{"id":17202,"date":"2022-09-12T19:17:46","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T00:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/?post_type=solution-story&#038;p=17202"},"modified":"2025-06-25T03:58:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T08:58:55","slug":"taking-the-bite-out-of-rodent-damage","status":"publish","type":"solution-story","link":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/solution-story\/taking-the-bite-out-of-rodent-damage\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking the Bite Out of Rodent Damage"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven solar field sites needed protection from rodents and snakes that were shorting out the inverters. Polywater had the solution to harden these inverters from these pests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":17660,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"categories":[2997,2998,2999,3000,3022,3004,3005],"industry-type":[2980,2981],"class_list":["post-17202","solution-story","type-solution-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-system-hardening","category-asset-protection","category-critter-management","category-duct-sealing","category-conduit-sealing","category-content-type","category-case-study","industry-type-telecommunications","industry-type-electrical-infrastructure"],"acf":{"related":"","file":false,"subtitle":"Solar Inverters Hardened with InstaGrout\u2122 to Resist Damage Due to Rodents and Other Pests","columns":[{"image":{"ID":17672,"id":17672,"title":"Instagrout-The challenge frame","filename":"Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","filesize":603148,"url":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/solution-story\/taking-the-bite-out-of-rodent-damage\/instagrout-the-challenge-frame\/","alt":"Instagrout-The challenge frame","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"instagrout-the-challenge-frame","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":17202,"date":"2022-09-06 15:00:51","modified":"2022-09-06 15:20:48","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":980,"height":729,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame-300x223.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":223,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame-768x571.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":571,"large":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","large-width":980,"large-height":729,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","1536x1536-width":980,"1536x1536-height":729,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","2048x2048-width":980,"2048x2048-height":729,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":223,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":298,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-challenge-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":446}},"title":"Cable Damage Due to Rodent Infestation","content":"<p>A large EPC constructed a solar installation in Utah. There were 7 solar sites, with an average of 44 inverters per site. During the original install, it was decided to forgo the bottom plates to make installation easier.<\/p>\n<p>A thin grout was used and, within weeks, mice were building nests. The rodents attracted snakes and the snakes shorted out the inverters.<\/p>\n"},{"image":{"ID":17664,"id":17664,"title":"Instagrout-The solution frame","filename":"Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","filesize":444531,"url":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/solution-story\/taking-the-bite-out-of-rodent-damage\/instagrout-the-solution-frame\/","alt":"Instagrout-The solution frame","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"instagrout-the-solution-frame","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":17202,"date":"2022-09-06 15:00:45","modified":"2022-09-06 15:20:48","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":981,"height":730,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame-300x223.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":223,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame-768x571.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":571,"large":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","large-width":981,"large-height":730,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","1536x1536-width":981,"1536x1536-height":730,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","2048x2048-width":981,"2048x2048-height":730,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":223,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":298,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-solution-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":446}},"title":"Cost-Effective Method Chosen","content":"<p>The firm evaluated options for hardening their inverters. Concrete would require the entire solar installation to be powered down if poured during the day or incur additional cost and overtime if poured at night.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremie Branton, project manager for the EPC, discovered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/product\/polywater-instagrout-utility-enclosure-pad-sealant\/\">InstaGrout<\/a> and realized they would not need to coordinate with concrete suppliers, and InstaGrout would be deployed when convenient with personnel already on site.<\/p>\n"},{"image":{"ID":17668,"id":17668,"title":"Instagrout- The result frame","filename":"Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","filesize":569047,"url":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/solution-story\/taking-the-bite-out-of-rodent-damage\/instagrout-the-result-frame\/","alt":"Instagrout- The result frame","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"instagrout-the-result-frame","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":17202,"date":"2022-09-06 15:00:48","modified":"2022-09-06 15:20:48","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":980,"height":729,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame-300x223.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":223,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame-768x571.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":571,"large":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","large-width":980,"large-height":729,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","1536x1536-width":980,"1536x1536-height":729,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","2048x2048-width":980,"2048x2048-height":729,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":223,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":298,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Instagrout-The-result-frame.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":446}},"title":"Effective Ground Barrier to Rodents and Other Pests","content":"<p>By powering down only one inverter at a time, the contractor was able to harden all inverters with little disruption to power generation. They were able to install during normal work hours, eliminating possible overtime.<\/p>\n<p>InstaGrout mixes easily onsite with no water needed, and adheres to fiberglass, polymer concrete, and concrete pads. It tolerates temperature extremes and will not settle, crack, shrink, or crumble.<\/p>\n<p>Self-leveling InstaGrout improves electrical reliability. It expands to fill voids around conduit stub-ups and cable, then cures to provide a smooth, resilient, and impermeable ground barrier against pests.<\/p>\n<p>InstaGrout was the best choice to make the inverters rodent and pest resilient, ensuring uninterrupted power to consumers.<\/p>\n<h2>Have any questions?