Electrical Equipment Maintenance and Testing, an Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) NFPA 70B is a standard published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that provides guidelines for electrical equipment maintenance and testing. It focuses on establishing practices for the proper care and maintenance of electrical systems and equipment to ensure reliable and safe operation. The primary goal of NFPA 70B is to reduce the risk of electrical hazards, and electrical shock, by promoting effective maintenance practices for electrical systems, equipment, and components.
https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-70b-standard-development/70b
The standard covers a wide range of electrical equipment, including power generation systems, transformers, switchgear, motor control centers, motors, batteries, lighting systems, and more. NFPA 70B introduces the concept of maintenance categories, which are used to determine the appropriate maintenance and testing activities for several types of electrical equipment. The categories include:
Emergency Maintenance: Immediate repair or replacement of failed equipment to prevent harm or further damage.
Corrective Maintenance: Repairing or replacing failed equipment or components after they have been identified as faulty through inspection or testing.
Preventive Maintenance: Planned maintenance activities conducted at predetermined intervals to prevent equipment failure.
Predictive Maintenance: Using diagnostic techniques to monitor equipment’s condition and predict when maintenance is required.
The standard emphasizes the importance of following manufacturer recommendations and industry best practices for inspection and testing to identify and avoid potential issues or deterioration. It covers visual inspections, thermography, voltage and current, and other testing techniques.The latest update to NFPA 70B has changed significant testing recommendations to requirements, the words “should do” to “shall do”. One of those requirements is an identified and documented Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP), with certified electricians or electrical testers performing the actual tests. The latest update to NFPA 70B has changed significant testing recommendations to requirements, the words “should do” to “shall do”. One of those requirements is an identified and documented Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP), with certified electricians or electrical testers performing the actual tests. For example, the requirement of Thermography testing added to the NFPA standard, an electrical tester must have a documented training program with certifications to the proper testing and safety processes and procedures related to that particular test, i.e., performing the test with inspection IR windows or removing the panels and testing with PPE. Following applicable industry standards, manufacturer recommendations, and consulting with qualified professionals are essential to effectively test electrical systems as noted by NFPA 70E and 70B. Documentation: The standard emphasizes the need for proper documentation of maintenance activities. This includes keeping records of inspections, tests, repairs, and replacements to establish an equipment history and aid in future maintenance decisions.
Training and Qualifications: NFPA 70B recognizes the importance of trained personnel for conducting maintenance activities. It provides recommendations for training requirements and qualifications of individuals involved in electrical equipment maintenance.
Risk Assessment: The standard suggests performing risk assessments to evaluate the potential hazards associated with electrical equipment and prioritize maintenance activities accordingly.
Monitoring and managing your electrical assets are essential for ensuring the reliability and safety of electrical systems. Regular inspections, testing, and maintenance practices, such as insulation resistance measurements, partial discharge measurements, and thermography, can help identify and address potential issues before they escalate.
Does your facility have a documented Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) with well trained, qualified inspectors that are familiar with risk assessment and mitigation plans for potential hazards? If not and to stay within electrical testing compliance as established by the National Electrical Code (NEC) and NFPA 70E, you now must have, a “should” to you “shall”. Does your facility have a documented Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) with well trained, qualified inspectors that are familiar with risk assessment and mitigation plans for potential hazards? If not and to stay within electrical testing compliance as established by the National Electrical Code (NEC) and NFPA 70E, you now must have, a “should” to you “shall”. It is important to note that while this summary provides an overview of NFPA 70E and 70B, it is always advisable to consult the latest version of the standard for detailed and up-to-date information. For over 30 years, Brad Nanna has been in the Electrical Power Industry promoting solutions and service to customers in the residential, commercial, industrial and utilities markets. His experiences include knowledge and specification influence in electrical power distribution equipment, switchgear, transformers, industrial and motor control. He has held positions in Sales, Marketing, Product Management with primary focus on electrical preventative maintenance (EPM) and electrical safety standards of NFPA and OSHA. Brad is currently employed by IRISS and leading their efforts in inspection Infrared (IR) Thermography and Ultrasound testing. He is also leading the efforts of an electrical Operations Driven Safety and Reliability program (ODSR) for a safer, most reliable electrical asset management system.
Brad holds an MBA from Clemson University and a BS degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of IEEE, enjoys working with local universities in the development of engineering, sales and marketing classes, and a seasoned speaker on electrical safety and reliability. This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue of the Transformers Technology magazine, which you can access here .
This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue of the Advanced Transformer Testing and Technologies magazine.
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