Electrical protection for installations in coastal areas

Electrical protection in coastal areas is critical due to environmental challenges such as high humidity, salty air, and storms. These factors accelerate corrosion, cause premature failures, and increase the risk of short circuits and fires. The installation of electrical protection systems, such as NEMA 4X enclosures and surge protection devices, is vital to mitigate these risks and ensure operational continuity, safety, and profitability for industries.

Electrical installations in coastal areas face particularly aggressive environmental conditions that can shorten equipment life, increase operational risks, and raise maintenance costs.

Among the most common factors affecting this infrastructure are exposure to salty air, high humidity, heavy rain, tropical storms, atmospheric corrosion, and dissolved chemicals. Given these constant challenges, a robust electrical protection strategy that goes beyond standard practices is needed to ensure operational continuity, safety, and profitability in corporate or industrial environments.

Why is electrical protection critical in coastal areas?

In coastal areas, the power supply is a vital component for operational continuity and safety, both for technological equipment and people. However, in these environments, its reliability is constantly at risk due to adverse environmental factors and extreme weather conditions. Therefore, having strategic electrical protection plans in place can prevent disasters or critical failures such as:

• Fires: due to corrosion or damage to electrical components that can cause short circuits and overheating.
• Electrocution: because in the event of flooding, exposed or damaged electrical systems can energize large areas, creating dangerous conditions for the lives of those in the vicinity.
• Moisture and salinity in electrical equipment: High humidity and salty air in coastal areas deposit chlorides on exposed metal surfaces. This environment promotes corrosion, the formation of conductive films, and the appearance of leakage points, which can lead to dielectric losses, increased leakage currents, and insulation failures.
• Increased corrosion and premature failures: The combination of salt and humidity accelerates electrical corrosion in metal parts, connections, terminals, fasteners, and enclosures. This deteriorates contacts and can cause intermittent or permanent failures.
• Electrical storms and power variations: The Mexican coast is prone to storms with lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds. These phenomena generate transient surges, voltage spikes, and voltage or frequency fluctuations that can damage sensitive equipment such as transformers, UPSs, and distribution boards.

Learn more about other types of electrical protection

Main electrical risks in coastal environments

Mexico, with its extensive coastlines on the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, is home to a large number of industrial electrical systems that are exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Given this, the most pressing risks are:

• Surges from atmospheric discharges: Lightning striking near a facility can generate a surge that spreads through the electrical network, damaging high-value equipment such as transformers, frequency converters, and control systems.

• Short circuits due to humidity and salinity: the accumulation of salt and moisture in insulation and terminals can create unwanted conductive paths, causing short circuits. This is critical in control and distribution panels.

• Damage to panels, transformers, and UPS: A transformer with corroded windings or a UPS with electronic components affected by salinity can suffer catastrophic failures, resulting in a total power outage.

• Grounding and neutral conductor failures: Corrosion can affect grounding elements, connections, fasteners, and joints; a poor grounding system increases the risk of electric shock, power surges, and equipment damage.

• Economic impact of unscheduled outages: in industry, an unscheduled outage (due to electrical failures) translates into lost revenue, missed deadlines, and disruption of the supply chain.

Electrical protection solutions for coastal areas

To mitigate these risks, there are different types of electrical protection that take into account appropriate design and material selection. Some of them are:

1. Corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel, treated aluminum, or resistant alloys. Coatings such as galvanizing, zinc, or epoxy paints.
2. Surge protection devices (SPDs) such as lightning rods or surge suppressors. Installing SPDs at strategic points in the electrical network, including the entry point and distribution boards, is crucial for diverting surge energy to ground and protecting equipment.
3. Enclosures suitable for outdoor/humid environments such as those with a NEMA 4X rating. Unlike a NEMA 4, which protects against water and dust ingress, the 4X adds superior corrosion resistance. These enclosures are made of materials such as stainless steel or fiberglass and feature airtight seals. For example, the AVR IND 1300 NEMA 4X from Industronic is an example of how the Mexican industry integrates these specifications to provide protection for sensitive equipment.

Best practices in coastal electrical installations

Electrical protection is not only a matter of equipment, but also of processes and maintenance. Therefore, some best practices are:

• Advance design: consider the degree of atmospheric aggressiveness and environment classification to determine protection requirements.
• Use certified technologies and components: choose cabinets or boxes with certifications that guarantee their outdoor/wet use, compliance with NOM-001-SEDE 2012, and international standards if applicable. The installation of electrical protection systems such as residual current devices is vital for detecting current leaks and preventing the risk of electrocution.
• Install safety devices: the integration of residual current devices and surge protectors is essential to protect both equipment and personnel.
• Rigorous preventive maintenance: performing periodic inspections, cleaning, repainting, checking connections, and tightening screws that are susceptible to loosening due to corrosion will make a difference in protecting electrical installations in coastal areas.
• Staff training: Ensure that technical personnel are aware of specific coastal risks, the correct use of special materials, protection techniques, and preventive maintenance.

Frequently asked questions about electrical protection in coastal areas

What equipment is most vulnerable in coastal environments?

Equipment containing sensitive electronic components, such as frequency converters, PLCs, UPSs, control systems, and servers, is extremely vulnerable in coastal environments. Transformers, motors, and distribution boards are also vulnerable due to their large metal surfaces and complex connections.

How can corrosion be prevented in electrical panels?

The best way to prevent corrosion in electrical panels or installations is to use NEMA 4X-rated enclosures. In addition, all cable entries must be sealed and there must be no openings for saline air or moisture to enter. Furthermore, protective internal coatings should be applied and the interior of the panel should be kept as dry as possible.