<\/h2>\n<p><button class=\"button button--primary\" data-micromodal-trigger=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form\">Email Us <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"modal micromodal-slide\" id=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"modal__overlay\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-micromodal-close><div class=\"modal__container\" role=\"dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form-title\"><header class=\"modal__header\"><h2 id=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form-title\">Email Us Form<\/h2><button class=\"button--secondary modal__close\" aria-label=\"Close modal\" data-micromodal-close><\/button><\/header><div id=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form-content\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\r\n<script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/v2-legacy.js\"><\/script>\r\n<![endif]-->\r\n<script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/v2.js\"><\/script>\r\n<script>\r\nhbspt.forms.create({\r\n  region: \"na1\",\r\n  portalId: \"6060295\",\r\n  formId: \"7658eeb9-0cf9-469d-a7f1-0f033127bb9d\",\r\n  onFormReady: function (a) {\r\n    a.on('change', function(){\r\n      var zip = a.find('input[name=\"zip\"]');\r\n      if( zip ) {\r\n        if( zip.val() && zip.val().length > 4 ) {\r\n          var url = \"https:\/\/api.zippopotam.us\/us\/\" + zip.val();\r\n          var client = new XMLHttpRequest();\r\n          client.open(\"GET\", url, true);\r\n          client.onreadystatechange = function() {\r\n            if(client.readyState == 4) {\r\n              var resp = JSON.parse(client.responseText);\r\n              var city = resp.places[0]['place name'];\r\n              var state = resp.places[0]['state'];\r\n              a.find('input[name=\"city\"]').val(city);\r\n              a.find('input[name=\"state\"]').val(state);\r\n            };\r\n          };\r\n          client.send();\r\n        }\r\n      }\r\n    });\r\n  },\r\n});\r\n<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>"}],"graphic":{"image":false,"position":"12"},"related_articles_mode":"manual","select_related_articles":[{"post_identity":{"ID":17181,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2022-08-26 19:12:16","post_date_gmt":"2022-08-27 00:12:16","post_content":"<h2>What the Codes Say:<\/h2>\r\nThe infographic linked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/System-Hardening-Paper-Infographic-V2-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> and also found below, illustrates the need for duct seals and lists various governing standards. Let\u2019s review the language in a sampling of pertinent electrical and communication industry codes from around the world:\r\n<h3>NEC 225.27 Raceway Seal:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cWhere a raceway enters a building or structure from outside, it shall be sealed. Spare or unused raceways shall also be sealed. Sealants shall be identified for use with cable insulation, conductor insulation, bare conductor, shield, or other components.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>NEC 230.8 Raceway Seal:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cWhere a service raceway enters a building or structure from an underground distribution system, it shall be sealed in accordance with 300.5(G). Spare or unused raceways shall also be sealed. Sealants shall be identified for use with the cable insulation, shield, or other components.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>NEC 300.5 (D)) G) Raceway Seals:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cConduits or raceways through which moisture may contact live parts shall be sealed or plugged at either or both ends. Spare or unused raceways shall also be sealed. Sealants shall be identified for use with cable insulation, conductor insulation, bare conductor, shield, or other components.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/sealing-conduits-for-resilient-electrical-and-telecommunication-systems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Sealing Conduits for Resilient Electrical and Telecommunication Systems<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h3>NEC 300.7 (A) Sealing:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cWhere portions of a raceway or sleeve are known to be subjected to different temperatures, and where condensation is known to be a problem, as in cold storage areas of buildings or where passing from the interior to the exterior of a building, the raceway or sleeve shall be filled with an approved material to prevent the circulation of warm air to a colder section of the raceway or sleeve. An explosion proof seal shall not be required for this purpose.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/resource\/achieving-resiliency-by-sealing-vulnerabilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-12530 size-full alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/System-Resiliency-Infographic-thumbnail-w-button-300p.jpg\" width=\"225\" height=\"290\" \/><\/a>\r\n<h3>NEC 300.50 (F) Raceway Seal:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cWhere a raceway enters from an underground system, the end within the building shall be sealed with an identified compound so as to prevent the entrance of moisture or gases, or it shall be so arranged to prevent moisture from contacting live parts.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>NEC 501.15 (B)(2) Conduit Seals, Class 1 Division 2:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cA conduit seal shall be required in each conduit run leaving a Class 1, Division 2 location... and it shall be designed and installed to minimize the amount of gas or vapor within the portion of the conduit installed in the Division 2 location... Such seals shall not be required to be explosion proof...\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>NESC 322 (b)(4):<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cThe portion of a conduit installed through an exterior building wall, floor, or roof shall have seals inside the conduit and external seals on the outside surface of the conduit at the point of entry to the building intended to limit the likelihood of the entrance of gas into the building. The use of seals may be supplemented by gas-venting devices in order to minimize building up of positive gas pressures in the conduit.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>ITU Rec. ITU-T L.92:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201c... sealing the ends of the plastic tubes (at the manholes\/pits of our underground infrastructure) with foam filler. Outside plant facilities are also damaged by floods. Water can enter manholes, hand-holes and cable tunnels, which can cause telecommunication equipment to break down. Therefore, manholes and hand-holes are required to be water tight. Cables entering or exiting a manhole or hand-hole have to be sealed.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/duct-seals-prevent-ruinous-water-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Duct Seals Prevent Ruinous Water Damage<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h3>ITU Rec. ITU-T L.162:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cIt is mandatory to use pipe \u2013 microduct sealing elements (sealing between pipe and microducts), in order to ensure \u2026 the seal against the entry of liquids and gases \u2026 to protect the branch of microducts. Microcable should be sealed to the microduct both in the cable chamber adjacent to the building as well as inside the building. The installation of empty (spare) microducts that do not contain microcables, should also be sealed in the cable chamber, inside the building.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>TIA-758-B Standard 5.1.1.2.8:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cDucts shall be sealed to resist liquid and gas infiltration at all maintenance holes and building entrance point locations.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>TIA-758-B Standard 5.4.2.3:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cAll conduits shall be plugged to restrict infiltration of gas, water, and vermin.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>BICSI-TDMM:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cSeal all underground conduits to prevent gases and water from entering the building or other MHs via the ductbank.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>DIN 18322:2019-09 3.7.2:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cCable and conduit entries shall be tightly sealed so as to be watertight and gastight.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>DIN 18322:2019-09 4.2.6:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201cSealing of conduits after cables, etc. have been laid.\u201d<\/em>\r\n<h3>CEC Rule J18-108:<\/h3>\r\n<em>\u00a0 \u201c\u2026 requires that conduit seals be installed in conduit systems where \u2026\u201d<\/em>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vePZ1po3m64\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>\"Let's Talk Cabling\" Video Podcast: Best Way to Seal OSP Conduit<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2>What the Codes Don\u2019t Say<\/h2>\r\nThe codes are essentially <em>material<\/em> specs; they require that ducts are sealed with some material. But they aren\u2019t specific as to what that material must be. Only one calls for the use of \u201cfoam filler\u201d. But it doesn\u2019t describe which of the nearly infinite number of foam variations should be used (e.g., open-cell, closed-cell, urethane-based, epoxy-based, etc.). The others generally leave the material choice to discretion. That allows not only for the use of any type of foam, but also other chemicals, such as duct putty. It also allows for the use of non-chemical materials such as mechanical seals. Even a wad of old rags may be interpreted as compliant. Sometimes the choices come with costly consequences.