Thermal Imaging Survey of an Airline Caterings Suppliers Facilities?! – Imagine that!
Gate Gourmet, Heathrow http://www.gategourmet.com/home
The Project
Following on from an EICR (Link to Quattro ECIR Project), DCI were then requested by the Facilities Maintenance Team at Gate Gourmet Heathrow to follow up with a Thermal Image Survey of the Major and Critical Electrical Distribution Boards & Equipment.
(Include background info from Flir [our camera’s manufacturer] on the uses of Thermal Imaging for diagnostic and preventative maintenance)
http://www.flir.eu/instruments/electrical/content/?id=66136
http://www.flir.co.uk/cs/display/?id=42220
The Challenge
All Gate Gourmet and Gate Group sites are very busy as they constantly supply food & goods to and receive the resultant waste from major Airline Companies Flights.
Heathrow being the busiest European Airport and consistently among the top 5 busiest airports in the world means this is especially true for Gate Gourmet Heathrow’s Site.
These factors mean that their day to day operations cannot be disrupted in any way between approximately 10pm to 4am making any invasive testing or investigation works extremely difficult to achieve.
The Solution
With a suitable Risk and Method Statement in place a DCI Electrical Engineer was able to remove the covers of some of the main Electrical Distribution Board and take internal images of critical circuit connections and protective devices.
Where possible any hotspots were immediately addressed by tightening connections and checking Current Loads with a Clamp Meter and Electrical Test Equipment.
Where this was not possible a prioritised corrective measure task list was created and scheduled in with Gate Gourmet’s own in house Engineering Team.
Conclusion
Combined with over 25 years experience in the Electrical & Mechanical Industry a thermal image camera is an enormously powerful tool for diagnosing existing faults and preventing future faults in a non-disruptive and noninvasive way.
This powerful testing tool can be offered in coordination with EICR (Periodic Test & Inspection) as well as Power Analysis to fully assess the health of any Client’s Electrical Installation & System.
Contact DCI today to see how we might assist you with any needs or concerns.
