Insulation mats: operating safety at a global standard

Electrical insulation mats play a crucial role in safeguarding personnel from an electrical environment.

Insulating mats is the base of all insulation systems that reduce the probability of an electrical shock.

The physical and chemical properties of the mats make it a unique candidate to prevent most electrical hazards at the workplace.

Some of the ways that personnel gets electrocuted includes:

• Direct or indirect contact with the electrical medium.
• Electrical shocks due to exposed wirings.
• Arcing due to faulty equipment.
• The electrical explosion caused due to exposed wirings.
• Release of harmful gases due to electro explosion.
• A fire caused by faulty appliances.

The electrical rubber mats make sure to reduce the probability of electrical hazards by absorbing most of the shocks within its surface.

The insulation mats are made from a unique composition of synthetic polymers.

These polymers show high dielectric properties that constrict the flow of electron within the surface.

The dielectric properties of the mats bind the electron within the atoms.

The molecular structure of the rubber is so strong that the electron cannot be shared with the neighboring atoms.

This slows down the electron until it comes to an eminent stop making insulation mats the ideal electrical deterrent.

These insulating mats are manufactured globally according to the IS-15652, IS-5424, ASTM-D178, and AS/NZS 2978 standards.

The electrical insulation mats are manufactured for applications:

• Near Switchboards
• Near LT and HT panels
• Near electrical panels
• Near control rooms
• Near High Voltage panels
• Near power transmission rooms
• Near machine control rooms

The rubber mat for electrical panel protects the workers, technicians, and engineers from accidental electrocution.

These rubbers mats are used in outdoor and indoor conditions and generally placed in front of electrical panels and switchgear to create a safe working environment.

These insulating mats have a wide range of industrial applications such as mining, munitions, utilities, and heavy machinery.

Additionally, some of the common areas of use include:

• Near engineering sites
• In utility sites
• In construction areas

The rubber mats for global applications are performed on a particular standard test, such as

• Test for anti-slip matting
• Standard specification through proof testing
• Conditioning time for low-temperature folding test
• Component plastic testing  such as flame rating, arcing resistance, the relative thermal index
• Chemical compatibility test
• Full thermal aging test.

The tests make sure that the mats are set to the standard performance that can decrease high voltage threat.

What makes these mats so unique in contributing to personnel safety is its physical and chemical properties.

This high-quality elastomer rubber shows a unique tendency to external threats and protection against electrical shocks.

Some of its unique properties include:

• Its high dielectric strength that binds the electron within the surface of the mat. This exclusive property constricts the excessive atom from causing any accidental electrocution by bonding the charged particles within the atomic structure. This causes electricity to stop flowing within the carpet, leading to a safe work environment.

• The mats have a high abrasive property to withstand heavyweights on the surface. This is in good terms as most materials passed through the rug have quite a weight. The mats can endure years of usage without losing their unique physical and chemical abilities.

• Insulation mats come with an anti-skid surface that contributes to reducing workplace injury because of an accidental spill or smooth shoe surface. The workers can move around with ease without having to worry about slipping down and injuring the elbow.

• The rubber mats can withstand extreme temperature changes. Whether it is outside or indoor or outside conditions, sudden temperature fluctuation does not change the stability of the carpet. The workers can use this property all year long without having to worry about breaking the mat for every occasion.

•  Insulating rubber mats shoe high resistivity to oil, acids, and alkali. In areas where chemical changes are frequent in occurrence, the insulating mats do not react to any chemical behavior. It remains the way it is.

• Electrical mats have high flame resilience. The mat does not catch on fire that quickly, and even if it does, it does not produce harmful toxins that may otherwise create respiratory issues for the workers.

•  Electrical insulation mats are chemically inert and do not react with ultraviolet rays. While another organic compound may decompose to such radiation, the insulating mats remain actively inert.

•  The rubber mats can be easily cut, installed, and maintained without any prior supervision.

Get An Insight View Of Electrical Mats Before Use In Industries

For the total safety of the workers, the manufacturers develop the insulation mats. Users can place the mats in the areas like substations, high voltage panels, LT and HT labs, power electrical device rooms, and close to management panels.