\r\n<h3><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Banner-image-800p.png\" alt=\"A worker seals a duct in an electrical vault\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><\/h3>\r\n<h2>Material Spec vs. Performance Spec<\/h2>\r\nFew of the codes, particularly those relating to non-mechanical seals for water or gas, are considered <em>performance<\/em> specs.\u202fOther than a few requiring that the sealant <em>\u201cbe identified for use with\u201d<\/em> ducts and cables\u2014in other words, compatible\u2014they list no specific test or performance criteria to meet. They establish no quantitative thresholds or time limits to which a seal must perform. For example, they don\u2019t state what level of water head pressure must be resisted, or how much gas pressure in psi a seal must hold. There are no ASTM, IEEE, UL, CSA, or other common testing regimes to follow.\r\n<h2>What Could Go Wrong?<\/h2>\r\nProblems can arise when installers use cheap, readily available sealing products that ostensibly meet a governing standard, but in practice don\u2019t produce effective or long-lasting seals appropriate for the circumstance. Most common is the use of duct putty or one-part aerosol \u201cgap and crack\u201d foams from DIY stores. Duct putty sags over time, rendering it unsuitable as a long-term solution. Open-cell foams are versatile but not appreciably watertight or airtight. A seal that passes inspection only to fail shortly thereafter\u2014or later when the crisis is at hand\u2014isn\u2019t really a seal. Costs related to seal failure often don\u2019t end with the cables, electrical apparatus, and telecommunications equipment damaged; they extend as well to the resulting service outages.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/understanding-and-mitigating-manhole-explosions-an-interview-with-stuart-hanebuth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Understanding and Mitigating Manhole Explosions: An Interview with Stuart Hanebuth<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2>What Is the Solution?<\/h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-17186 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AFT-seal-800p-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Polywater AFT sealing a fiber optic duct\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/>The codes are crucial in their requirement to seal conduit entrances, but more guidance is needed to ensure effective seals because merely meeting a standard doesn\u2019t guarantee that a seal will protect valuable assets from water, gas, rodents, dirt, or fire. Many installers (inspectors too) are unaware of the shortcomings of duct putty and open-cell foams. They naturally gravitate to the easiest and lowest-cost product, believing the code is met.\r\n\r\nThe solution is for performance-based specifications in system design and best practices. Specifiers and engineers should analyze situational risks and establish performance criteria for effective seal integrity. Sealants should be sourced from reputable manufacturers offering products developed, tested, and rated specifically for conduits. Duct seal selection should be an informed process based on the risk profile of the application and the well-tested technical specifications of the chemical or mechanical sealing product.\r\n<h2>Have any questions?<\/h2>\r\n<button class=\"button button--primary\" data-micromodal-trigger=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form\">Email Us <\/button>","post_title":"Is Meeting a Standard Enough?\u2014An Examination of Duct Sealing Code Compliance.","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"is-meeting-a-standard-enough-an-examination-of-duct-sealing-code-compliance","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-20 12:24:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-20 17:24:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/?p=17181","menu_order":194,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}},{"post_identity":{"ID":7166,"post_author":"21","post_date":"2021-03-03 21:05:45","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-04 03:05:45","post_content":"Exposure to isocyanates is a hot button topic for suppliers and users of foaming and non-foaming urethane products in our industry. This is driven by tight exposure limits listed for isocyanates, the possibility of worker sensitization from repeated contact with the material, and efforts by the OSHA to more closely regulate some isocyanates. Skin contact with these materials can be effectively avoided through the simple use of rubber gloves and safe application procedures. The wild card is exposure to isocyanates in the air during application. Some health and safety departments would like to ban the use of all urethanes without having a complete picture of the exposure risks involved. To help clarify some of the issues, all urethane products produced by Polywater have been subjected to a sequence of isocyanate testing that measures the concentration of the chemical released into the workspace air during the product\u2019s intended use. Results show that the concentration of airborne isocyanate in the workspace is barely measurable, at a level below 1 part per billion (ppb).\r\n<h2><strong>Background<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<h3><strong>Isocyanates and Their Use<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIsocyanates are very reactive chemicals that are used in polyurethane chemistry. Perhaps the most common applications are flexible and rigid foams for end uses such as cushioning and insulation. Isocyanates are also used in adhesives, coatings, sealants, and as additives for a variety of other chemistries. There are several isocyanates in commercial use, including methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) which, together, make up over 95% of the commercially produced isocyanates worldwide. U.S. consumption of isocyanates in 2008 was about 2.6 billion lbs. and that number is growing. This paper is concerned only with sampling of MDI, as it is the only isocyanate used in products sold by Polywater.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/understanding-how-to-calculate-water-head-pressure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Understanding How to Calculate Water Head Pressure<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nOSHA has taken an interest in these materials and their effects on workers, largely due to the significant population of workers (estimated at 280,000 in 1996), that could potentially be exposed to isocyanates on the job. Notable occupations that gained OSHA\u2019s attention: spray-on applicators of truck bed liners and home insulation. It should be noted that there is no OSHA movement to ban these materials. The interest is in the safe use of an extremely versatile raw material set.\r\n<h3><strong>Safety Concerns<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe exposure concerns with MDI and other isocyanates are real.\u00a0 We are concerned with both skin and respiratory contact.\u00a0 Such contact can cause dermatitis, skin and respiratory tract irritation.\u00a0 Additionally, these materials are dermal (skin) and inhalation sensitizers. Workers that develop sensitivity to isocyanates can show a reaction to very small exposures. Symptoms may vary from mild to moderate to severe. Any worker that develops such sensitivity should no longer work with isocyanates. Such sensitization and asthma are the primary concerns.\r\n<h3><strong>Exposure Limits<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nOSHA regulates exposure through the use of a PEL, or Permissible Exposure Limit, for many substances. This is the legal limit in the US for exposure by a worker to a chemical. This PEL is normally a time-weighted average.\r\n<table style=\"width: 35%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #f9f9f9; margin-left: 0%;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; padding: 10px;\"><strong>Substance<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 10px;\"><strong>OSHA PEL<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 10px;\"><strong>MDI<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 10px;\">20 ppb<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 10px;\"><strong>TDI<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 10px;\">20 ppb<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTherefore, if we perform air monitoring in the work space while our products are in use, the concentration of MDI measured should be less than 20 ppb.