Document g2KJzRnrnZKyN5anz1mGJjQEQ
FILE NAME: Westinghouse (WH)
DATE: 1985 May 15
DOC#: WH145
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE 1977 Memo about Asbestos in Breaker Arc Chutes
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tan Ease Pittsburgh, 9N40 WW 299-4741 Date May 15, 1985 SuGieci Atlantic Electric Co.
Air Circuit Breakers -
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. Asbestos
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To Allentown Office - Jack Sobota
Reference Customer's letter of March 21, 1985 to you regarding asbestos in breaker arc chutes.
Prior to 1977 all type DH and DHP breaker arc chutes were built with aabestoG
rope Bpacers between the ceramic plates of the interrupter ntaek assembly. Thn
spacers ware formed by flattening 3/16" diameter asbestos rope to approximately .
1 /8" chickneBB. The assemblies were held together with a white baking enamel
w h i c h covered the asbestos rope except for' the 1/8" exposed surface between the
ceramic plates.
.
Starting approximately January 1, 1977 the asbestoa rope waB replaced by glass r ope in all DH and DHP arc chutes.
In addition to the asbestos rope DH and DUP arc chutes, depending oh the rating
a n d vintage, may have some pieces of asbestos cement board in them. This is a
hard, dense (90 lbs/cu.ft) asbestos fiber-hydraulic cement board which contains
approximately 292 asbestos. Thie material is still being used,
.
T h e asbestos content of the arc chutes in question is as follows*
50DH150 -
Asbestos rope - approx. .15 lbs
Asbestos board - approx. .28 lba (29% X .98 lbs)
.
Total t Asbestos - 1.1% ,,15 + .28 X 100,
L
40
'
- 50DH150E -
'
Asbestos rope - approx. .175 lbs
.
Asbestos board - approx. .77 lbs (29% X 2.64 lbs)
Total X Asbestos " 0.95X ..175 + .77 X 100,
' 100
'
15QDHP500 - Built prior to January 1977
Asbestos rope Asbestos board
- approx - approx
.4 lb .25 lbs (29X X .84 lbs)
scarJae:
Total
Asbestos " 0.26%
4 + .25 X 100 .250 )
CORK-4490
(hi 2-0 11
-2 -
150DHP50Q ~ Built after January 1977 Asbestos board - .25 lbs (;29% X .84 lbs) Total 2 Asbestos *
Under normal handling or operation, fiberous asbeacos Is not given off. If the breaker has undergone a major fault current Interruption, there is a remote posaibllity that a few fibers of asbestos could.be released. Therefore, prior to the breaker being examined for maintenance or other reasons, the following procedure should be used. The breaker and assembly should be completely de-energized p e r the prescribed procedure given In the instruction manual, 'When de-energized, ` a n y particulate natter should be removed by a damp cloth from the inside of the cubicle and the exterior of the breaker and arc chute assembly. (Motes The equipment Bhould be dry before any electrical testing. The cloth should be disposed of by approved methods for asbestos waste material). When cleaning the interior of the arc chutes, which involves blowing dry compressed air thru .them, some fiberous asbestos m^y be blown off. Therefore, personnel should be protected using NIOSH approved personnel protection equipment.
A. torneo, Manager M.V. C.O..
CORK-4491