Inborn Reflex

Whenever you get near the transmission box, electricity generation room, there is a possibility of leakage of currents and shocks. Often you use the inborn reflexes to safeguard yourself from such shocks.

When it comes to electrical mats, there are a distinct set of such mats; there are various types of such electrical mats which are available in the market. Users can have the choice of selecting the best electrical mats when it comes to the safety of the workers.

Safety Approval

Within the year 2007, the manufacturers manufacture the mats as per IS 15652. The standard has superseded IS 5424/69 within a short period.

These mats will provide life safety to the various technicians and electricians, as manufacturers use a lot of safety parameters and technical advancement for manufacturing the mats. Whenever users are working on DC and AC installations, it is necessary to use the electrical mats.

Application

There are several applications of insulation mats, which are denoted below.

• In front of switchboards
• Near LT and HT management panels
• Around buss bars
• Substations, power transmission rooms
• Near live equipment

Material Composition:

While having elastic properties, the insulated mats are made of elastomer. These elastomers are artificial or natural and have a mixture of synthetic polymers and rubber.

Color 

As per the demand of the users, manufacturers provide the gray, blue, and black color mats. All the colors are provided in the factory.

Surface 

To form an anti-skid surface, manufacturers provide minute abrasion on the side of the mats.

Size 

While the manufacturers can create various sizes as per demand, the normal size of insulated mats is generally 1 meter up to the length of 10 meters.

Marking 

With the identification of the manufacturer, Lot No, and batch no, the insulated mats are marked.

Packing 

To avoid mechanical injury, manufacturers pack the mats in hessian and jute bags.

Working Temperature: 

For temperature starting from – 10 to +60 degree C, the mats have mechanical and electrical properties, under traditional physical conditions.

Finish And Workmanship

The manufacturers check all the mats that are free from the conductive embedded foreign materials, pinch marks, creases, pinholes, cuts, and blisters. The manufacturers also check the voids, cracks, prominent ripples, and entrapped air bubbles.

Features Of Insulated Mats

• As per specification, every mat is tested in the factory.
• Can endure voltage up to 240 V DC and 65 KV
• Within five seconds, these mats can extinguish the fire.
• There is electrical resistance up to 1494000 Mega Ohm
• These mats resistant to solvent, alkalis, transformer oil and acids
• Tensile strength and high elongation
• Moisture and waterproof
• Can be pasted in any situation

To safeguard the workers from shock, the electrical insulation mats are manufactured with a lot of care. According to IS 15652, the manufacturers make these mats. Often as per ASTM D 178 or IEC 61111 standard, the manufacturer manufactures these mats.

By keeping the Indian and international standards, the manufacturers manufacture these mats.

Why Select The Electrical Mats

When it comes to the thickness of the switchboard matting, the usual thickness is 2.5 mm from class B and 2.0 from Class A. These mats are electrically tested and certified before being supplied to the users. According to the latest standard, these mats are manufactured.

To safeguard the workers from the electrical shocks, these switchboard mats are specially designed. There are various types of switchboard mats, which are popular in the market. The users can buy as per choice.

Insulation mats do guarantee the protection of the workers and operators.

The insulating mats are manufactured according to the Indian standard and they are technically advanced insulation mats that are used in the crucial industries. They are well known for protecting the workers and people against electric and fatal hazards.

These electrical insulating mats generally meet all kinds of requirements and are approved by the third party agencies. 

These mats are made with the help of elastomer as it is made with the help of the dotted anti-skid design which makes the appearance of these mats more appealing.

They are always in the house tested so the manufacturer’s test certificate is always provided along with the supply.

Some of the attractive features of these mats include:

• These mats are very much electrical resistant.

• These mats are generally non-conductive so they protect and insulate from the mortal shocks that are usually generated by high voltage equipment.

• The thickness of these mats range from 2mm to 4mm which is dependent on the working voltage resistance with an anti-skid textured surface on the top.

• These mats are resistant to oil, acid, and fire

• These mats are generally moisture, water and leakage proof that usually guarantees a very long functional life.

