Managing Power SafelyLike the Man of Steel’s ability to see through walls, infrared scanning can identify “hot spots” in faulty electrical wiring that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Infrared cameras detect the heat given off by faulty wiring and connections, so you can make repairs to reduce the risk of potential fires and breakdowns in facility equipment.
“Building fire losses are one of the leading agency property-loss drivers for members,” says Gerrit Prince, PDRMA Risk Management Consultant. “But infrared scanning can help identify risks associated with electrical hot spots so they can be repaired or replaced before they fail.”
Each year, PDRMA staff reviews high-value and/or high-exposure facilities within the membership and weighs other risk-exposure factors to select facilities for infrared scanning services through the Alliant program. Since the Alliant program began in 2011, PDRMA has surveyed 105 facilities and identified 127 hot spots. Seven of those were critical issues, and 25 were serious enough to require immediate repair and replacement.
“A growing number of members are interested in infrared scanning services as an important component of a total preventive maintenance plan, so PDRMA’s identified another provider, in addition to Alliant, that meets our requirements,” explains Prince. “Fitzgerald Lighting Maintenance Company provides infrared scanning services to members on a fee-for-service basis. To help cover the cost, PDRMA is offering members a one-time $200 subsidy.”
To obtain pricing for infrared scanning services through Fitzgerald Lighting Maintenance, email Dan Marano, Service Manager, or call 630-513-7147, extension 7000, and tell Dan you are a PDRMA member. To receive the $200 subsidy, submit a copy of your invoice to Dane Mall, PDRMA Risk Management Services Manager.
Power surge prevention
Some electrical-related risks can be identified and managed without an infrared scanner, as Bourbonnais Township Park District discovered. The agency had a surge suppression assessment done and eliminated significant risk.
“Even though Exploration Station, the children’s museum in the park, has lightning rods, it still kept getting lightning strikes — with some pretty drastic effects,” says Executive Director Hollice Clark.
“When I walked in seven years ago, a lighting strike had just taken out the phone system, the computers and the fire alarm system,” he recalls. It resulted in $5,000 to $10,000 in damage.
“Two years later it happened again and took out the phones, computers, heating and air conditioning services, exit signs, burglar alarms and more. It was a massive disruption,” Clark notes. “It cost us another $5,000 – $10,000 and two to four weeks to fix or replace the items.”
“Nothing was compatible,” remembers Sarah C. Winkel, General Manager of Exploration Station. “We had to replace the alarms and sprinkler system, but the replacements weren’t compatible with our existing system, so we had to change everything.”
Clark contacted an electrician about eliminating the ongoing risks of power disruption from electrical strikes. “A violent burst of electrical current from a close lightning strike needs a powerful surge protection device,” he says, “and I learned about Surge Supporters. They're little little boxes that hook to an electrical panel. The lights on the box turn from green to red after a lighting strike indicating the box – and not the panel or the building – absorbed the lightning strike.”
Clark took the initiative, buying five Eaton Surge Supporters and placing them in all the park’s facilities. “For about $700 each, we’re safeguarding our key buildings and saving time and trouble. We’ve had other lighting strikes, but no outages since. After an electrician installs them, it’s a matter of checking each box regularly. If a strike occurs and the box needs to be replaced, an electrician can replace it the same day.”
Clark can’t begin to estimate the savings in time, money and productivity since installing this simple system to reduce the risk of power surges. “It’s just so much better to be proactive and prevent the problem. It’s win-win for our staff and patrons.”
You can choose to have a certified electrician conduct a surge suppression assessment at your facilities, or contact Fitzgerald Lighting to have one done. Email Dan Marano, Service Manager, or call 630-513-7147, extension 7000, and tell him you are a PDRMA member.
To receive the one-time $200 subsidy for installing a facility surge suppression system, submit a copy of your invoice to Dane Mall, PDRMA Risk Management Services Manager.
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