By: Joe DeMonte, Technical Director for ABM Franchising Group
With the heightened need for cleaning and disinfecting in facilities today, there may be some equipment that cannot be cleaned using available over-the-counter cleaning solutions or even UV (ultraviolet) light treatments. NEMA (The Association of Electrical Equipment and Medical Imaging Manufacturers) has recently put out a COVID-19 Guide that cautions against using some of these common cleaning methods on or around electrical equipment.
Degradation of electrical components can have safety-related consequences that can include, but are not limited to fires, arc flashes, or shock hazards due to equipment insulation breakdown, and damage to expensive components. For a full discussion on the dangers of using unapproved cleaning methods on electrical equipment, please refer to NEMA's "COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance for Electrical Equipment".
Cleaning the electrical equipment is a vital part of safety related electrical preventative maintenance, but it is important to adhere to specific methods and manufacturer's guidelines. Chemicals or "fogging disinfectant" methods should not be used without consulting the manufacturer and reviewing the appropriate electrical equipment cleaning procedures.
