the inspector’s device will measure the amount of heat coming from the transformer’s cooling tubes. Problems may be developing with the transformer if any of the tubes are disparate in temperature from the rest. Normally there will be an even amount of heat flowing between them all.

Fuses

A broken fuse can display problems in one of two ways—both of which can only be detected through electrical thermography. A fuse that has completely blown will have gone cold. Meanwhile, a fuse that is on the verge of blowing will appear much warmer than usual. This is a sign that the fuse cannot handle much more energy and investigated

Wires

Electrical problems can occur most frequently and easily in your facility’s wiring. A certified thermographer will be able to detect issues with the wiring with little trouble, as the major warning sign for faulty wiring is excessive heat. During the electrical testing process, the inspector will most likely compare the faulty wire to other wires connected to similar machinery. This type of discovery can signal any number of problems. Regardless of the root of the problem, having electrical testing performed allows you to take quick action to solve the issue before it escalates.

MCC (or Motor Control Centers)

The different sections of an MCC may denote trouble, which could mean problems for your facility and its equipment. A thermographic inspector will be able to inspect each part of the MCC for any potential problems, which will display similar symptoms to the many others we described above.

Overall, the way infrared inspection works is very simple on the surface, but the positive effects are numerous. To learn more about how electrical thermography can help your facility, contact us!

Make necessary repairs with the help of electrical thermal imaging.

Top Reasons You Need an Electrical Thermography Inspection

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identify issues early with electrical thermography.

Electrical thermography can identify issues.

Make necessary repairs with the help of electrical thermal imaging.

Electrical thermal imaging helps you find issues early.

If you own or work in a plant that runs with the help of electronic equipment, you’ve heard of electrical thermography to some degree. However, many facility managers don’t quite realize the value in electrical thermography. Too often, equipment is allowed to run until it malfunctions and needs either serious repairs or replacement, which can cost thousands of dollars. This shouldn’t have to happen, and there are ways you can prevent this costly ordeal. Organizing an electrical inspection is the best way to keep your equipment and pocketbook out of harm’s way. Here are some important reasons to seek an electrical inspection as soon as possible.

Your Equipment’s Overall Status

Think about your equipment from a technical standpoint. How well does it run? Don’t take seemingly great operation as a sign all is well! There could be problems lying below the surface, undetectable to human perception. Parts can always fail quietly, either through simply stopping or becoming misplaced through prolonged use or human error. If you can visibly tell your equipment is missing any components, you want to schedule an electrical infrared survey in the near future.

Maintenance

The safety requirements issued by the National Fire Protection Association change on a regular basis and must be checked frequently to ensure facilities are conforming to these incredibly important precautionary standards. However, despite this information, many don’t follow the NFPA’s maintenance suggestions to the letter. This is understandable because work easily captures your full attention and in the midst of trying to keep productivity flowing, it can be difficult to stop and tend to maintenance procedures. However, it is a highly important element of upkeep for your facility. Have your electrical equipment tested frequently by way of electrical thermography to make sure it’s still operating according to standards.

Electrical Malfunction

Equipment that isn’t working as it should, that fails on a regular basis and interrupts your workflow, deserves immediate inspection at your earliest convenience. This is one of the first and biggest signs your equipment is in serious trouble! The issue could be any number of things, such as resistance- or connection-related. However, you cannot trust your own perceptions when it comes to figuring out the issue. Rather, it’s best to call on a professional. Electrical thermal imaging is the only thing that can take care of this problem—namely, by finding the root of it. A specialist can not only pinpoint the source of the problem but speak with you on the best ways to take care of it before it escalates into something much worse.

We hope this list will help you learn how to discern the best times to call upon the help of an electrical thermography specialist. Doing so can save you hours of productivity, as well as thousands in cash, which can be allocated elsewhere in your budget in even more productive ways. To learn more about electrical thermal imaging and request a consultation, contact us!

Locate potential problems with electrical thermography.

The Unseen Problems Your Infrared Electrical Inspection May Find

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While heat is a good thing in the cold winter months, it may not always be positive for your business. For instance, improper wiring can cause electrical circuits to overheat, possibly causing a fire. Getting an infrared electrical inspection using electrical thermography can provide the information you need to  ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who works in your building.

Identify problem spots early with an infrared electrical inspection.

Infrared electrical inspection can identify problem spots early.

Bad Wiring

The problem with bad wiring is it isn’t always made evident by inconsistent lighting or electronic operations. Conducting a thermal imaging survey of your electrical systems can help identify problem areas so your electrician can resolve the issue before you experience major loss.

Roof Moisture

Roof moisture surveys are used by building and facility managers around the world in order to locate moisture trapped in the roofing assemblies of their properties, plants and factories. Infrared detection can be used on almost all types of low slope roofs. With this technology, imagers can detect differences in heat on the roof and easily pinpoint any uneven heat dissipation and retained moisture. This excess moisture could lead to future problems for your building’s roof, including collapse. If it’s time for your regular inspection, infrared testing can be performed identify wet insulation areas.

A thermal imaging survey is a great way to find hidden problems before they show themselves. By the time these issues become evident to the naked eye, serious damage has often occurred, which requires more expensive repairs. Whether you save your business from a fire due to bad wiring, curtail high gas or electric bills or prevent water damage, the cost of one of these inspections is well worth it to ensure your building is protected from damage.

If you’re looking for a company to perform electrical thermography in your place of business, contact us. We take pride in providing the assistance you need to identify hidden issues before they become expensive.