ELECTRICAL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
NFPA 70B & Commercial Electrical Maintenance
A proactive electrical maintenance program can help identify developing problems, reduce unexpected downtime, improve equipment reliability, and support a safer commercial facility.
REQUEST A COMMERCIAL QUOTEUNDERSTANDING NFPA 70B
Electrical Maintenance Is More Than Fixing Problems
NFPA 70B is the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. It provides a framework for establishing and documenting an Electrical Maintenance Program for electrical equipment and systems.
Instead of waiting for equipment to fail, preventative maintenance focuses on inspecting, evaluating, testing, documenting, and maintaining electrical equipment based on its condition and maintenance needs.
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
What an Electrical Maintenance Program Can Include
The exact maintenance needs of a facility depend on the electrical equipment, operating conditions, equipment condition, manufacturer instructions, and other applicable requirements.
Visual Electrical Inspections
Inspection of electrical equipment for signs of damage, deterioration, contamination, overheating, loose components, corrosion, and other developing concerns.
Thermal / Infrared Inspections
Infrared thermography can help identify abnormal heat patterns, overloaded components, loose connections, and other conditions that may not be visible during a standard inspection.
Panel & Distribution Equipment
Electrical panels, breakers, switchgear, disconnects, and distribution equipment can be evaluated as part of an ongoing maintenance program.
Testing & Servicing
Certain equipment may require electrical testing, mechanical servicing, cleaning, exercising, or other maintenance at appropriate intervals.
Corrective Maintenance
Problems discovered during inspection or testing can be addressed before they develop into larger failures, equipment damage, or unexpected outages.
Maintenance Documentation
Maintenance records can document equipment condition, inspections, testing, corrective actions, and ongoing maintenance activity.
INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY
Find Developing Problems Before They Become Failures
Electrical problems often generate excess heat before equipment fails. Thermal imaging allows electrical equipment to be evaluated for abnormal temperature patterns that may indicate developing problems.
Depending on the equipment and its condition, thermal inspections can become an important part of a documented preventative maintenance program.
Infrared Inspection Intervals
12 Months
NFPA 70B maintenance tables specify infrared thermography at intervals not exceeding 12 months for equipment in Conditions 1 and 2.
6 Months
Equipment classified as Condition 3 requires more frequent infrared thermography intervals.
Maintenance Intervals Are Not One-Size-Fits-All
Visual inspection, testing, servicing, and maintenance intervals can vary by equipment type and equipment condition. A commercial electrical maintenance program should be developed around the actual equipment and operating conditions at the facility rather than assuming every maintenance task follows the same annual schedule.
WHY PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE MATTERS
Protect Your Facility and Keep Your Business Moving
Identify Problems Earlier
Find developing electrical concerns before they become larger equipment failures.
Reduce Unexpected Downtime
Planned maintenance can help reduce disruptive electrical failures and emergency repairs.
Improve Equipment Reliability
Regular inspection and maintenance can help electrical systems perform more reliably over time.
Create a Maintenance Record
Documentation provides a history of inspections, findings, corrective actions, and equipment condition.
MCALLISTER POWER SYSTEMS
Build a Preventative Maintenance Plan for Your Facility
Contact McAllister Power Systems to discuss commercial electrical inspections, infrared thermography, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and corrective electrical work.