Where do you go for expert opinion on flooded equipment? By Mamoon Alyah PE CEng IRMCert and Rose Campbell IRMCert
[AROUND THE WORLD
we have witnessed an increase in contamination losses due to flooding in manufacturing plants, data centres, office buildings and other industrial and commercial properties. Previously unforeseeable rain and flooding has been reported in many parts of the world and we can only expect that there will be more natural catastrophes such as occurred in Germany, UK, USA and throughout the Middle East during the past few years. We can expect an increase in disputes related to the reliability and cost of reinstatement of mechanical, electrical, data and communication systems following contamination, and whether a full replacement of affected equipment is necessary.
Risk of damage from contamination
The question of actual damage to contaminated equipment is complex and extends beyond whether or not the equipment appears to be functional immediately following exposure. Risk of damage varies depending on numerous factors, including type and level of exposure to contaminants – water, chemicals etc – and the type of equipment in question. Some types of damage include: • Mechanical binding, where mechanical components such as relays and circuit breakers become clogged due to the settlement of the residue of dissolved salts in floodwater. That is very dangerous, especially in electrical equipment. Although the equipment affected may still work, it might not respond properly and fail to trip when necessary. • Obscuration from debris affects the interfaces and reduces the overall quality of signal transmission. • Galvanic shorts, where surface water is bridged by conductive debris and acts as a circuit bridge. That is less of a concern if the water that has come in contact with a piece of equipment is clear, fresh water that has no contaminants. In flooding conditions, however, it is extremely likely that the water will be contaminated. • Increased contact resistance, where electrical contacts are coated with contaminants – increasing the contact resistance and leading to hot spots which may cause fires. • Corrosion, which occurs when contaminants react with water to form acids that corrode non-protected metal. That can set in on different pieces of equipment, resulting in irreversible damage. • Overheating, which occurs when, after the water dries out, layers of contaminants blanket the surfaces of electronic components, preventing them from dissipating heat during operation. Prolonged operation while overheated can lead to premature failure of electronics.
Investigating damage
To investigate flooding damage to different types of equipment, a number of challenges must be recognised and overcome: starting with the need to identify the correct expert who can assist with the damage assessment and evaluation of different reinstatement options. The right expert must possess enough knowledge about the contaminated equipment and – more importantly – how the contamination, regardless of its type, can affect the equipment in the long term. It may not be possible for experts to examine the property and equipment straightaway. In that case, they must have access to detailed information, including photographs of the affected property, equipment
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and the circumstances that led to the contamination. Experts can only carry out their investigation after the water has receded or the fire has been put out. At that time, the property must be secured and made safe to access. It is important to mitigate the damage to the equipment, to prevent irreversible corrosion from setting in and to prevent overheating and electrical shorts. Experts can create a plan to preserve equipment and prevent further damage from settling in. Where possible, all power should be disconnected and controls should be in place for temperature and humidity. Before any testing can be carried out, equipment must be dried. That can be accomplished via a number of options, depending on the type of equipment and the environment, including: • Baking, where heat is applied in a controlled manner to the equipment • Ventilation, where air flow is increased until the equipment is dry • Drying current, where a low voltage of electricity is applied to the machinery to evaporate water
Assessing the damage
The assessment of damage involves the inspection and examination of equipment to establish how far contaminants have penetrated the equipment and what parts were affected. Contamination damage to equipment raises a lot of technical complications that make it difficult to identify the true extent of the damage. Many factors must be considered including: Type of contamination Floodwater is rarely fresh, clean water and will almost always have dissolved contaminants in it. The type of contaminants will vary depending on the surrounding area from black water – the category of water that includes floods – containing pathogenic agents, to domestic drinking water which will have low levels of different chemicals. The level of contamination This is one of the most critical variables that will determine the effect contaminants will have on a piece of equipment. The higher the concentration of contaminants, the higher the risk of formation of acids that can lead to corrosion and electrical shorts. Type of facility The extent of damage will differ depending on the type of facility. Industrial properties often rely on many different types of equipment and machinery to function and damage could result in stoppage of all business until the equipment can be repaired or replaced. That becomes a particular concern when a plant is manufacturing highly-regulated products such as food or medication. While commercial and residential buildings do not rely on the same machinery as manufacturing plants to stay in business, many pieces of equipment are critical to maintain continuous operation, such as IT and communication servers necessary to transact. Location of equipment The location of equipment within a facility is going to influence the extent of exposure that equipment will have endured. For example, equipment housed in the basement will be more likely to be completely submerged in the event of a serious flood, compared to equipment housed on upper levels.
