Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1081695
24 I ICT TODAY Steel Processing, Forging, Quarrying/Aggregates, Mining Operations (Heavy Industry) • Extreme or continuous vibration is often a consideration in these environments, not just in process areas, but also in adjacent buildings and structures. • Industrial heating equipment, such as furnaces and dryers, can create temperature extremes that will quickly destroy cabling and compromise equipment in data enclosures if the appropriate heat zones and maximum temperatures are not identified. • Processes that result in the continuous production of dust make enclosure selection and cooling options key. Enclosures should be at least NEMA 12 rated, and cooling fans (although they may be initially functional) are usually a poor long-term choice. Unless fans are inspected and filters replaced regularly, they actually become a liability instead of an asset, ultimately allowing more dust into an enclosure due to poor maintenance. Air purge can be a good choice if plant air is available, since very little air is required to maintain a positive pressure within a sealed enclosure. However, be sure the air is dry, and as a precaution, install a hose inside the cabinet such that if moisture does become evident, it is directed to an area where it would not cause damage. INSTALLER CONSIDERATIONS Most ICT communications installation professionals are well equipped with the skills, techniques, and efficiencies that are required to perform installations in the commercial business and institutional spaces, but for many, the factory floor is foreign territory. Differences include: • Workplace safety, food safety (and other industry specific work protocols) • Physical topologies that deviate from the standard hierarchical star • Different connector types to terminate and test • Different materials used for pathways, hazardous areas, and unique grounding and bonding challenges Workplace safety in production and manufacturing facilities is extensive and stringent. It is becoming more common that companies require third party safety compliance before a contractor is approved to perform work. With or without the requirement for third party compliance, additional training may very well be needed to ensure installers understand how to recognize, assess, and mitigate the safety risks in these varied environments. When considering safety, one primary difference for installers is the physical location of the device outlet. Most outlets are required within enclosures that also contain open electrical apparatus typically only accessible to qualified electrical personnel. If an installer is not deemed qualified to work within these enclosures, this can pose a significant challenge. One option is to power down and lock out power to these enclosures, but many facilities do not have this luxury due to the significant impact this would have on production. How then can the infrastructure be installed and terminated into these spaces without affecting production? The only option is to hire qualified electricians and train them with the communications infrastructure The challenges encountered when installing a grounding/bonding system within an industrial environment are prevalent due to the dynamic nature of the electrical distribution and control systems.