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SAFETY
The size of the surrounding area to be considered will depend on the structure of the building and other activities
that are taking place. The surrounding area may extend beyond the boundaries of the premises.
Methods of Reducing Emissions
Public Supply System
Welding equipment should be connected to the public supply system according to the manufacturer's
recommendations. If interference occurs, it may be necessary to take additional precautions such as filtering of the
system. Consideration should be given to shielding the supply cable of permanently installed welding equipment,
in metallic conduit or equivalent. Shielding should be electrically continuous throughout its length. The shielding
should be connected to the welding power source so that good electrical contact is maintained between the conduit
and the welding power source enclosure.
Maintenance of the Welding Equipment
The welding equipment should be routinely maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations. All
access and service doors and covers should be closed and properly fastened when the welding equipment is in
operation. The welding equipment should not be modified in any way except for those changes and adjustments
covered in the manufacturer's instructions. In particular, the spark gaps of arc striking and stabilizing devices
should be adjusted and maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Welding Cables
The welding cables should be kept as short as possible and should be positioned close together, running at or close
to the floor level.
Equipotential Bonding
Bonding of all metallic components in the welding installation and adjacent to it should be considered. However,
metallic components bonded to the work piece will increase the risk that the operator could receive a shock by
touching these metallic components and the electrode at the same time. The operator should be insulated from all
such bonded metallic components.
Earthing of the Workpiece
Where the workpiece is not bonded to earth for electrical safety, nor connected to earth because of its size and
position, e.g., ship's hull or building steelwork, a connection bonding the workpiece to earth may reduce emissions
in some, but not all instances. Care should be taken to prevent the earthing of the workpiece increasing the risk of
injury to users, or damage to other electrical equipment. Where necessary, the connection of the workpiece to earth
should be made by a direct connection to the workpiece, but in some countries where direct connection is not
permitted, the bonding should be achieved by suitable capacitance, selected according to national regulations.
Screening and Shielding
Selective screening and shielding of other cables and equipment in the surrounding area may alleviate problems of
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interference. Screening of the entire welding installation may be considered for special applications.
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Portions of the preceding text are contained in EN 60974-10: "Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) product standard for arc
welding equipment."
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