\r\n<h3><strong>Support for Monitoring Studies<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nPolywater has always designed its urethane products to minimize isocyanate exposure through safe application procedures.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>We don\u2019t spray these products, so atomization is not a risk.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>We supply gloves in our kits to help prevent skin contact.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nExposure to MDI contained in Polywater\u00ae products is expected to be well below the stated PEL. With increased OSHA pressure and customer concern, we decided to monitor the amount of MDI released during the application of our products. This testing quantifies the MDI vapor concentration so that we are able to compare to the established PEL. Such testing has been encouraged by OSHA, and has been seen in other sectors of the urethane industry.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/sealing-conduits-for-resilient-electrical-and-telecommunication-systems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Sealing Conduits for Resilient Electrical and Telecommunication Systems<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nResults of one such study were published in an ASC Webinar from June 2012 entitled \u201cMDI Monitoring for Spray Polyurethane Foam\u201d. Fomo Product monitored an actual field application of spray polyurethane foam insulation. Proper ventilation and personal protective equipment were used and the end result was a surprisingly low level of MDI measured in the workspace air.\u00a0 We determined to perform similar monitoring with our products, but under harsher conditions.\r\n<h2><strong>MDI Monitoring Conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWe set up our MDI monitoring under simple conditions that somewhat exaggerated a confined workspace with no ventilation.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><em>Confined Workspace 24 ft<sup>3<\/sup>: <\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nOur workspace was a sealed chamber with the dimensions of 2 feet by 4 feet by 3 feet.\u00a0 This is smaller than most workspaces, but we wanted to conduct our monitoring under the most stringent conditions.\u00a0 A smaller workspace means a higher MDI concentration in the air.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><em>OSHA Sampling Method OSHA 47 MOD:<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nA filter sampling method provided by ALS Environmental, an accredited laboratory was used to collect test specimens. This is a common method of collecting aerosol (particulate) and\/or vapor phase contaminants. Filter sampling uses a calibrated personal sampling pump to pull a known volume of air through a filter cassette. The filter cassette contains media chemically treated such that the MDI in the air chemically reacts with the media to form a stable derivative. The stable derivative is quantified at the ALS lab. Using the known volume of air sampled, the concentration of MDI in the air during the sampling interval is determined. This test procedure follows OSHA 47 MOD for MDI.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/duct-seals-prevent-ruinous-water-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Duct Seals Prevent Ruinous Water Damage<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7176\" src=\"https:\/\/polywaterv2.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/foam-and-pump-copy.png\" alt=\"a bucket of urethane foam and an MDI pump\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" \/>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><em>Sampling Interval Based on Cure Rate:<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe sampling interval was defined as the time for each product to reach 95% of full cure.\u00a0 The final cure can take hours or longer, so that by using this sampling interval we will find the highest concentration of MDI in the air for each product.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><em>Intake Hose Inlet Close to Reaction:<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn addition to running the sampling in a chamber of limited volume, we selectively placed the inlet to the sampling pump in close proximity (3 inches) to the reacting material. Once again, although this is closer proximity to the product than a worker is likely to be, the point of the exercise was to illustrate the worst possible case, and maximize the MDI levels sampled.\r\n<h2><strong>Results<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe following table shows the results of the MDI sampling for Polywater products.\r\n<table class=\"datatable\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Product<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Amount and Condition<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Sampling Interval (minutes)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>ppb MDI<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/product\/polywater-pad-n-pole-utility-enclosure-repair-system\/\"><strong>Pad N Pole<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Contents of one 50 ml cartridge spread on 1 ft<sup>2<\/sup> fiberglass cloth<\/td>\r\n<td>130<\/td>\r\n<td>&lt;0.15<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/product\/polywater-upr-wood-utility-pole-repair\/\"><strong>UPR NF<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Contents of one 250 ml cartridge, free rise in a 6\u201d tub<\/td>\r\n<td>35<\/td>\r\n<td>&lt;0.56<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>UPR PR<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Contents of one 250 ml cartridge, free rise in a 6\u201d tub<\/td>\r\n<td>27<\/td>\r\n<td>&lt;0.72<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/product\/polywater-fst-foam-duct-sealant\/\"><strong>FST<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Contents of one 250 ml cartridge, free rise in a 6\u201d tub<\/td>\r\n<td>20<\/td>\r\n<td>&lt;0.98<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>FST<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Contents of one 250 ml cartridge, 3\u201d seal in a 4\u201d PVC duct<\/td>\r\n<td>20<\/td>\r\n<td>&lt;0.98<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/product\/polywater-instagrout-utility-enclosure-pad-sealant\/\"><strong>InstaGrout PMT<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Contents of one PMT-3 spread over\u00a0 4 sq. ft.<\/td>\r\n<td>40<\/td>\r\n<td>&lt;0.49<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/polywater-hauff-technik-phrd-mechanical-seal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Polywater | Hauff Technik PHRD Mechanical Seal<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><strong>Conclusions<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAnalysis for each of the samples shows a concentration well under the 0.02 ppm or 20 ppb PEL set forth by OSHA.\u00a0 <strong>No sample exceeds 1 ppb MDI.<\/strong>\r\n<img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7185 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MDI-Chart-2-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"254\" \/>\r\n\r\nKeeping in mind that the sampling was performed under the most extreme conditions of no ventilation and very small workspace, it is clear that the Polywater products are very unlikely to expose workers to airborne MDI in concentrations high enough to cause issues. As always, we recommend the use of gloves and safety eyewear when using these products. While care should be taken with the use of these and all chemical products, workers can be confident that, with proper use, Polywater products can be used safely.\r\n<h2>Have any questions?