Preparing for Infrared Window Installation Hints and Tips

1. Prepare your Infrared Targets

It is important to take the opportunity of standardising the emissivity of the components within the switchgear that you wish to inspect through the Infrared window. This can be done using Glyptol™ Paint, electrical tape or IRISS IR-iD high Emissivity Target Labels.

2. Treat Bare Metal Surfaces

Once you have cut the hole into the metal cabinet or cover you will need to treat the surface with paint or a rust inhibitor, this will ensure that the IR window installations integrity is never compromised due to corrosion (especially important in humid and outdoor environments).
This can be completed very easily and will not slow down the installation process as there are several quick drying products on the market.

3. Ensure you have extra cutting tools

Plant shutdowns are notoriously difficult to arrange, and every effort has to be made to maximise the amount of work that is achieved during this time, this is especially true when installing infrared windows. Cutting tools, drill bits, etc… may break or become dull during the installation, ensure that you have an adequate supply of these as you will not have time to run to a hardware store to purchase replacements.

4. Ensure you have additional IR windows

During the pre-assessment phase you would have completed the estimate on how many infrared windows that you require, you may find however that during the installation you need more Infrared windows or a different size than first estimated. You will not be able to get these immediately and will miss the opportunity to install the windows that you need if you do not have spares. We suggest that if you are completing an infrared window installation program that you hold an additional 10%. Speak to your IRISS stockist about how we can help you during your installation program.

5. Auxiliary Lighting and Power

You may be one of a dozen contractors that are on-site during a shutdown, all of whom are claiming to be completing the most important task of the day!! All of whom will be scrambling for auxiliary power and lighting. Ensure that you have made ample provisions for the provision of these, if you do not you will be scrambling around in the dark with no power for your tools.

6. Prepare your working Area

The installation of infrared windows involves cutting holes in switchgear using drills, hole saws, hydraulic cutters, etc…. this produces metal shavings (swarf) and other waste that you do not want in your switchgear!! Set up an area outside of the switchroom that you can use to bring the covers to for cutting. This will ensure that no metal waste ends up in the switchgear and you control the installation process in a safe area.

7. Verify all equipment data prior to installation

Ensure that you identify the areas that the infrared windows are being fitted and any unique panel identification numbers, etc… this will ensure that the windows are labelled correctly, very important when you have more than one infrared window in a panel… some companies even use a barcode system.

8. Guidance Studs

The IRISS VP ranges of infrared windows use M4 screws, once you have cut out the holes using the appropriate template use 2 x M4 studs to line up fixing holes and the inner plate. This makes it far easier to line everything up and reduces the amount of time taken to install the infrared window.

Sent to us by Tom Wasemiller, ADM Cocoa Elec Dept. (Thanks Tom)

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