UL offers AHJs assistance with water-damaged equipment
UL is offering its services to evaluate industrial/commercial equipment that was water-damaged as a result of flooding, and that may have been subjected to a reconditioning process. This service is being offered to the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in those areas affected by flooding.
Key considerations for water-damaged equipment
When evaluating water-damaged equipment, the following factors should be considered:
- The extent of the water damage
- The effect of contaminants on the equipment
- The effects of corrosion
- The overall age and condition of the equipment
- The function the equipment serves and where it will be used (life safety vs. general control, residential vs. industrial/commercial)
Reconditioning water-damaged equipment
Certain types of industrial and commercial equipment are constructed in such a manner that allows trained personnel to recondition the equipment if damaged by water. It is important that such reconditioned equipment be subject to appropriate controls. This includes a thorough review of the:
- Reconditioning process and
- An Inspection, with basic field testing of the reconditioned equipment if applicable
In addition to the electric shock and fire hazards associated with water-damaged equipment, there also exist chemical and biological hazards. Therefore, it is imperative that the equipment be reconditioned by the original equipment manufacturer, personnel qualified by the OEM, or by recognized third party businesses with established expertise. It is strongly recommended that the OEM develop the reconditioning process within a formal risk management system.
Types of equipment suitable for reconditioning
The following list indicates some of the equipment where reconditioning is possible¹:
- Enclosed Switches (including some transfer switches)
- Busway
- Panelboards
- Fire Pump Controllers
- Manual and magnetic motor controllers
- Motor control centers
- Switchboards and Switchgear
- Liquid-filled and Cast-resin transformers
- Motors
- Industrial and Commercial battery chargers
- Commercial Refrigeration units
- Similar equipment as that above that is suitable for hazardous locations
The following list indicates equipment that should not be reconditioned and should be decommissioned:
- Gas fired equipment
- Appliances (washing machines, ovens, refrigerators, toasters, televisions, etc)
- Solid State controllers
- Molded case circuit breakers
- Fuses
- Dry type transformers
- Receptacles, GFCIs, AFCIs and Switches
- Transient Voltage Surge Protective devices
- Wiring not suitable for wet locations
Temporary use of critical equipment
While it is UL's goal to assist the AHJs by evaluating the suitability of the long-term use of reconditioned equipment, UL recognizes that some types of critical equipment may need to become temporarily operational until replacement equipment can be installed. This equipment includes but is not limited to, food refrigeration units and generators. In these cases, the OEM shall ensure that any residual risks are clearly identified. Food refrigeration equipment must also be sanitized after a complete cleaning.
Due to the difficulties in refurbishing and monitoring equipment in residential settings, it is recommended that all water-damaged residential equipment be decommissioned and replaced with new equipment.
Contact UL
For additional information regarding this service or to schedule a field evaluation, please contact UL's Field Evaluation Services at 877.854.3577 or fieldevaluations@us.ul.com. For specific information regarding electrical evaluations contact Chuck Mello at 360.817.5578 or chuck.mello@us.ul.com; and Gary Coleman at 919.549.1732 or gary.coleman@us.ul.com regarding sanitation evaluations
¹For a complete list of equipment where reconditioning is possible, and for which reconditioning is not recommended, please refer to the NEMA Publication, Guidelines for Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment.
