FAQs

Q: How do I go about getting a quote to clean my insulators?
A: You can obtain a quote two ways. First, you may send electronic pictures to one of our emails, and most of the time, we can quote your work after speaking with you about the equipment and reviewing your pictures. Please remember that the time it takes to clean an insulator (regardless of the kV) has a lot to do with the contamination on the insulator, as well as the level of contamination. Routine cleanings can help eliminate heavy build up of certain contaminations.

Q: Can you remove all types of contaminations?
A: Most of the time, all contaminations can be removed. Sometimes it may take experimenting with different media's, such as Limestone, Corn Cob, or Walnut Shells. Saying this, the majority of contaminants can be removed with pulverized limestone. When insulators are coated with silicone grease, it is imperative that Corncob is used. An example of this would be in a cement plant environment. Cement dust (when dampened) can result in a heavy, crusty layer of buildup. If this buildup is left not cleaned for extended periods of time, it can be very hard to get off. In this case, a mixture of pulverized limestone and corncob can be used. Remember, the key to these types of environments is routine cleaning. Cement plants, depending on the locations of substations or poles, should be cleaned at least bi-annually. Saying this, most cement plant electrical equipment should be coated with silicone after each cleaning to eliminate any chance of your insulators arcing or tracking.

Q: Can you clean polymer insulators?
A: Yes, polymer insulators can be cleaned, but the technician should use caution (depending on the type of media used) when cleaning them. Usually, more abrasive media's can harm the polymer if not sprayed properly, i.e. use less pressure and keep a further distance from the insulator.

Q: Are your materials safe to the environment?
A: Yes, our materials are perfectly safe for the environment. Pulverized limestone is nothing more that calcium carbonate and is even used in the application of fertilizer on fields. Corncob is biodegradable and is essentially ground up material from the cob of an ear of corn. Both serve as excellent cleaning material and are used in thousands of different applications around the world. Note* Please review the attached MSDS sheets associated with these products in the safety page of our website.

Q: How close to electrically energized parts can your employees get?
A: The electrical Standards at 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S include employer requirements for employee safety with respect to electrical hazards in the general industry workplace. According to subsection 1910.332 (a), employees who face a risk of electrical shock or other electrical hazards that are not reduced to a safe level by the electrical installation requirements of sections 1910.303 through 1910.308, must be trained in electrical safety-related work practices as required by sections 1910.331 through 1910.335. Our technicians are considered to be "qualified persons" under Section 1910.332 (a). According to paragraph 1910.333 (c)(2), only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been de-energized under the lockout/tag out provisions of subsection 1910.333(b). These distances can be reviewed under Subsection 1910.333, Table S-5-Approach distances for qualified employees. An example would be that our spraying technicians working on or around 87.5kV, but not over 121kV...the minimum approach distance would be 4 ft. 0 in. (122 cm).
If you are interested in the approach distances required for vehicle and mechanical equipment, you may review these standards under 1910.333(c)(3)(iii). Please keep in mind that our vehicles are all considered insulated aerial lifts, so the typical 10-foot minimum approach distance does not apply.

Q: Can you clean energized insulators in extreme weather conditions?
A: We will not allow any technician to put themselves or their co-workers in harms way for any reason! Because of this, they do not work in rain conditions or heavy wet snowy conditions. Our employees are also subject to strict rules while working in winding conditions.

Q: Are your employees qualified to work in facilities that require MSHA certification?
A: Yes, all of our employees are certified in both MSHA Part 46 (surface mines) and Part 48b (below surface mining) operations.

Q: How many years has your company been cleaning energized insulators?
A: Our company has been in the business of cleaning energized insulators since 1974. We became incorporated in 1988. Prior to 1974, the owner cleaned energized insulators for 10 years.