• These mats have an apt the temperature of -25 degrees Celsius to 55 degrees Celsius.

• These mats generally display mechanical values which are generally not less than the 75% of the original value.

A set of insulating and useful mats!

The insulated rubber mats protect the workers and prevent any sort of leakage of current as they are useful in:

• Providing safety to the people

• Providing maximum elongation at break and highly resistant to chemicals acids and alkalis and oils.

• Providing excellent resistance to the tear thereby having very good resistance  properties that measure 18N/nm.

• That’s because of the electrical insulation mat is generally exhibited which is usually measured at 160 mA/m2 maximum.

They are used near:

• They are used near the control panels.
• They are used around the bus bars
• They are used in front of the switchboards
• They are used near electrical substations.
• They are used on-site use in the live equipment
• They are used near transformers and generators.

Rubber mats are useful!

These sheets are usually available in a number of choices which is dependent on a number of options such as the specific gravity, hardness, mechanical properties and many more.

The rubber mats are also offered to the workers and the people with a very good surface finish through the option of customizing it on both sides with a brilliant and colorful fabric finish.

The customizations also include the insertion of one or two sheets with very different colors and the most important thing that they do is to protect the workers and the operators, those who is working near the electrical equipment?

Conclusion:

So we come to the conclusion that how the insulation mats protect the people from the electrical hazards and how the workers can work near the electrical equipment safely.

There are always possibilities of the leakage of current so these mats are always used near the stringent industrial conditions.

These insulation mats come with brilliant features and they are always available through the online methods.

What are the actual benefits that the people enjoy while working on the insulating mats?

The highly electrical mats which are non-conductive in nature insulate and protect the people from electrical shocks and high voltage current in case of any leakage. These insulating mats are very much preferred by the workers and the operators as they are leakage, moisture and waterproof that guarantee a long and smooth functional life.

Let us look at some of the attractive features of these insulation mats:

• They are highly resistant to fire, oil, and acid.
• They have anti-skid texture surface on top followed by a smooth lower surface.
• The thickness of these insulation mats usually range from 2mm to 4mm depending on the utility of the working voltage resistance.
• They are also highly resistant to high voltage electricity.
• They are always in-house tested so the manufacturer’s test certificate is always provided along with the supply.

Why only insulation mats?

Having good electrical properties and brilliant mechanical properties, the electrical rubber mats are highly economical and generally used for usual purposes. As per latest Indian Standard for electrical insulation, these mats are highly preferred by the workers and the operators as they are recommended by them for protecting and insulating against the high voltage current.

These rubber mats for electrical purpose are highly recommended as they have some interesting and similar features compared to then insulation mats.

Let’s have a look at some of the interesting features below:

The standard size and design of these switchboard rubber mats are 1 meter wide with a length of 2 meters. They are generally 3 feet wide followed by the length of 6 feet.

The standard color of the insulation rubber mats is generally black and they are available in other colors too depending on the specific gravity and hardness.

They are generally available in 6mm to 25mm in thickness in a standard and general size of 1Mx2M.

The manufacturing tolerance of these switchboard matting generally, imply on more than 10% on the thickness and less than 5% on length with 2% width.

• They are generally available in the checkered or fluted design.
• They are made from natural rubber and so they are always in the house tested. The manufacturer’s test certificate is always provided along with the supply of these rubber mats.
• The water absorption generally ranges from 4% maximum
• The special rubber compound of high quality natural rubber mats is free from any kind of any insertion.
• The working temperature ranges from 0 to 55 degree Celsius.
• It has a high tensile strength of generally 50kg/cm square.
• It has compression set of maximum of 10%.

The custom size and design is always available as per request whereas the maximum width is 1000mm with a proper length of 2000mm and thickness available up to 50mm.

For covering the floor, the high voltage insulating mats are used and coming to the electrical insulating mats, these mats are also highly recommended by the workers as per the latest Indian Latest standard.

These high voltage insulating mats are mainly used for the safety of workers and the operators as they are generally available with the anti-skid aberrations on the top so that it avoids the slippage followed by the smooth lower surface.

