Safety mat

[vennivivi]

Hi,

I was approached recently by a safety professional on the need to install safety mats near all of my motor control centres particularly on the requirement of safety mats agains static electricity. There is no statutory safety requirement to install such locally.I need to motivate this decision to my managers. Do they have any safety features ?

Thanks.

Grundig

 

[davidbeach]

Safety mats? What are safety mats supposed to be? I've occasionally seen a thin rubber mat in front of MCCs and switchgear, mostly for traction. Most installations though are bare concrete floors.

 

[vennivivi]

Safety mats are used to reduce the number of available
paths to earth thereby reducing the likelihood of a
phase-to-earth shock. Some requirements request the use of safety shoes with anti-static protection and safety mats could be a mitigating measure.

Grundig

 

[wbd]

The only reference I have come across for mats in front of switchboards is in the National Electric Safety Code. I don't have my copy here but it is not mandatory and is to provide supplementary protection.

 

[ausphil]

I think that you are talking about (and mixing up) 2 different types of mats in your post. They do have 2 distinctly different functions, and material properties.

Firstly, an insulating mat is is what you describe in your second post. It is made of insulating material, and is used as a secondary (or supplemental) protection as mentioned by wbd. The thing here is that for full protection, you should be placing an insulating mat over each of the exposed metal areas of the mcc as well.

The second type of mat is an anti static mat, which is made of a conductive or semi-conductive material, that discharges any static electricity that your body may be carrying.

I wouldn't have thought that an anti static mat would be required for mcc's, and an insulating mat may be required only if local practices dictate.

ausphil.