Does Humidity Affect an Electrical Insulating Rubber Mat?
The weather all over the world is changing. Rains have become frequent, and humidity has increased.
Hence, when you are thinking about keeping your industrial facility electrically secured, you will have to give importance to the dynamic climatic changes. In coastal and tropical areas, rising humidity has become a problem.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.
Well, this blog will answer the question!
What is an electrical insulating rubber mat used for?
According to insulating mat experts, electrical mats provide electrical safety. If a worker comes in contact with a live wire discharging a high voltage current, insulating rubber mats pass the current to the Earth instead of channelizing it through the human body.
There are 6 types of rubber mat for electrical room. They are placed near high-voltage equipment in an industrial workplace.
Humidity and Electrical Properties of an Insulating Mat
An insulating mat is designed to protect from electric shock. Water is a good conductor of electricity. Therefore, high humidity or moisture in the air can potentially affect the protective barrier that the rubber mat for electrical work creates.
While rubber works as a superior electrical insulator, if moisture seeps in through an electrical insulating rubber mat, it may not provide foolproof safety. No matter the electrical rubber mat standard size or thickness, exposure to humidity may result in compromised functioning of the mats.
Moisture can create a thin film on the safety rubber matting, reducing the mat’s dielectric strength and increasing the chances of current leakage.
Effects of Humidity on the Electrical Mats
Even if you place an electrical insulating rubber mat indoors, you cannot save it from the impacts of humidity. Moreover, if it is exposed to chemicals or oils, the situation can worsen further.
In some areas, like South America, Southeast Asia, or coastal regions, electrical mats can face these challenges:
- Contaminated Surface: The thin film of humidity on the insulating mat makes its surface slippery. Dust, debris, and other contaminants stick to the electrical mats. These contaminants not only reduce the effectiveness of an electrical insulating rubber mat, but they can damage the essential safety gear.
You may notice pinholes, eroded surfaces, and edge warping out of nowhere. Moisture Absorption: The electrical rubber mats absorb the moisture as it seeps through its layers. The presence of water in the electrical mats makes it more dangerous than a current leaking wire.
A major problem with rubber is swelling. Water causes swelling and formation of bubbles in the insulating mat. Apart from the functionality of the mat, these can hamper the aesthetics of an electrical insulating rubber mat, as well.
Material Degradation: If you notice swelling on the surface of the rubber mat for electrical room, that means that the mat may have degraded. Continuous exposure to humidity, even rainwater, induces fast breakdown of rubber polymer compounds. Using a degraded electrical insulating rubber mat means inadequate safety cover in high-voltage environments. Switchboards, transformer units, control panels, or LT-HT panels transmit electricity as high as 36000 volts.
Imagine what may happen to a worker if they operate such machines without the proper cover. An electrical insulating mat is the base of safety. Whether you use other types of personal protective equipment like gloves, helmets, or jackets- without the insulating mat you cannot control the risks.
Electrocution, worker death, or minor injury at the workplace questions the credibility of the management. According to labor laws, owners have to pay heavy fines if they are found negligent of the electrical safety at an industrial facility.
Can you Protect the Insulating Rubber Mats from Humidity?
The good news is Yes. To ensure that electrical mats work as expected in a highly humid environment, follow these tips from our electrical mat specialists:
What is the right electrical mat for humid regions?
This map depicts the distribution of humid regions across the world.
IEC 61111:2009 electrical mat will be the most fitted option for tackling humid conditions. An IEC insulating mat complies with the global safety standards. They are available in four variants: low, medium, high, and very high voltages.
The mats are compliant with the electrical rubber matting regulations UK as well as the American and Asian safety laws.
Nevertheless, if you want to be more specific, you can get ASTM D178 electrical mats for the North American Provinces and IS 15652 X-Volt mats for India.
Why Duratuf Insulating Rubber Mats?
Conclusion
Humidity impacts the performance of an insulating mat. While the right high-quality mat can still perform effectively, regular maintenance, storage, and cleaning practices are essential to mitigate the potential risks posed by moisture.
Wondering where can you buy high-quality insulating rubber mats? Contact us now!