<\/h2>\r\n<button class=\"button button--primary\" data-micromodal-trigger=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form\">Email Us <\/button>","post_title":"MDI Monitoring on Polywater\u00ae Foaming and Non-foaming Urethane Products","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mdi-monitoring-on-polywater-foaming-and-non-foaming-urethane-products","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-08-21 09:20:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-08-21 14:20:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/polywaterv2.wpengine.com\/?p=7166","menu_order":212,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}},{"post_identity":{"ID":12575,"post_author":"21","post_date":"2021-11-12 21:02:25","post_date_gmt":"2021-11-13 03:02:25","post_content":"A mission-critical system or service is indispensable to a functioning community, the economy, and public safety. If the system or service fails or is disrupted due to power outage or damage, commerce and community life can be severely compromised or completely halted. Electrical grids and communication networks are at risk worldwide. Global demand for electrical power and data bandwidth is growing at an increasing pace. As demand increases, potential damage and risk to infrastructure also increases. In many countries, aging assets and unreliable funding further plague these systems\u2019 operational integrity. This paper focuses on how natural disasters compromise mission-critical assets in electrical and communication systems, and how strategies are developed to reduce the risk. Any strategy must begin with collaboration among key stakeholders, such as communities, utilities, and government agencies, and depends on commitments to include system resilience projects in annual operational plans and budgets.\r\n\r\nNatural disasters such as hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, floods, tornados, and bushfires are examples of extreme weather that wreak havoc on people\u2019s lives, homes, and businesses and impose serious consequences on society. Consumers are typically unaware of behind-the-scenes work required to provide reliable power and digital access, but outages bring instant and unwanted focus.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-12487\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flooded-power-1400p.jpg\" alt=\"Workers in rafts float by a flooded substation\" width=\"1400\" height=\"807\" \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Severe weather events are increasing the need to seal out water<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nMore frequent, intense, and costly weather events are forecast. According to the authors of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in late 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, \u201cextreme events are expected to increasingly disrupt and damage critical infrastructure and property, labor productivity, and the vitality of our communities.\u201d They describe the stresses on infrastructure resulting from heavy rainfall, flooding, extreme heat, drought, and bushfires. The impact on energy and communication systems is acute, ranging from frequent and extended power outages to expensive restoration or system replacement. Such repairs are especially important after flooding causes water penetration in system components. (USGCRP2018)\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/understanding-and-mitigating-manhole-explosions-an-interview-with-stuart-hanebuth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Understanding and Mitigating Manhole Explosions: An Interview with Stuart Hanebuth<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><strong>Impact on U.S. electrical and communication systems<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nBetween 2012 and 2019, the U.S. experienced multiple weather-related events resulting in billions of dollars in damages, the loss of thousands of lives, and lengthy disruptions in service. (CCES 2020) (Smith 2020) According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 680 power outages between 2003 and 2012 were caused by weather. Each outage affected at least 50,000 customers and seriously disrupted operations for businesses and residences. (Richard 2018) The combination of severe weather and aging infrastructure typically results in even higher expenses for utilities. The cost of a single storm can range from $500,000 to over $1 billion, depending on the number of customers without power. (Richard 2018) Power outages also cause downtime in digital networks, which average $140,000 to $540,000 in losses per hour, depending on the business. (Lerner 2014)\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-12509 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flooded-vault-450p.jpg\" alt=\"Flooded vault\" width=\"450\" height=\"308\" \/>\r\n\r\nThe DOE determined that flooding affected a significant number of power plants: (Brody 2020)\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Hurricane Irene caused flooding of 44 power plants,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Hurricane Sandy flooding affected 69 power plants, and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Hurricane Harvey damaged or destroyed more than 6,200 distribution poles and 850 transmission structures. Many power plants are deliberately sited near shore for convenient access to water. Nine U.S. nuclear power plants are sited within two miles of the ocean. (Brody 2020)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Severe weather impact on electrical systems is a global issue<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThroughout the world, severe weather events have been increasing with alarming consequences.\r\n<h3><strong>Australia<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAccording to modeling conducted by Insurance Australia Group (IAG) and National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, USA during the 2015 to 2025 time period, Australia will experience a 10% increase in the number of the most intense cyclones. These storms are increasing in severity with wind speeds up to 225-279 kilometers per hour (140-173 mph) and maintaining their intensity over land. (Thompson 2020)\r\n<h3><strong>European Union<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBetween 1980 and 2017, extreme weather such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves caused serious economic losses and led to the death of thousands. (EURACTIV 2020)\r\n<h3><strong>United Kingdom<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIn February 2020, the UK experienced extensive river flooding from multiple storms, causing record-breaking rainfall on ground already saturated from previous rains. Flooding affected several regions in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. (Cruse 2020)\r\n\r\nSome key extreme water events are highlighted in a world map.\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/resource\/recent-hydrological-disasters-and-associated-property-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-12475 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Water-disasters-Map.jpg\" alt=\"Water disasters Map\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1051\" \/><\/a><strong>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n<h2><strong>System hardening for greater resilience<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe terms \u201csystem hardening,\u201d \u201cnatural disaster preparedness,\u201d and \u201cresilience\u201d refer to projects aimed at ensuring infrastructure is more resilient to extreme flooding, wind, fire, and other threats. (Richard 2018) The choice of storm hardening methods depends on a variety of factors and requirements. Ideally, utilities and communities work in partnership to create cost-effective plans that provide optimal asset protection in severe weather events, ultimately safeguarding infrastructure, the economy, and people.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/is-meeting-a-standard-enough-an-examination-of-duct-sealing-code-compliance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Is Meeting a Standard Enough?\u2014An Examination of Duct Sealing Code Compliance.<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><strong>The system hardening payoff<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAs weather volatility increases its impact on power systems and assets, budgeting for measures and products that enhance resilience must be augmented. There is a payoff to consider: the vicious cycle of costly annual repairs, service disruptions, and downtime can be mitigated with research and investment in technologies that reliably protect systems during extreme weather events, especially water events.