What Makes Insulation Mats So Effective For Industries?

For decades, environmentalists have blacklisted the non – biodegradable tires. Often for reusing in the new tires, a certain solution is applied to chemical building blocks and other products. While eradicating the slippery and wet floors, the insulating mats provide a surefooted and comfortable surface.

While one can recess the mats, the mats are mounted on the surface.

Certain Properties Of The Mats

Shockproof- The mats are durable and shockproof

Act As PPE – From electrical shock, these mats act as protective equipment.

Easy Clean- Due to its manufacturing quality, one can effortlessly maintain the mats.

Available in Various Sizes – For aesthetic appeal, the electric mats are available in beautiful colors and designs. These mats are manufactured, as per Indian Standards.

Maintaining As Per New Standard

To cover the control panels, and flooring, one can use the mats. While manufacturing the mats, manufacturers keep the Indian Standard in mind. The mats are high voltage.

Due to the possibility of leakage of currents, workers need to install the mats so that they remain safe. With such mats, there is a complete guarantee of safety from the electrical shocks. With a mixture of both synthetic and natural rubbers, the manufacturers manufacture the mats.

Why Are Such Mats Handy?

To deliver complete protection against electric shock, manufacturers manufacture insulating rubber mats as per IEC 61111: 2002. The electric shock appears, due to the presence of unearthed electrical earth faults.

In front of the switchgear and electrical panels, one use these mats. These mats are also suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. One can use the mats to create a safe environment for the workers.

Benefits

These mats offer a huge amount of resistance to the low leakage of currents. These mats are very resilient to general weathering, UV, and ozone.

• Apart from this, these mats are
• Oil and acid resistant
• Slip-resistant
• Fire resistant
• Hydrophobic in nature
• Halogen-free flame retardant
• In lesser thickness, there is a higher breakdown voltage
• With voltage applications, these mats are available for users
• As per voltage applications, the thickness variations from 2- 7 mm.
• There is availability in continuous rolls of 10m.

Understand The Benefits Of Mats

The end-users must understand the benefits of the mats when employers are using them for the safety of the workers. Apart from buying them blindly, the buyers must know everything about the mats.

According to the standard, the manufacturers manufacture the mats.

Benefits Of The Mats

Before buying mats, there are four benefits of the mats which one needs to keep in mind.

Near The LT and HT Control rooms:

Near the control panels and on the flooring of the HT and LT, one needs to install the mats. The High tension control panels, which are referred to as High Tension Control Panels have some of the 11KV, 0.6 VK 66 kV voltages. On the other hand, low tension control panels involve voltages as low as 415 kV.

When it comes to safety mats, there are some reasons to use it.

Safeguarding The Ground Connection Disorder

The proper ground connection is necessary for the safety of workers, in case of heavy electrical works. The mats can prevent adverse electric shocks during the works; it is not done properly.

High Voltage Works

The electrical mats work as a safeguard to the workers, to stop any adverse situation due to the high voltage electrical activities.

Prevents Over Heating

It stops the unnecessary heating of the wires in any electrical device, as one needs to place the mats on the wiring. Hence, in such circumstances, one can rely on the mats to safeguard the workers from electrical shocks.

What Are The Necessary Things To Know About Electrical Mats?

The mats have high insulating properties, as the name is electrical insulating mats. In the path of voltage and electricity, these mats create a high resistance. Towards the ground, in the path of current and voltage, the mats create an obstruction.

At a place where there are current terminals and high voltage, it resists the currents to drain on the earth and keeps the workers safe at the same time. There are many names of these mats, and one can use the mats for the safety of the workers.

There are certain areas like substations, electrical rooms, and generator rooms, where there is a possibility of leakage of current and one can only remain safe if one installs the electrical mats. The mats are one such mat, which can provide maximum safety to the workers.

Some Of The Major Benefits

When it comes to the electrical mats, there are some major benefits discussed below

Maintenance

The users don’t have to worry about the maintenance when such electrical mats are installed in the industries where there is the use of high voltage of currents. There is a necessity of minimum service, and one needs little maintenance of the mats.

