W:\ELECTRICAL\INSTRUCT\FURNACE\FURNACE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 2011.DOC
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01/2014
7 MAINTENANCE
7-1
For safe furnace operation, a preventive maintenance program must be developed and
followed for each individual furnace application. The user should review
recommendations from their insurance underwriters. We suggest the review of Factory
Mutual (FM) Specification 6-9 on Industrial Ovens and Dryers and the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) Specification 86 on Ovens and Furnaces. We also
recommend a Maintenance Report be developed which lists tests and inspections
performed. A copy of this report should be kept on file for future review.
A Minimum Periodic Maintenance Report is provided in Appendix C as an example for
developing your own periodic maintenance schedule and report.
7-2
Regularly scheduled inspection and maintenance of all safety devices shall be
performed by the user to ensure proper function. At a minimum, the unit should be fully
inspected annually.
When cleaning the inside of furnaces, changing heating elements, repairing insulation
or performing any task that produces dust from the refractory materials that make up
the insulation, the following precautions should be followed:
1)
Use a NIOSH approved respirator.
2)
Use goggles or safety glasses with side shields
3)
Use leather gloves, long-sleeved and long-legged, loose fitting clothing.
4)
Handle materials in a manner that will create the least amount of dust.
5)
Consult the MSDS information on the materials involved included elsewhere
in this manual.
7-3
Disconnect fuel, electric power, steam, compressed air and any other energy source
before servicing equipment. Furnaces operate under high voltage and electrical shock
is possible. Proper OSHA required lockout procedures should be followed.
7-4
Furnace heating elements operate at line voltage. Do not touch them or allow work to
come in contact with the heating elements. A door interlock is provided to disconnect
power from heating elements when the door is opened. Do not defeat the operation of
this door interlock.
7-5
Furnaces with vertical lift doors or top loading doors must be blocked open before
entering. Falling door may cause bodily injury. A safety pin, latch or support strut is
provided for this purpose.
7-6
Do not operate mechanical or electrical equipment with guards removed. Operating
with guards removed could result in bodily injury.
7-7
The furnace work space or heat chamber may constitute a confined space as defined
by OSHA. If so, comply with OSHA confined space hazard requirement (ANSI Z117-
1).
7-8 RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ITEMS:
It shall be the sole responsibility of the user to establish, schedule and enforce the
frequency of and the extent of the inspection/maintenance program (as well as the
corrective action to be taken) because only the user can know what the actual
operating conditions are. Personnel who are familiar with the equipment should make
the tests. It is usually better that maintenance personnel from mechanical and
electrical departments check the equipment rather than regular furnace operators.
These observers may catch things that may be otherwise overlooked.
