Electrical Heat Tracing Testing Procedure
- QC inspection for completed heating cables devices and steel supports shall be requested and inspection/test result shall be filed and recorded on appropriate inspection forms.
- Visual inspection shall include dimensional check for junction box, support inspection and location verification to be recorded in approved inspection forms.
- Conduct preliminary testing prior to final inspection ensuring all connections and function are appropriate with respect to wiring diagram and other requirements
- Verify set points match caution signs.
- With circuit energized for 5 minutes measure current and voltage of each phase. Compare measure value to design value at the current cable temperature and note discrepancies. Deviations in excess of + or – 10% shall be investigated. Follow the site electrical repetitive procedures for voltage checks.
- Adjust thermostat/temperature set point to final settings in accordance with engineering drawings and specifications.
- Inspect the cladding for damage and water seal.
- Inspect for environmental conditions, e.g. abnormal ambient temperature, mildew, moisture, condensation, dust and dirt.
- Before thermal insulation is installed the continuity and insulation resistance test to be carried out on heating cable by applying 500 VDC or 2500 VDC depending upon the types of cable. The minimum acceptable IR value is 20 mega ohms.
- RTD Resistance Test to be done.
- After the thermal insulation is installed the continuity and resistance test to be repeated again on heating cable by applying 500 VDC or 2500 VDC depending upon the types of cable. The minimum acceptable IR value is 20 mega ohms.
- For normal LV cables continuity and insulation resistance test to be carried out.
Pre-commissioning Test to be done for heat tracing panels
Functional Test:
- Exercise all active control devices and check for proper operation, verify correct operation of monitor type pilot devices, ground fault leakage interrupter(earth leakage switches), annunciators and audible alarms.
- Where temperature critical lines have heat tracing which can achieve temperatures higher than the maximum safe operating temperature, perform critical high temperature shutdown functional test.
- Where temperature critical lines have back-up/dual redundant power supplies and/or tracing systems, simulate power and/or tracer failures to test these systems.
- Verify that the branch breakers in the panel are properly sized for the loads that they feed.
- As part of startup, test each branch circuit to confirm desired functionality.
- Complete functional check to be carried out for TC 1818A controller and setting to be applied as required.
- Complete point to point wiring and functionality check to be done for all devices of Heat Tracing Panel.