Due to the presence of good mechanical properties and high tensile strength, these mats provide invaluable support to the places where there is high use of electricity. To upsurge the performance of the mats, one needs to clean the mats from time to time. For this purpose, there is numerous cleaning solution available in the market.

Resistant To Oil

There will be no decline in the performance for the mats since the mats can work in the presence of the oil and are oil resistant.

Durability Of The Mats

Without any decay, one can use the mats for years as the mats are very durable. The performance graph will go down, but before that the mats will provide service for nearly eight to ten years.

Economical

In very reasonable rates, these mats are available for the users in the market. There is no high installation charge for the mats.

For clients, insulating rubber mats have been offering multiple benefits. It is used in a wide range of companies. One can use the mats at the base of the working area, while these mats will safeguard the floors.  While being manufactured with high-quality rubber, these mats can help in insulation and safeguard the workers at the same time.

What Are The Other Things

The mats are necessary for removing the raw materials from the landfills, and hence it makes the world an improved place to live in. You can have the option of selecting the rubber mats, for the electrical units. There are various types of rubber mats, which users can use for insulation in the electrical fields.

Selecting The Best Once

There are so many mats to select, for fulfilling the needs of the clients. Everyone can contend when one finds suitable mats for electrical purposes. Hence, it is necessary to find the right kind of mats from the best manufacturers.

These mats can permit a comfortable stand for the workers. Not only a comfortable stand, but these mats are also vital for the protection of the employees. There will be few accidents and injuries if one installs the insulation mats for electrical purpose.

The mats are non-conductive while safeguarding all people from being stunned and getting shocks. These mats are made of solid rubber, and hence, it can surely act as a rescue product in case of electrical circumstances.

These mats are environmentally safe, as the manufacturers use good products to produce the mats.

Hence it is critical to check all the parameters for the mats, before buying them and using them.

What are some of the excellent features of the insulating and the electrical rubber mats?

While working near the electrical equipment the operators get the ultimate safety from the electrical shock as the electrical insulating mats protect them from fatal injuries.

These mats are manufactured according to the IEC 61111: 2009 as a good standard set which is set by the International Electro-technical Commission.

The insulating mats range from 2mm to 4mm in thickness with an anti-skid textured surface on the top surface so that it avoids slippage.

These mats are usually moisture and water-resistant and allow long functional life. These high voltage insulating mats are resistant to chemicals like acids and alkalis. 

They are always fire resistant and are usually available along with the manufacturer’s test certificate.

The electrical insulation mats are also provided which have a fine ribbed design and generally comes along with 3mm to 5mm in thickness which is a little more than the insulation mats.

These mats are always customized depending upon the working voltage and other options including specific gravity, hardness and many more.

The voltage of the insulation mats do not usually exceed below 650 Volts and that is why they are usually preferred by most of the people from all across the world.

How rubber is useful in the insulating mats?

Rubber is one of the most durable, shock-absorbent and slip-resistant and that is why they are used in the insulating mats.

We find that the insulating mats are made with the help of the blending of the natural and the synthetic rubber which gives them high tensile strength and flexibility.

The rubber is free from any kinds of insertions or abrasions as the rubber mats are made from the special compound of the natural rubber.

The incorporation of the rubber also makes these mats have an operating temperature from 0 degree Celsius to 55 degree Celsius.

If someone places the electrical rubber mats anywhere near the electrical equipment anywhere near the HT or the LT control panels or switchboard matting, it will protect them from the fatal injuries and the currents.

Some of the features which prove that these mats are strong are as follows:

·         They are long-lasting.

·         They are usually qualitative.

·         The rubber incorporated in them gives them excellent flexibility and high durability.

·         These mats are usually available in a checkered and fluted design with a standard size of 1M X 2M.

What are some of the applications of the electrical rubber mats?

These rubber mats act as a protective gear for the electricians, engineers and the workers working in large industries.

These mats are highly economical and they are absolutely user-friendly.

These mats have very high mechanical properties and that is why they are also used for LPG loading and unloading purposes.

More applications of these rubber mats are:

·         These mats are used near HT or LT control panels.

