NFPA 70B 2023 makes Annual Electrical Thermal Safety Inspections Mandatory
The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) codes and standards are developed by subject matter experts from around the globe and serve as the leading resource on fire, electrical, and life safety guidelines and requirements
Formerly a “Recommended Practice” of Electrical Equipment Maintenance, NFPA 70B 2023 is now the “Standard of Practice” for Electrical Equipment Maintenance and Required Annually
NFPA 70B’s purpose is “to provide for the practical safeguarding of persons, property, and processes from the risks associated with failure, breakdown, or malfunction” of electrical equipment”
Infrared (Thermographic) Electrical Safety Inspections prevent injuries, increase uptime, reduce unscheduled outages and lower overall maintenance costs
NFPA 70B now recognizes thermography inspections as “mission-critical to an effective EPM (electrical preventive maintenance) program”
Infrared Electrical Safety Inspections identify excess heat on apparatus and detect electrical issues such as loose connections, faulty fuses, defective breakers, damaged switches, overloaded or imbalanced circuits and a myriad of other problematic conditions
Maintenance and Facilities Management personnel utilize Thermography as part of a comprehensive Predictive, Preventive and Proactive Maintenance Program to minimize damage to electrical systems, address and correct potential safety and operation-stopping hazards, prevent downtime, saves money and protects employees.
Concerning electrical maintenance: NFPA 70B declares, “a well-administered Electrical Preventative Maintenance Safety Program will reduce accidents, save lives, and minimize costly break downs and unplanned shutdowns of production equipment.” 70B further recommends “routine infrared safety inspections of energized electrical systems should be performed annually prior to shutdown. More frequent infrared inspections, for example, quarterly or semi-annually, should be performed where warranted by loss experience, installation of new electrical equipment, or changes in environmental, operational, or load conditions.”
Although NFPA has no regulatory power, their recommendations were given legitimacy when adopted as a standard by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the main US government agency responsible for the enforcement of Safety and Health legislation in American industry. OSHA has the power and the authority to levy substantial fines on businesses that do not conform to their authored or adopted safety standards.
Monroe Infrared has nearly four decades of hands-on, practical thermography field experience ensuring you receive a safe, accurate and thorough Infrared electrical inspection. Our Professional Electrical Inspections provide VALUE to your business. Our inspectors are Level 2 or Level 3 Certified Thermographers, utilize the latest state of the art thermal cameras, function as Trainers as well as Inspectors, provide clear visual & infrared imagery plus promptly provide written report analysis for every inspection.
Keep employees, contractors and customers Safe while maintaining the highest standards for Reliability and Cost Control Call for more information 800-221-0163
In less than a second, an Arc Flash is initiated from a phase-to-ground or a phase-to-phase fault resulting from an accidental contact with the electrical systems, the buildup of conductive dusts, corrosion, dropped tools, or improper work procedures.
Required by OSHA and NFPA 70E as a part of an Electrical Hazard Assessment, Arc Flash Hazard Assessments are a serious life safety issue and essential part of a safe and comprehensive electrical safety program.
The Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E states in Article 130.5 that an Arc-Flash Safety Study will be reviewed every five years or whenever there is a significant change in the electrical system; the five year interval is a straight-forward, mandatory requirement.
Monroe Infrared helps clients stay safe and meet the OSHA & NFPA 70E Mandatory 5-year Arc Flash Hazard Assessment.
Required Every 5 Years = Fines start at $50,000 with the first incident!
This OSHA-mandated safety evaluation of your facilities’ electrical systems helps keep employees, clients and customers safe.
This Arc Flash explosion demonstration image shows the very real danger inherent to all electrical systems and the importance of regularly scheduled infrared electrical safety inspections and Arc Flash Hazard Assessments.