\r\nA World Bank sector study on improving power resilience to natural hazards argues in favor of the global need for system hardening investments in both new and existing power infrastructure. To aid in determining the level of investment required, the authors link three natural hazards with various infrastructure types and the probability of damage from each hazard. Estimating the probability of damage is useful for deciding where to target system hardening investments, a rising priority among public and private stakeholders responsible for power generation and infrastructure. (Nicolas et al, 2019)\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12543\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/4.1.2-chart-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"657\" height=\"444\" \/>\r\n\r\nTo better understand the economics of storm-hardening projects in the U.S., McKinsey &amp; Company, a global management consulting firm, examined the financial records of ten large power utilities in eight states with densely populated coastlines where hurricanes are common and costly: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Texas. (Brody 2020)\r\n\r\nFirst, an analysis was performed about recent costs due to storm damage and projected costs for 2050, estimating that:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>A typical utility experienced $1.4 billion in costs due to storm damage and lost revenue from outages over a 20-year period,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Based on approximate projections for extreme weather events in the future, calculations showed that by 2050, storm damage and outage costs will increase by 23% (a conservative estimate), and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The financial consequences by 2050 were estimated to total $1.7 billion in costs per utility.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe study then estimated costs for improving the resilience of a typical southeastern U.S. utility to protect its assets during extreme weather events.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Estimates ranged from $700 million to $1 billion, less than the current average of $1.4 billion for storm damage,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The local calculation was far less than the projected cost in 2050 of $1.7 billion in storm damage, and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Projected costs will increase if predicted higher temperatures, heat waves, rising sea levels trend higher, and unknown future events occur.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Global strategies for system hardening<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWorldwide, countries are developing plans and projects for greater system resilience.\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-12513 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Flooded-substation-600p.jpg\" alt=\"Heavy flooding in Nava nakorn, Prathumthani, Thailand.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/>\r\n<h3><strong>United States<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) lists the following recommendations for physical improvements to protect utility infrastructure during natural disasters. (Little 2020)\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Replace vulnerable power poles, especially in coastal areas,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Bury power lines, especially near mission-critical institutions such as fire and rescue operations, hospitals, data centers, and telecommunications towers,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Reinforce existing infrastructure,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Elevate power equipment and create barriers in flood-prone areas; use levees and moats to protect equipment; move equipment to higher floors in urban environments, and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use high-tech solutions to limit outages and reduce downtime, including smart meters, automated monitoring, switches, reclosers, sectionalizers, and backup sources of power from microgrids.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Australia<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nMaintaining power resilience within Australia\u2019s vast interconnected grid requires planning and coordination between public and private entities. Queensland encounters a wide range of extreme weather (severe cyclones\/storm surges, floods, and bushfires) that disrupts power generation system wide and serves as an example of how thoughtful partnerships and strategies can mitigate the effects of extreme weather events. Recent strategies include: (Bartlett 2016)\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Establish public-private partnerships that encourage area councils and power companies to proactively ensure equipment and manpower availability for emergency infrastructure repair,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Plan and report on the impact of severe storms on grid assets, forecast climate and demographic changes, evaluate energy trends, and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Sponsor system hardening projects to protect aging infrastructure, especially systems susceptible to flooding.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Partnership and planning results in better crisis management<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe enhanced planning reduced power and communication outages and helped protect valuable infrastructure assets during natural disasters. During the 2011 Queensland floods, an inundated substation was able to operate throughout the emergency and was restored to full-service levels within a week. A collapsed tower was replaced in two weeks and collapsed power poles were replaced or repaired quickly. The coordinated response reduced power interruptions to less than 0.01% of total power use and enabled rapid restoration of mobile communication services.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Lindsay-Taylor-quote.jpg\" alt=\"Quote from Lindsay Taylor, TEN Group\" width=\"1200\" height=\"207\" \/>\r\n<h3><strong>Brisbane continues to seal against water<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIn addition to coordination and planning, system hardening projects are underway to protect aging infrastructure, especially systems susceptible to flooding. In Brisbane, Queensland\u2019s capitol, the city\u2019s major electrical utility is using innovative foam sealing technologies to protect ducted underground cables from the intrusion of water and pests. The sealants can withstand the highwater pressures likely present in the event of flooding similar to that of 2011. Though Brisbane placed most of its electrical infrastructure underground, the city experienced storm surges that pushed water back into the streets through the storm drainage system. This overflowing water also entered electrical ducts and components, which were protected once sealed.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/mdi-monitoring-on-polywater-foaming-and-non-foaming-urethane-products\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>MDI Monitoring on Polywater\u00ae Foaming and Non-foaming Urethane Products<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h3><strong>European Union<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nExtreme weather events are increasing in Europe, emphasizing the need for policy development, better funding, cross-border cooperation, and methods to enhance resilience of critical electrical and digital systems. (Euro Dis Risk Mgt 2020) In 2017, the European Commission published a Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), its science and knowledge service. The JRC examined the impact of natural disasters on power grid recovery and offered recommendations to guide the EU member countries in policy formation, hazard mitigation, and emergency management of power outages. (JRC 2017)\r\nA summary of the recommendations is listed below:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Whenever possible during risk assessments, use consistent scenarios across EU policy areas,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Integrate risk management efforts,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Build resilience into system design,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Assess power grid resilience in the event of geomagnetic storms, which are major, temporary disturbances of Earth's magnetosphere and pose damage to the grid,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously update outage management plans,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Stockpile key assets and equipment to facilitate timely repair or replacement of damaged items,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ensure back-up capabilities during disasters, and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Make power restoration to critical electricity users such as hospitals a top priority.