Safety Rubber Matting for Electrical Installations!

Often called insulated floor coverings, electrical safety matting protects individuals working near electrical installations from electric shocks, and must comply with Electrical Insulation Matting since Rubber Matting was not sufficient to protect workers. 

A safety mat is an integral part of an electrical safety program, typically used around areas containing high voltage (HV) equipment, such as a switchboard. However, safety mats are also available to work on low and medium-voltage (LV and MV) equipment. 

The typical applications of this protective gear include working in front of switchboards, control gear, in plant rooms and lift control rooms, and also as portable protection with live equipment during site engineering activities.  

A firm's risk assessment should concentrate on any possible shock risks, and electrical safety mats are recommended in the HSE's Safe Working Practices for Electricity at Work document, HSG85, specifically under Electrical Insulation (Live working. Electrical insulating mat UK Standards Institution). In addition to preventing ground contact through the floors, it also helps to provide insulation. 

As part of its recommendations, the HSE recommends providing insulated matting to enhance electrical safety when welding, and when operating machinery in quarries, construction areas, and other similar environments. 

Take care when making a choice 

In the construction of electrical safety mats and Outdoor Matting, specific voltage for the level of risk is tested in order to ensure that the mat can withstand the voltage of the equipment that is being accessed. Therefore, it is vital that adequate precautions are taken so that the appropriate level of protection can be afforded when working with electrical equipment. 

In addition to meeting additional technical requirements not outlined in the UK standard, electrical insulation materials must also meet a plethora of other requirements that ensure longevity in harsh environments.

The differences between BS EN 61111:2009 and BS 921:1976 

Due to its failure to meet the requirements established by the Working Group, BS 921:1976 was withdrawn and a brand-new standard was established, BS EN 61111:2009, which is the new national standard for electrical insulating mats. In order to meet the requirements of BS EN 61111:2009, the mat must pass a more extensive number of tests than those required by BS 921:1976. Different levels of voltage are categorized and each class has a specific protection class assigned to it. Additionally, it specifies a maximum thickness of material required to achieve this compared to a minimum thickness defined within BS921:1976, and as such strives to ensure a high level of material design. Additionally, each meter of Rubber Matting Rolls is color-coded and indelibly branded on the reverse to clearly identify the level of protection it provides, ensuring both correct usage and full traceability back to the manufacturer.

The BS EN 61111:2009 standard recommends that all mats within classes 1 to 4 including those in storage, be tested every 12 months. For Class 0, a visual inspection may be sufficient; however, a routine dielectric test in accordance with EN 6111:2009 may be requested and is recommended by the manufacturer.  

Manufacturers are also required to test the material against the following criteria according to the BS EN 61111 specification: 

  • The mechanical resistance to punctures
  • Resistance to oil
  • Resistance to acid
  • Resistance to slippage
  • The ability to resist fire
  • The aging process
  • The durability of markings

Accordingly, conformance with BS EN 61111:2009 means that the matting will have a number of advantages over BS 921: 1976, as it is oil and acid resistant, flame retardant, lighter in weight, and there are different classes for different voltage applications. 

BS 921: 1976, which has been superseded, is still available, as it is still suitable for its original purpose in the UK. New applications and installations should, however, specify BS EN 61111, and identify the correct grade for the voltage used.

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