Reduces and controls overpressure on the ViPIRS should an arc-flash occur by venting gas down through blast vents in the base of the frame. Personnel protection is maximized from the potential of flying debris, and the ViPIRS product remains firmly attached to the panel.
The ViPIRS line of IR viewing panes comes with an innovative, distinctive and unique patent-pending pressure relief system. The groundbreaking BLASTDOWN™ system technology diverts a portion of the pressure wave associated with an internal arcing event. In a world-first, these viewing panels are designed to deflect and redirect a portion of the arc gases, associated with an arcing event, through a unique patent-pending diversion system.
Should an internal arc flash event ever occur, with the ViPIRS pane’s cover in the closed position, the BLASTDOWN™ system redirects a portion of the pressure wave downwards, away from the thermographer relieving a portion of the overpressure near the ViPIRS pane. In the case of an arc-flash occurring while the cover of the ViPIRS pane is open, the BLASTDOWN™ system not only diverts and vents a portion of the pressure wave away from the thermographer, it also reuses this same energy to automatically close the latching cover, again providing maximum protection of the thermographer and anyone else in the vicinity.
Traditional infrared viewing panes, which use two mesh grids separated by a polymer, must be carefully aligned during production to prevent the two grids from overlapping and subsequent field of view restrictions. The two grids can cause image problems if the thermographer attempts to view at an angle not perfectly perpendicular to the mesh. Using a single mesh embedded within the polymer removes these problems entirely.
Metallic mesh parts are subject to corrosion over time. Using a mesh embedded within the polymer seals the supporting mesh entirely, meaning it is completely protected from corrosion; once by anti-corrosion coatings and twice by the polymer encapsulation.
Manufactured from a combination of aluminium, steel and stainless steel, the ViPIRS range of infrared viewing panes offer unparalleled flexibility and usability. The revolutionary polymer-composite optic is impervious to mandatory load and impact test requirements specified by UL, CSA and IEEE standards and guides.
Not only can the ViPIRS infrared viewing panes be installed, removed and reinstalled without voiding the certification, the entire product, including the composite optic is covered by an unconditional lifetime warranty.
The key to BLASTDOWN™ is the one-piece composite optic which is hinged to create a pressure relief diverter in the event of an arc-flash.
For the first time, an infrared viewing pane has been designed to protect the thermographer should an arc-flash occur during an inspection using the ViPIRS BLASTDOWN™ system.
All 'arc-resistant' switchgear and motor-control gear are designed to relieve the immense over-pressure caused by an electric arc. This is typically through the use of vents and plenum systems.
Traditionally, IR windows and viewing panes can withstand high levels of electric arc-faults, but only with their protective cover closed, prompting the question 'What if an arc-flash occurs during an infrared inspection?'
The simple answer is, nothing good. There is an increased risk to any thermographer!
Whilst IR windows and viewing panes will always be a risk-reduction device, this fundamental question was the driving force behind the entire design requirement for creating the ViPIRS, a product with the most advanced safety features in its class.
In the Inspection Position, ViPIRS BD range are designed to divert arc-flash energy down through blast vents onto a section of the cover, causing it to close automatically.
In the Closed Position, arc-blast overpressure is reduced and controlled. The ViPIRS BD range uses its flexible optic to vent overpressure down and out of base vents.
Blast vents