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>The role of proper seals in system hardening projects<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWater penetration causes costly damage that is difficult to repair. Whether a project is new construction or an upgrade, prevention of water penetration is essential. Durable sealing technologies provide powerful duct protection and play a vital role in a comprehensive system hardening program. Implementation of sealing technologies is a site-by-site activity that uses varied applications to achieve the goal: reducing or eliminating water penetration. As the frequency of water events increases, the permanent installation of sealing technologies pays for itself by saving on the cost of vital equipment restoration. The following section on sealant selection outlines a process to help match the appropriate sealant to a specific project providing long-term benefits.\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-12526 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Ice-flooding-vault-500p-tall.jpg\" alt=\"Ice flooding vault\" width=\"342\" height=\"500\" \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Determining what needs protection<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nProper sealing starts with an analysis of the complete project, its function and location, its requirements for success, and other variables. Setting clear objectives is important. Only then can the appropriate sealing technology be identified. What needs protection? Is it mission-critical, or is there system redundancy? What is the asset value? Is it exposed to outdoor elements or below grade? Is the goal to prevent moisture or repel a flood? Is physical asset degradation a concern? Each situation is unique and there is no one solution. Many factors must be considered in these situational analyses.\r\n<h2><strong>Defining the situation<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nSystem hardening poses a variety of situations that require different sealing technologies. For example, cable raceways, wall penetrations, and wall cracks are scenarios that present a variety of materials, geometries, and other factors. It is common for a conduit to pass through the outside wall of a building or enclosure. Such conduits are often underground, so water ingress is problematic. A thorough examination of the conditions raises many questions:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Is the area hard to reach or partially obstructed?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What materials are to be sealed? Plastic, metal, and cement are the most common materials.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What is the condition of the conduit and the wall? Is this a new installation or an older existing entry?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What kind of surface contamination can be detected?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>How much of the conduit is filled with cable, innerduct, or pipe?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What are the physical dimensions of the space to be sealed? Is the installation horizontal or vertical?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Are there specific codes or standards that the seal must meet? For example, in some situations, UL recognition may be required.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWith so many questions, one gets the impression that seal technology selection is impossibly complex. However, such questions simplify selection. The combination of conditions present in the analysis quickly eliminates sealant candidates and narrows the search. Ensuring that needs are clearly defined allows the tailoring of solutions to meet the specific conditions. There is a solution to most situations.\r\n\r\nIn many cases, water ingress may be evident. In fact, water may be actively flowing into the enclosure or building. Specialty sealing solutions can be installed while the leak is active. What pressure must the seal withstand? Measured as waterhead height, this is a key factor in selecting sealant technology. Under normal conditions, the seal may only need to withstand a few centimeters of waterhead. During a water event, however, waterhead resistance requirements may rise to as high as 80 feet (25 meters).The requirements of a water event solution will define which sealant technology to use.\r\n\r\nPlanning and careful surface preparation are keys to a successful seal. Existing entries with aging materials pose a challenge. Metal rusts, concrete degrades, and plastic becomes brittle. Oxidation, grime, scum, and oil should be removed prior to seal installation. New installations can present problems if materials were damaged during construction. Always inspect the area surrounding the seal and make repairs if necessary.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/resource\/achieving-resiliency-by-sealing-vulnerabilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-12530 size-full alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/System-Resiliency-Infographic-thumbnail-w-button-300p.jpg\" width=\"225\" height=\"290\" \/><\/a>\r\n<h2><strong>Determining life expectancy and environmental compatibility<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe expected lifetime of a seal depends on numerous requirements and various factors:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Seals can be engineered as permanent or temporary. Sometimes a seal is needed for a specific time interval. More commonly, the seal is intended to last the lifetime of the material receiving the seal.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Before cable is run, conduits are often capped as a temporary seal. The cap can be removed at the time of cable pulling, when a more permanent seal is installed.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Seals can be engineered to meet only the current configuration of the opening and the cables, innerducts, or pipes passing through. Other seals are engineered to be re-enterable, allowing future changes to the configuration.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Seals must be compatible with the installation environment. The presence of water, salt, corrosive material, or solvents will dictate seal technologies. Additionally, the expected working temperature is important.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Seal locations subject to vibration or flexing may require a specific seal type.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Testing to verify seal strength and integrity<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nSeals are installed to meet specific requirements. The varied requirements establish a road map to the proper choice of sealing technology.\r\nCritical infrastructure assets are often placed underground for protection from falling trees, lightning strikes, and other weather events. These include transformers and sewage pumping stations. The water column pressures generated in such installations often exceed 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) and can reach much higher peak pressures. Duct seals must resist these pressures to maintain the functionality of underground power cable installations.\r\n<h2><strong>Rigorous testing to prevent failure due to water pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWe can pretest sealants designed to hold water column pressures in the laboratory by sealing conduits, adding waterhead pressure, and checking for failure. Similar testing is done with pressurized air or another gas as needed. Chemical resistance is tested by subjecting seal materials to various chemical agents and measuring any changes. This testing should be conducted at the expected working temperatures.\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border: 3px solid #273A80; background-color: #69c3e8; margin: 15px 0px 15px 0px;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/en\/knowledge-hub\/duct-seals-prevent-ruinous-water-damage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Related Content: <\/strong>Duct Seals Prevent Ruinous Water Damage<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2>Blocking water by choosing a reliable sealing technology<\/h2>\r\nFlooding causes more economic damage than all other types of weather events. Sealing underground networks from flooding is an effective means of protecting valuable electrical and communication assets. High winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges generated by hurricanes and cyclones combine to produce large volumes of floodwater that degrade the operational capacity of a system. This is especially true in urban areas where underground networks are susceptible to flooding. Protecting these valuable networks from water penetration is a top priority.