Genuine switchgear and cable for a chemicals switchroom upgradeGenuineswitchgearandcableforachemicalsswitchroomupgrade

Two switchboards were running hot enough to fail infrared inspection within three years. Several breakers turned out to be grey-market parts bought on price, underrated for the switchroom they sat in.

The switchroom sat next to a reactor hall and ran at 48 °C in summer, well above the conditions the original selection had assumed — so every rating was optimistic and the cable was undersized for the real ambient.

The plant ran continuously; a full switchroom shutdown was not available at any point in the year.

We surveyed the switchroom across a full summer week to establish the real ambient before quoting anything, then specified genuine, authorised-channel switchgear correctly rated for 48 °C.

Breakers, contactors and cable were supplied from ABB, Schneider and Polycab through their authorised channels, warranty intact, with Ex-rated glands for the areas adjacent to the Zone 2 classification.

Material was delivered against four existing planned shutdowns over five months so the plant never lost more than one process area at a time, and the client's contractor changed over feeders in groups.