Executive Summary
LV Power Solutions reached out to IRISS when they were hired to design and deliver new switchgear for an National Health Service facility. IRISS products had been recommended by the electrical maintenance department at a different NHS facility.
By incorporating IRISS VPT-75 infrared windows into the equipment during the manufacture and installation, LV Power Solutions enabled the facility to conduct safe, non-intrusive inspections of electrical components without compromising enclosure integrity.
For a healthcare infrastructure that has to perform without exception, it’s a practical investment in long–term reliability.
Challenge
Designing for Safe Inspection in New Electrical Infrastructure
In healthcare environments, electrical systems must be highly reliable and safe to maintain, with minimal disruptions to the operation.
In this case, the challenge was not retrofitting existing equipment, but ensuring that new switchgear was designed from the outset to support safe and efficient inspection practices.
Before contracting LV Power solutions, the site’s equipment did not utilize infrared inspection windows. Traditional inspection methods would have required opening panels to access energized components. This introduces additional risk to personnel and disrupts operations. LV Power sought a solution that was both durable and reliable and would allow for safer inspection access while maintaining the integrity and performance of the switchgear.
Solution
Integrating IRISS VPT-75 Infrared Windows into Switchgear Design
To meet this specification, LV Power Solutions integrated IRISS VPT-75 infrared windows, supplied via CEF, directly into the manufactured switchgear. Incorporating the windows at the design and build stage means maintenance teams can inspect without opening enclosures or exposing themselves to energized components.
IRISS worked in collaboration with LV Power Solutions throughout the process, providing guidance to ensure the correct specification and placement of the infrared windows within the system.
The project is practical example of what’s possible when safety considerations are built in from day one rather than added later.
Why VPT Was Selected
The VPT-75 infrared window was selected for this project due to its ability to provide safe, non-intrusive inspection while maintaining long-term measurement accuracy and durability in demanding environments. Unlike crystal-based, first-generation IR windows still on the market, IRISS patented polymer optics deliver fixed and stable transmission over the life of the installation and are unaffected by environmental or mechanical stresses.
Within the IRISS product range, the VPT series offered the ideal balance of performance and practicality for this application. Available in three standard sizes—VPT-50, VPT-75, and VPT-100—with viewing apertures of 2.0 in (5.1 cm), 3.0 in (7.6 cm), and 4.0 in (10.2 cm) respectively, the series allows OEMs to select the appropriate window based on required field of view. In this case, the VPT-75 provided the optimal size, offering sufficient viewing area to capture all critical components within the panel while maintaining a compact, standardized design.
The VPT series is compatible with any thermography camera, enabling safe, non-intrusive monitoring of energized electrical equipment without the need to open panels or interrupt operations. Its standardized, round construction made it well-suited for OEM switchgear integration, while still providing multi-spectrum inspection capability, including infrared, visual, and UV, through a single inspection point.
Outcome
Improved Safety and Maintenance Efficiency
The completed VPT-75 installation gives the NHS facility a switch panel that maintenance teams can inspect without opening energized enclosures — reducing risk to personnel and removing the disruption that traditional access methods would have caused.
For LV Power Solutions, it also sets a precedent for how future switchgear projects can be designed with inspection access built in from the start.
Key Takeaways
- Supporting condition-based maintenance starts at the design stage
- Designing inspection access into switchgear improves safety and long-term maintainability
- Infrared windows enable non-intrusive inspection of energized electrical equipment
- Polymer IR windows deliver multi-spectrum visibility and long-term reliability.
- Collaboration between OEMs and technology providers enhances project outcomes
Step Up Operational Safety and Reliability
Discover how IR windows with IRISS’s Poly-View System™ technology makes inspections faster, safer, and more reliable.
