Use and Storage Guide

Recommendation for use of IEC 61111:2009 standard live working-Electrical Insulating Mat.

The details are provided with regard to instructions for maintenance, inspections, retest and use of electrical insulating mats after purchase.

In cases where these recommendations are not followed, mats are not suitable for live working.

Storage/Transportation
Proper transportation and storage is must to protect the insulating properties and durability of mats. These mats shall not be bent or compressed. The mats should not be stored/used in the proximity of excessive heat sources. For maximum life of the mats do not store in open Sunlight, artificial light or any other sources of ozone for long hours.

Marking
Every Roll/Mat of the electrical Insulating mats shall have complete and visible marking as per IEC 61111:2009.

Before Use
Inspect visually each side of electrical insulating mats before use. If mat is dirty, wash it with respect of the operating temperature range.
Before use, the mats shall be inspected and if any cracks, tears or small pin holes are found then the mats shall be thought unsafe and returned for testing.

In Use
Ideal Operating Temperatures are -40 deg. cl. to 55 deg. cl. and avoid contact of mats with chemicals, solvents and strong acids as this adversely affect the life and properties of mats. Mats shall be placed on clean and smooth floor. Place the feet in the center of the mat.

Periodic Inspection and Testing
No electrical insulating matting, even those held in storage be used unless they have been inspected and/or electrically tested within the previous 12 months.
The tests on electrical insulating matting consist of visual inspection, and then a proof dielectric test without moisture conditioning, expect for class 0 where visual inspection only is required.

FAQ's

How do the insulating rubber matting works?

Specifically designed for use in front of high-voltage equipment such as switchboards, electrical safety matting is a special grade of rubber in mat form that has excellent insulating properties. Providing safety for operators and maintenance staff from electrical shock, it should be used in any area where the health and safety risk assessment has shown possible exposure to high-voltage shock.

Specially engineered matting for use in areas prone to electrical shock such as Switch boards. Vardhman IEC 61111 electrical safety matting is a special of rubber posses high insulation properties. These mats should be used in area where the risk assessment team has shown possible exposure to high voltage shock.

Rubber has inherent di-electric properties which inhibit the flow of electric charge as a result of its molecular structure and thus preventing the free flow of electrons. This makes it an ideal insulator.

How do i use an Electrical Safety Mat

In combination with personal protection equipment (such as electrically insulated gloves) the operator or user should stand on the mat in front of the electrical equipment. This will avoid a direct short through their body to the ground.

Guidelines for selection of class of electrical Insulating matting in relation to nominal voltage

The maximum use voltage recommended for each class of electrical insulating matting is designated in Table.

The maximum use voltage is the voltage rating of the protective equipment that designates the maximum nominal voltage of the energized system may be safely worked.

On multiphase circuits, the nominal voltage is equal to the phase-to-phase voltage. If there is no multiphase exposure is a system area, and the voltage exposure is limited to the phase to earth potential, the phase to earth potential should be considered to be the nominal voltage.

If electrical equipment and devices are insulated, or isolated, or both, such that the multiphase exposure on an earthed neutral star circuit (grounded wye) is removed, the nominal voltage may be considered as the phase-to-earth voltage on that circuit.