In industrial facilities, periodic thermal inspections are key to maintaining electrical reliability. But what happens when those inspections involve downtime, intensive use of PPE and exposure to hazards? This was the starting point for one of North America's leading bottled water companies.
Today we tell you how this major industry benchmark managed to transform its electrical maintenance program at 29 sites, thanks to a simple, safe and durable solution: IRISS infrared windows.
The challenge: more safety and efficiency in thermal inspections
The company, committed to both the health of its customers and the safety of its equipment, was looking for a way to standardize and optimize electrical maintenance processes at its U.S. and Canadian facilities.
Although they already performed inspections with thermal imaging cameras, these required opening electrical panels, using high levels of PPE and assuming long intervention times. In addition, some equipment was considered "non-inspectable" due to its high level of incident energy.
They needed a way to inspect more frequently, without exposing personnel and reducing costs.
Today we tell you how this major industry benchmark managed to transform its electrical maintenance program at 29 sites, thanks to a simple, safe and durable solution: IRISS infrared windows.
The approach: a planned, secure and scalable deployment with IRISS technology
To address this challenge, the company decided to act strategically. They opted for a solution that would not only solve the problem in a specific plant, but could be replicated on a large scale throughout its network of centers. This is how they contacted IRISS and its authorized distribution partner, DTM Consulting Services, which was in charge of designing and implementing the action plan.
The first step was an in-depth analysis of the pilot facility, located in Ontario, Canada. DTM evaluated the environmental conditions, the design of the electrical panels and the critical points requiring continuous inspection. Based on this study, the following were defined:
Optimal locations for installing IR windows.
The most suitable sizes according to the geometry and internal distribution of the equipment.
The strongest and most durable window model: the IRISS CAP-CT series.
These windows, manufactured from proprietary clear polymer, are NEMA 4 / IP65 rated, making them ideal for indoor industrial environments. In addition, their availability in standard sizes (4″, 6″, 12″, 18″ and 24″) and custom formats allows them to fit a wide variety of electrical equipment without compromising visibility or coverage.
Once the solution was defined, a meticulously planned installation was carried out:
Identification of the equipment to be intervened and obtaining approvals for disconnection.
Safe de-energization, with two electricians in charge of verifying insulation and applying lockout/tagout procedures.
Removal of panels and placement of windows using the drilling and cutting templates provided by IRISS.
Reinstallation of the covers, reenergization of the equipment and waiting for the necessary time for thermal stabilization.
Initial thermographic inspection to obtain baseline temperature and verify proper operation.
This process was not only executed with total safety, but proved to be highly scalable, allowing an agile and orderly implementation in future plants.
Thanks to this solution, electrical panels can now be inspected without removing panels, without interrupting service and without exposing personnel to unnecessary risk. All in strict compliance with NFPA 70E standards and insurance inspection requirements.
The solution: safety, efficiency and a replicable strategy on a large scale
The implementation of IRISS polymer infrared windows in the pilot plant not only solved the problems identified, but completely transformed the way thermal inspections are carried out in this bottling company.
Thanks to this solution, they can now:
Inspect more frequently and without interruption, allowing faults to be detected before they become serious failures.
Drastically reduce the use of PPE and maintenance times by not having to disassemble panels or work under tension.
Ensure the safety of personnel, complying with NFPA 70E standards with a simpler and more operational method.
Establish a uniform and scalable work system, which has already been replicated in 29 centers in North America.
In addition, the company has integrated this solution into its long-term improvement plan, based on reliability-centered maintenance methodologies (RCM/RBM). In this way, IRISS windows not only become a one-off tool, but a key part of its electrical reliability strategy, which contributes directly to increasing Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and reducing structural costs.
The result: a network of centers that is safer, more efficient and better prepared to anticipate any power failure.
Want to inspect your electrical installation without removing panels or exposing your equipment?
Discover how IRISS windows can help you optimize your electrical maintenance with more safety and less cost.