·         These mats are used in front of the switchboards.

·         These mats are used near various electrical substations and around bus bars.

·         These mats are used in the transformers and generators.

·         These mats are utilized in the lift rooms.

The rubber insulating mattings which are designed according to the ASTM-D-178 standard are considered to be highly resistant to electricity.

They are usually non conductive in nature and are meant to protect the people from fatal injuries and deadly shocks which are caused by the high voltage equipment.

These mats have the thickness of 3.2mm to 12.7mm as it depends upon the smooth lower surface.

These mats also have anti-skid textured surface on the top so that it avoids slippage and they are relatively moisture proof which guarantees a long functional life.

They contain are also good resistors of flame and ozone and has the capacity to work under the extreme temperature.

Many people from all across the world look out for these mats as they provide maximum resistance to oil and other chemicals.

Why Mats with Insulation Can Be Helpful For Electrical Units? Check It Out

For workers and electrical-based factory, the insulating mat is a non- conductor in nature. The mat is an essential product where electrical appliances are used every day. The mats are found in the power transmission rooms, high voltage panels, and power plants.

Types of Mats

When it comes to selection, there are various types from where one can select the best one. To satisfy the needs of global and local customers, the manufacturers are proficient in making the best products.

ASTM – D- 178

While safeguarding the workers from the mortal shocks generated from the high voltage equipment, the mats are highly electrical resistant. Based on the use, the standard thickness is from 3.2 mm to 12.7mm. The mats are waterproof, moisture, and leakage proof.

IS 15652:2006

As per Indian standard, manufacturers manufacture the mats. The mats are used for covering the floor below the control panels. By using the anti-skid feature, the manufacturers produce such mat which is available in 2.5mm, 2mm and 3 mm.

IS5424: 1969

With excellent mechanical properties and electrical resistance, the mat is made out of the natural rubber. The size of the mat varies from 6mm to 2mm thickness. With the fluted or checkered design, the mat is available.

IEC 6111: 2009

According to IEC 61111: 2009, the mat is manufactured by the manufacturers. The mat is highly electrical resistant. The thickness of the mat is 2mm to 4mm. For this brand, the thicker mats are also available. The mats are known for acid, fire-resistant and have an excellent functional life.

AS/NS 2978: 1995

In this category, two classes of mats are available. While the class B is thinner than Class A, Class A mat is for general purpose application. For the flat indoor surface, one can use class B.

Applications Of The Mat

•    Switchboard

•    Lift room, generators, and transformers

•    Around buss bars

•    Near HT/LT control panels

•    Live equipment outdoor and indoor equipment

One needs to get a basic understanding of rubber, to begin with. As a result of its molecular structure, rubber is a natural dielectric material that shows the flow of the electrical charge. It can stop the free flow of electrons.

For electrical safety, many elements of rubber make it an ideal material. While acting an insulator, insulated rubber mats are used. The mats have electrical and dielectric resistant properties.

For the use in electrical units and substations, the cushioning and flexible nature of the rubber makes it a perfect material. As any additives, electrical mats need strict quality control. Adding such quality control can help the rubber mats to provide better service at the electrical units. Hence, one test the mats rigorously.

Where Should These Mats Be Used?

Where the danger of electrical shocks is excellent, one can use the rubber mats for safety. The application areas are:

•    In-plant rooms

•    In front of machine control gear

•    In front of switchboards

•    In front of gear rooms

Often the matting specification covers:

•    Oil resistance

•    Slip resistance

•     Acid resistance

•    Mechanical puncture resistance

•    Aging

•    Flame Retardancy

•    As a portable safeguard for site engineers working on live equipment

Why Electrical Mats Are Essential

For the workers who are involved in the electrical installation of voltages of 6.6 kV, 3.3 KV, 20KV, 15KV and 33KV m insulation mats provide electrical protection. Often the workers need to wear gloves and stand on the mats for working.

For resisting the impact of the punctures or tears, these mats are used which has excellent mechanical properties and high electrical insulation. The mats are used in front of power systems, and LV HV and MV switch gears. By using the finest rubber compounds, the mats are manufactured.