\r\n\r\nSealing technology protects infrastructure from flooding and comes in many forms. There are advantages and disadvantages among sealant choices, which we explain below:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Low-cost, mastic putty is an age-old sealant with limited sealing performance. It does not hold water or air pressure. It is susceptible to sagging at higher temperatures and deforms when cables are moved.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cement\/mortar, grout, and Plaster of Paris are also historical sealants. The lack of available water for onsite mixing makes them inconvenient. Their extended reaction or setting times can further complicate installation.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Pre-engineered mechanical seals perform well. They resist high water head and gas pressure, are easily removed, and help support cables; but they can be challenging in complex cable or high-conduit-fill configurations.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Two-part, closed-cell expanding foam is an excellent choice. High-performance foams readily adapt to varied configurations, remove easily for future access, and offer robust chemical resistance. Foam selection is key, as the chemistry varies.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Epoxy mortar can be used as a sealant or coating, particularly for cracks and small imperfections. It has strong water and chemical resistance. Epoxies are typically high in viscosity and require trowel application.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12501\" src=\"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/FST-cart-pumped-into-duct-700p.jpg\" alt=\"FST cartridge pumped into duct\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Making sealant technologies work for you<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nProper installation is, of course, vital for success when sealing. An important step in any seal deployment is surface preparation. Every seal technology works better if the site is cleaned and free of contaminants. Matching the requirements of the seal to the capabilities of available sealants increases the probability of success.\r\n<h2><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nSevere weather events challenge electrical and telecommunication systems, often resulting in serious adverse consequences to people, property, and economies. In this paper, we explored the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>How extreme weather affected communities around the world, necessitating preventative system resilience measures. Hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, river flooding, and other natural disasters are particularly dangerous and often result in water infiltrating electrical and digital systems,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Described ways to protect these systems against water ingress with best practices, including the optimal choice of sealant and proper application techniques,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Provided a road map of the many variables that enhance effective decision making, and<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Outlined the payoff from investing in system resilience, which includes the use of multiple sealing technologies, prevention of costly repairs, service disruption, and downtime in electrical and telecommunication systems.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Have any questions?<\/h2>\r\n<button class=\"button button--primary\" data-micromodal-trigger=\"polywater-modal--email-us-form\">Email Us <\/button>\r\n<h2><strong>References<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nBartlett S. Natural Disaster Management \u201cDown-under\u201d 3Ps. IEEE Power &amp; Energy Society, 2016.\r\n\r\nBrody S, Rogers M, Siccardo G. Why, and how, utilities should start to manage climate-change risk. IN: <em>Climate-change Adaptation for US Utilities<\/em>, McKinsey &amp; Company, April 2020.\r\n\r\nCCES. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. <em>Extreme Weather and Climate Change<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c2es.org\/content\/extreme-weather-and-climate-change\/\">https:\/\/www.c2es.org\/content\/extreme-weather-and-climate-change\/<\/a>. June 2020.\r\n\r\nCruse E. Damage from storms Dennis and Ciara set to cost more than \u20a4360 million. <em>The Evening Standard<\/em>, March 7, 2020.\r\n\r\nEURACTIV. Extreme weather cost Europe nearly half a trillion euros so far. Euractiv.com. June 2020.\r\n\r\n<em>European Disaster Risk Management<\/em>. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, December 2020.\r\n\r\nJRC Science for Policy Report. <em>Power grid recovery after natural hazard impact<\/em>. 2017.\r\n\r\nLerner A. The cost of downtime. Gartner Blog Network, <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gartner.com\/andrew-lerner\/2014\/07\/16\/the-cost-of-downtime\/\">https:\/\/blogs.gartner.com\/andrew-lerner\/2014\/07\/16\/the-cost-of-downtime\/<\/a>, June 2014.\r\n\r\nLittle A. Storm Hardening101: What Utilities Should Consider and Why. Alden Systems, Inc. April 2020. <a href=\"https:\/\/info.aldensys.com\/joint-use\/storm-hardening-101-what-utilities-should-consider-and-why\">https:\/\/info.aldensys.com\/joint-use\/storm-hardening-101-what-utilities-should-consider-and-why<\/a>.\r\n\r\nMiyamoto International. Overview of Engineering Options for Increasing Infrastructure Resilience. Final Report. World Bank Group, 2019.\r\n\r\nNicolas CM, Rentschler J, Potter van Loon A, et al. Stronger Power: Improving Power Sector Resilience to Natural Hazards (English). Washington, D.C. World Bank Group, 2019. <a href=\"https:\/\/documents.worldbank.org\/en\/publication\/documents-reports\/documentdetail\/200771560790885170\/stronger-power-improving-power-sector-resilience-to-natural-hazards\">https:\/\/documents.worldbank.org\/en\/publication\/documents-reports\/documentdetail\/200771560790885170\/stronger-power-improving-power-sector-resilience-to-natural-hazards<\/a>\r\n\r\nRichard, J. Grid Hardening and Resiliency. Leidos Inc., November 2018. <a href=\"https:\/\/docplayer.net\/85747455-Grid-hardening-and-resiliency-by-alyson-rossini-and-jeffrey-richard.html\">https:\/\/docplayer.net\/85747455-Grid-hardening-and-resiliency-by-alyson-rossini-and-jeffrey-richard.html<\/a>\r\n\r\nSmith, AB. 2010-2019: A landmark decade of U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters. NOAA Climate.gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/author\/adam-b-smith\">https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/author\/adam-b-smith<\/a>. January 2020.\r\n\r\nThompson, Geoff. Severe cyclones are spreading further south and it could mean tens of billions in damages. ABC News, March 2020. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2020-03-06\/cyclones-spreading-south-could-cause-tens-of-billions-in-damage\/12020218\">https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2020-03-06\/cyclones-spreading-south-could-cause-tens-of-billions-in-damage\/12020218<\/a>.\r\n\r\nUSGCRP. <em>Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States<\/em>: <em>Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II<\/em>.\u00a0 Reidmiller, D.R., et al., eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, 2018.","post_title":"Sealing Conduits for Resilient Electrical and Telecommunication Systems","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"sealing-conduits-for-resilient-electrical-and-telecommunication-systems","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-23 05:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-23 10:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/?p=12575","menu_order":255,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}},{"post_identity":{"ID":31530,"post_author":"8","post_date":"2024-10-21 13:58:49","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-21 18:58:49","post_content":"","post_title":"Polywater\u00ae InstaGrout\u2122 - Installation and Use","post_excerpt":"How to seal rodents and insects out from transformers, switchgear and sectionalizing cabinets with Polywater Instagrout.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"polywater-instagrout-installation-and-use","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-11-01 16:50:20","post_modified_gmt":"2024-11-01 21:50:20","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.polywater.com\/?post_type=video&#038;p=31530","menu_order":0,"post_type":"video","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Taking the Bite Out of Rodent Damage - Polywater<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rodents and snakes were causing shorts at a solar installation in Utah because bottom plates were left out of the original installation. 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