Why is an Electrical Room Rubber Mat Placed Under Electrical Equipment?
An electrical room rubber mat is a safety equipment. Industrial facilities, workshops, commercial places as well as residential complexes use them for protection against high voltage.
Duratuf brings you another innovative blog on this common question from the users. Our specialists believe that this writing will help you understand the rubber mat for electrical panel standard better and become a smarter buyer!
A rubber mat for electrical panel standard is divided into three types: IS 15652 (3.3 kV, 11 kV rubber mat, and 33 kV mats), IEC 61111:2009 insulation mat standard, and ASTM D178.
What are the Risks Of Electricity: Why Use an Electrical Room Rubber Mat?
Working with high-voltage electricity is risky. Some of the primary hazards involving your workers may include:
Workers may also die if they receive a severe electric shock.
This is not all. High-voltage workplaces stay at a constant risk of short circuits and fire hazards.
How Does a Rubber Mat Electrical Work?
Before we proceed to the answer to our question- ‘Why is a rubber mat for electrical switch room placed under electrical equipment?’, let’s quickly go through the science of insulation.
Electrical insulating mats are made from elastomer- a rubber compound known for its high dielectric strength, which resists the flow of electric current. Fillers and other polymers are added to the base to add features like fire-oil-chemical-UV-Ozone resistance in the mats.
What truly makes an electrical insulation mat for 11kv and higher voltages resistant? Here’s a breakdown of the essential properties:
Rubber mats also provide shock absorption, protecting equipment from vibrations, which can cause sensitive electronics to malfunction.
This non-conductive barrier prevents electric current from passing through the human body, significantly reducing the risk of injury.
Now, coming to the main area of discussion:
Why is an Electrical Room Rubber Mat placed Only Under the Electric Equipment?
Electrical mats are installed on the floors. Experts recommend placing them just in from of the electric equipment because they create a safety barrier for workers standing on them.
Static electricity, when released from a live wire or faulty parts of a machine, tends to flow through a conductive surface. The human body is a good conductor of electricity because of the water content in our cells.
There is personal protective gear like rubber gloves, dielectric boots, or jackets, but none of them redirect the current flow to the electricity-neutral ground. An electrical insulation mat for 11 kV or more voltage easily does that.
When workers perform routine maintenance, adjustments, or repairs, they are at risk of coming into contact with live equipment. By standing on an insulating mat, they have an additional layer of protection that minimizes the likelihood of an electric shock.
Other reasons to install crucial safety equipment like an electrical mat are:
What is the Most Popular Rubber Mat for Electrical Panel Standard?
Buyers often think about what kind of mat will suit their regional and work requirements the most.
The IEC 61111:2009 electrical mats can be used globally. On the contrary, the IS 15652 electrical mats like electrical insulation mat for 11 kV are used only in India and the ASTM D178 electrical mats are suggested to be used in the North American areas only.
Hence, a rubber mat for electrical panel standard IEC is seemingly the most popular among the lot.
Some areas where they are placed are near Transformer units, Control panels, Switchboards, HT-LT panels, etc.
In a Nutshell
An electrical room rubber mat is a must-have safety gear that is placed only under the electrical equipment in a workplace. When placed rightly, it offers foolproof protection.
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