Electrical Safety Codes and Standards That Tell Why You Should Use An Insulating Mat
Electrical safety is a critical concern in workplaces across the globe. Industrial buyers are keen on buying an insulating mat as their personal protective equipment. An electrical insulating mat reduces the risk of electrical accidents by creating a non-conductive surface to stand on.
However, should you only use an insulation mat because it minimizes the dangers of electrical accidents? Is there a law that compels you to use an electrical insulation rubber mat? Can you be penalized if you do not use insulation matting at your industrial facility?
Well, we have decoded everything in this blog!
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Why are Electrical Safety Standards Important?
Electrical safety standards are a set of guidelines that highlight the safe installation of electrical equipment, their operation, and maintenance practices. Electrical shocks and arc flashes can lead to death- which of course you do not want at your workplace.
Fortunately, the chances of electrical accidents can be lowered by following some rules and using personal protective equipment (PPE) like an insulating mat, rubber gloves, arc flash suits, etc.
The areas that electrical safety standards cover are:
6 Global And Local Electrical Safety Standards that Mandate the use of an Insulating Mat
Organizations such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and others worldwide enforce these regulations to create a safe working environment in industries dealing with electricity:
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, USA)
OSHA is a part of the U.S. Department of Labor. It sets stringent guidelines to ensure workplace safety, including standards for electrical hazards. Amongst other types of protective gear, OSHA has focused on using an electrical insulation rubber mat.
Moreover, in the USA and northern American regions, the ASTM D178 insulation mat is more popular. If you have a factory in South America, you can go for the IEC 61111:2009 insulating matting.
NFPA 70E (National Fire Protection Association, USA)
Electrical accidents can lead to short circuits and devastating fires. Therefore, this standard focuses on fires at your workplace.
NFPA 70E outlines methods to protect workers from arc flashes and electrical shock hazards.
Although it focuses mainly on the use of gloves and helmets, it equally supports the installation of an electrical insulating rubber mat.
IS 15652:2006 (India)
The IS 15652:2009 supersedes the previous 5424:1969 standard of using an insulation mat. Unlike OSHA and NFPA, the IS 15652 guidelines revolve around only the Indian standard of manufacturing and testing of an electrical insulating rubber mat.
An important area here is the working voltage breakup for the insulating matting variants. There are three types of electrical mats which are:
Furthermore, the IS 15652 electrical mat standard recommends its use in power generation plants, substations, and other industrial settings.
IEC 61111:2009 Insulating Rubber Mat Standard (Global)
Till here, we have talked mostly about local and domestic electrical safety standards. However, the IEC 61111:2009 is a global safety standard that specifies performance requirements and testing methods for an insulating mat used in electrical installations worldwide.
An IEC 61111:2009 electrical insulation rubber mat is classified into 5 classes from 0 to 4. It permits the working voltages from 1 kV to 36 kV.
ASTM D178 Insulation Mat Standard (American Society for Testing and Materials, USA)
The ASTM D178 safety standard is an insulating mat guideline that is set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. It highlights the composition, dielectric strength, working voltage, and various testing methods that make an electrical insulation rubber mat suitable for industrial workplaces.
Voltage Classifications in the ASTM D178 electrical insulation rubber mat
The ASTM D178 electrical insulation rubber mat parameters indicate the need for clear labels on the products like this:
BS EN 61111 (British Standard of an Insulation Mat)
The BS EN 61111 standard is similar to the IEC 61111:2009 standard of insulating mats but there are differences between them. regarding composition, mechanical properties, color labeling, and testing.
Nonetheless, the BS EN 61111 electrical insulating mat standard advises the use of insulating mats in high-risk environments such as electrical control rooms, substations, and heavy industrial plants.
How Do You Know You Are Buying the Right Electrical Mat?
The insulating mat that you are buying- is that the right one?
Will it protect the workers from accidents?
ASTM D178 or IEC 61111- which one will be compliant if you are in Saudi Arabia, UAE, or Oman?
Well, you can rely on these things to know if you are buying an authentic product at the right insulating mat price:
Duratuf insulating mats come with product compliance documents and quality certificates. We have electrical insulating rubber mat specialists on our team who can guide you to buy the correct insulation mat variant at the right working voltage.
Looking for a quick quote, connect with our team now!
