Case Study: Duratuf’s IEC 61111 Electrical Insulation Rubber Mat Make Zarqa Power Plant Safe From Electrical Hazards

To know the answers, you have to go through our latest case study. This case study covers how we brought a change in the operations of the Zarqa Power Plant.

Now, let’s walk through the details:

The Zarqa Power Plant is a pivotal power generation infrastructure in Zarqa, Jordan. It is a 485-megawatt (MW) power plant that works on a gas-fire combination. Reportedly, it is one of the largest capacities in Jordan, bridging electricity gaps in millions of homes and industries all over the country.
Therefore, it is obvious that such a gigantic power generation facility needed equally robust electrical protection.

Let’s dive into further details.

The Zarqa power plant is indeed an asset to the government of Jordan but it slowly became a threat to the people working there. With the constant electrical panel maintenance work around high-voltage environments, the workers only trusted their luck for protection. Some of these areas were:

Switchyard, Generator Step-Up Transformer area, High Voltage Busbars, Transformer Yards, High Voltage Transmission Lines.

The workers used electrical safety gear, but they were still afraid to work freely. But that’s not all. Below are some more reasons why they sought our help and we suggested our electrical panel mat:

Frequent Electrical Accidents: There are several types of work in a power generation plant. While a group of workers were associated with the production of electricity, a few were managing the distribution. Additionally, some people were in charge of supervising the entire process.

With such a diverse scope of work, the electrical accidents slowly increased in numbers. The unfortunate accidents became more common. There were reports of electrocution, worker injuries and even death.
The problems were on the operations side also. The facility had to face unplanned downtimes from short circuits. Sometimes, there were incidents of arc formation, as well.

Hence, the Zarqa Power Plant authorities required an electrical insulation rubber mat that would reduce the accidents.

Difficulty in identification: The areas of application in a power station are diverse. Some areas have low-voltage machines whereas others deal with the highest electric current. Therefore, the same electrical insulation rubber mat cannot be used in the process. The workers were having difficulty distinguishing between a high-voltage electrical rubber mat and a low-voltage one.

There were instances where they installed the wrong electrical safety matting. As a result, the management had to bear the losses and the incidents of electrical accidents were also rising.

Confused about how to eradicate this problem, the Zarqa Power Plant management searched for easy-to-identify best electric shock proof rubber mats for industrial use.

Meeting the Compliances: Since a power plant stays at high risk of current leakage, frequent safety inspections were common. The GCC countries follow the Human Rights Commission (HRC) protocol strictly, for workplace safety.

Along with the machines and operations, the inspectors also check safety measures taken by the authorities during the visits. Failing these safety inspections comes with great consequences like even shutting down the plant.

The authorities at Zarqa needed a 360-degree complaint rubber mat for electrical room.

To address these challenges, Zarqa Power Plant partnered with Duratuf, a leading provider of electrical insulation solutions. Duratuf recommended and supplied their IEC 61111 electrical mats, known for their superior insulating properties and compliance with international safety standards.

However, the premium build of our electrical insulation rubber mat was not the only reason. There were other factors behind our decision to suggest our IEC 61111 electrical safety matting:

Compliant with the GCC safety standards: As mentioned previously, GCC countries like Qatar follow the HRC regulations. Therefore, the electrical safety matting also had to meet the recommended criteria.
Our IEC 61111 electrical panel mat is certified and complies with the IEC 61111:2009 guidelines thoroughly- which is a globally accepted standard.

If you want to know which mat is best for the GCC countries and why, click on this link.

High Dielectric Strength: The Duratuf IEC electrical insulation rubber mat has a checked di-electric strength. Having this property, our electrical safety matting is also durable even when exposed to the highest voltage.
Owing to the di-electric strength, our specialists recommend to use the rubber mat for electrical room in areas like:

• Control Rooms and Switchgear Rooms
• Transformers and Substations
• Generator Rooms
• Panel Rooms
• High-Voltage Laboratories and Testing Areas
• Battery Rooms
• Control Panels and more

Durability and Longevity: A thoroughly checked di-electric strength of our electrical insulation rubber mat made them durable. On the other hand, the material composition of them made them long-lasting.
Made from high-quality elastomer, Duratuf’s mats are resistant to wear and tear, oil, and various industrial chemicals. This durability ensures that the mats maintain their insulating properties over time, providing long-term safety solutions.

Customizable: Understanding the need of the hour, we went out of our way and replanned the possibilities of customization in this project. Our specialists invested time in R&D till we finally came up with innovative ideas.
We supplied the IEC 61111:2009 standard rubber mat for electrical room in tailor-made dimensions and sizes. There were well-defined and clear labels on the products for quick identification. Furthermore, the product labels were colour-coded as per the IEC guidelines.

If you are wondering how to choose the right electrical insulating mat, you should consider the features that make it the most suitable for your work area. Our mats were chosen by the authorities for their key features. The Duratuf IEC 61111 electrical mats stand out in many ways like: