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SPONSORED FEATURE Mooring up in safe waters SPONSORED FEATURE: EATON MP&L Marinas are in the hospitality business and, regardless of the size or scope of facilities and services on offer, every good marina team seeks to offer guests the best experience. Boating and other recreational watersports are a hugely popular, family-friendly way to relax, socialise and interact with our beautiful natural world. Boating is fun but we need to make sure it is also safe. Over the past 30 years, most of us have read a news report of an Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) at a marina. More than 70 ESD deaths and 100 injuries have, in fact, been reported during this time at freshwater facilities, and other casualties have probably been misclassified. These are serious or even tragic incidents – but, the good news is, they are preventable. We need to understand why electric shocks can occur in the water so that we can put proper precautions in place to safeguard marinas for everyone to enjoy. Risk and responsibility We know that electricity always seeks the path of least resistance, taking the fastest, shortest path to ground. ESD can occur when alternating current (AC) electricity leaks into the water, typically from faulty or exposed wiring in or near boats or docks. Common places where stray current can originate are boat propellers, dock frames and ladders. These conditions can create a dangerous field of electric potential. Once there is an electric field in the water - especially in fresh water - human beings exposed to it are at significant risk. If there is enough stray electric current, it can cause muscles to seize up and prevent the victim from swimming, resulting in drowning. The severity of risk is affected by both human and electrical factors. The swimmer’s size, body mass, hydration and nutrition levels play one part; the rest is determined by the voltage gradient of the electrical current from its source. ESD and the GFCI There is considerable proof that installation of a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) to sever the flow of electricity will prevent water-born electrical risks, and the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the USA endorses this in guidelines set out to improve levels of safety for all Americans. The NEC updated its guidelines in 2011, 2014 and again in 2017 and GFCIs must now be installed somewhere within the electrical system for all new US marina installations. To safeguard the entire site, protection in marinas must be at both the upstream and receptacle/pedestal level. Electricians who perform work in marinas and boatyards should be familiar with the requirements of NEC code sections 555.3 (ground fault protection) and 555.19 (branch circuits). Marina owners and managers should also discuss their specifics whenever contracting electricians for services. Making your marina safe Irrespective of where you are located and the national codes you should be following, you must have good insurance, and you need to consider a number of best practices so as to improve safety at your marina. It is important to have your dockside electrical system (pedestals) inspected and updated by a qualified electrician annually (this is mandatory under the US NFPA 5.20 Maintenance of Electrical Wiring and Equipment). If you are thinking of having a new pedestal fitted, have it installed by a qualified electrician to be sure it meets your relevant safety codes and standards (NEC and NFPA in the USA). And do not depend on electricians with experience only on land. Marina work in the US should comply with all National Electrical Code (NEC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. You should keep records of all maintenance for the marina and its vessels for liability purposes, in case an incident occurs, and if you have any doubts about a boat, it should be inspected by a certified technician. It is important that you tell all boat owners and charterers to use only ‘Marine Listed’ shore or marine power cords, plugs, receptacles and extension cords that have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or ETL SEMKO (ETL). They are specifically designed to keep people safe when using them near water. Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) also warns never to use cords that are frayed or damaged or where prongs have been removed or altered and never to stand or swim in water when turning off electrical devices or switches. It suggests ‘designated in-water times’ for individuals working 38 www.marinaworld.com - September/October 2017
SPONSORED FEATURE on vessels within the marina when the electricity is turned off and customers are alerted to the fact that they will be without power at the slip for a predetermined amount of time. Last but not least is a GFCI – to quickly and automatically interrupt the flow of electricity in case of a fault. The Eaton solutions High quality vendors shift their focus from sales to safety, and Eaton’s Marina Power and Lighting (MP&L) business unit is an industry leader in adapting and manufacturing products that support NEC 555.3 code. The company sells to customers in over 150 countries, has 100 years of experience in power management, and is a world leading supplier of marina power equipment. Eaton offers a comprehensive portfolio of electrical solutions and claims to have more marina power products in service than all other US suppliers combined. It offers free, comprehensive in-house electrical design for complete marina development needs utilising its own manufactured high-quality products. The company offer several leading marina safety solutions relevant to preventing ESD: 1. Distribution equipment with ground fault protection Eaton’s distribution equipment combines space-saving designs with modular construction and increased systems ratings to provide economical and dependable electrical system distribution and protection. Combined with powerful ground fault technology, the distribution equipment can protect Above left & below: Eaton dockside pedestals offer safe power exactly where it’s needed – day and night. downstream pedestals from ground leakage and prevent ESD. Ground fault monitors with shunt trip circuit breakers help evaluate the level of electrical leakage being released from specific power sources and then intervene to interrupt the circuit. The ground fault monitoring system operates 24 hours a day and provides a visual status. A variety of options are available but standard features include: an adjustable trip level of 10mA to 10A; visual alarms; controls for up to 13 circuits; and a heavy 316L stainless steel housing that is powder-coated with a polyester resin to minimise corrosion. 2. Ground fault pedestals Eaton MP&L was the first to introduce ground fault protection with notification at each and every slip with its industryleading ground fault pedestal solution. The newest power pedestal features integrated ground fault breakers and visual trip fault notification. A flashing red light immediately lets marina staff know that power has been disconnected, potentially avoiding a dangerous situation. Eaton’s most popular, practical and durable pedestal styles include the Lighthouse and Lighthouse SS®. The pedestals have lockable weatherproof doors to protect the breakers and receptacle while in use, and a heavy resin housing with a two-part UV resistant polyurethane finish to guard against weathering from the elements. The NEMA 3R rating pedestals offer circuit breaker protection for all receptacles and feature copper bus bars with ratings from 250 to 500A. A ‘hingeless’ base provides easy access for both installation and maintenance. The user-friendly pedestals include a photocell-controlled LED light with amber lens that gives 360° lighting, and a backlit universal faceplate is included for easy receptacle plug-in at night. Optional features include high-speed internet connections and single or dual phone and/or cable TV connections, surge protection, and wireless remote metering for electricity and water. The flashing red light of the ground fault pedestal lets marina staff know that power has been disconnected. 3. Ground fault monitor, integrated into safety disconnect Eaton manufactures state-of-theart D64 ground fault monitors, which - when integrated into a safety disconnect - do not require the marina to retrofit pedestals or distribution equipment. This device, combined with a standalone safety switch disconnect, can be installed anywhere in a circuit to protect it. The downside to this solution is, although easy to install, it can be difficult to pinpoint where the ground fault originates. Having fun safely With the help of Eaton products, safety can be embedded into your marina to give you and your valued customers greater peace of mind to enjoy time in your marina and time on their boats. We can all be safer and happier – on and in the water. For more information and product details, please visit: www.marinapower. com or call +1 800 234 5959. SPONSORED FEATURE: EATON MP&L www.marinaworld.com - September/October 2017 39
