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Title / Carry out insulating oil sampling and voltage breakdown tests
Level / 3 / Credits / 3
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for the sampling of insulating oil and voltage breakdown tests; carry out insulating oil sampling and voltage breakdown tests; interpret test results and complete compliance documentation; and demonstrate knowledge of oil quality specifications when replacement oil is required after taking a sample.
Classification / Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply - Testing
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1 Assessment against this unit standard typically occurs in a workplace environment. Assessment can take place in a training or educational environment (or in a combination of both workplace and training or educational environments) if simulated equipment response and examples are available.
2 Safety of personnel and plant must be prioritised during assessment against this unit standard. If the client safety requirements are not met assessment must stop.
3 Performance of the evidence requirements must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute; the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; and the Resource Management Act 1991. Electricity supply industry codes of practice and documented industry procedures include the current version of the Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI) (Wellington: Electricity Engineers’ Association). A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, PO Box 1245, Hamilton 3240.
4 The phrase in accordance with industry requirements applies to all of the evidence requirements in this unit standard.
5 Industry requirements include all asset owner requirements; manufacturers’ specifications; and enterprise requirements which cover the documented workplace policies, procedures, specifications, business, and quality management requirements relevant to the workplace in which assessment is carried out.
6 All work practices must meet documented client maintenance standards including quality management requirements, and documentation of activities, events, and decisions.
7 This unit standard covers carrying out sampling of oil from equipment typically located at substations and carrying out basic voltage breakdown tests using proprietary equipment. Please note that this unit standard does not cover high-level chemistry laboratory testing of oil.
8 Definitions
BS = British Standards
IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare for insulating oil sampling and voltage breakdown tests.
Evidence requirements
1.1 The technical specifications and performance standard for the class of oil being tested are selected and interpreted.
Range may include but is not limited to – manufacturer’s information, oil supplier’s data, client’s required standards, international standards
BS EN 60296:2004 Fluids for electrotechnical applications. Unused mineral insulating oils for transformers and switchgear,
IEC 60422 Mineral insulating oils in electrical equipment – Supervision and maintenance guidance,
BS EN 60156: 1996 Insulating liquids. Determination of the breakdown voltage at power frequency. Test method,
IEC 60156 Insulating liquids – Determination of the breakdown voltage at power frequency – Test method.
1.2 The required test procedure and sampling requirements are selected in terms of client requirements.
Range may include but is not limited to – client standards or guidelines for cleaning sample vessels, use of syringes, taking oil samples, volume of oil required, settling and test voltage application, equipment to be removed from service.
1.3 The test equipment is cleaned and dryed prior to testing in accordance with internal standards and client requirements.
Range may include but is not limited to – the requirements of BS EN 60296:2004 Fluids for electrotechnical applications. Unused mineral insulating oils for transformers and switchgear; IEC 60422 Mineral insulating oils in electrical equipment – Supervision and maintenance guidance standards.
Outcome 2
Carry out insulating oil sampling and voltage breakdown tests.
Evidence requirements
2.1 The oil sample is taken from the equipment in accordance with client or other accepted guidelines.
Range may include but is not limited to – minimum oil volume
precleaning at sample point, discharge before sampling, flow rate into test vessel, sitting time, recorded temperature and relative humidity, use of appropriate sampling equipment, recognise when replacement oil is required.
2.2 A basic voltage breakdown test is applied in a controlled way using a minimum of six client-approved test procedures.
Range may include but is not limited to – the rate of voltage increase by time, steady voltage period
2.3 The results of the tests and inspections are recorded as required by client documentation.
Outcome 3
Interpret test results and complete compliance documentation.
Evidence requirements
3.1 The documented test results are interpreted and analysed for compliance with the standard required.
Range may include but is not limited to – reference to equipment manufacturer’s requirements; client standards; international standards and previous test results recorded; ensure results are within given specifications; implications are noted if moisture, carbon, or other particles appear in sample
3.2 Compliance or non-compliance documentation is completed for each test.
Range may include but is not limited to – meeting client documentation requirements, recommendations for remedial work.
3.3 The results of the test reports are promptly forwarded to management or client.
Range may include but is not limited to – preliminary verbal report, written report.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate knowledge of oil quality specification when replacement oil is required after taking a sample.
Evidence requirements
4.1 The oil quality specification for the replacement oil is defined in terms of its characteristics.
Range may include but is not limited to – class of oil, breakdown test, moisture content, dissolved gas, air in suspension.
4.2 The procedures and equipment for replacing the oil are identified and defined in terms of preserving oil quality and equipment safety.
Range may include but is not limited to – testing equipment, reinjection equipment, degassing equipment, safety requirements.
Planned review date / 31 December 2015Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment /Registration / 1 / 27 April 1998 / 31 December 2012
Revision / 2 / 11 February 2004 / 31 December 2012
Rollover and Revision / 3 / 20 June 2008 / 31 December 2012
Review / 4 / 8 December 2011 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0120
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Electricity Supply Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101813 / Ó New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2011