A failure to be proactive with equipment maintenance and risk protection is costly, and we’re not just talking about money. Lives are at stake when your electrical system is out-of-date, not maintained, and non-compliant. But, as we know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, while making NFPA regulations a ‘required standard’ instead of a ‘recommended practice’ may feel like an unnecessary complication, it is the codified result of high workplace standards of electrical safety. And proper maintenance of your electrical system is part of that standard.
In case you didn’t read the whole NFPA 70B document, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what to know, why it’s important, and how Condoit can help with compliance!
What is NFPA 70B?
NFPA 70B is a directive issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Council that requires that an electrical maintenance program (EMP) be created to establish regular inspections and maintenance on electrical systems. 70B has detailed guidelines for different types of electrical equipment and describes the key components your electrical maintenance plan (EMP) must include to comply: electrical system survey and analysis, regular testing, cleaning protocols, standards for repair, and safety procedures.
Why is it important?
It’s been 51 years since the first NFPA 70B-T Tentative Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance was written in 1973 to the current NFPA 70B Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. In addition to reflecting changes in safety needs and technologies, there is an overall shift in the documents from a focus on prolonging equipment life and protecting property to a focus on worker safety. NFPA 70B works with NFPA 70E to provide a holistic framework for addressing electrical safety in the workplace. Where 70B covers equipment, 70E covers electrical workers and includes PPE standards and safe work practices. Together with the NEC, they create what the NFPA calls the “cycle of safety.” Following just one part isn’t enough and leaves vulnerabilities in the cycle. OSHA considers the NEC, and NFPA 70B & 70E to be the primary standard of electrical safety for the industry. If you are following the standards set by these codes, you will meet all the requirements for OSHA compliance.
Chapter by Chapter
Let’s take a broad look at what the NFPA 70B contains and explore what sections you’ll probably reference the most.
Chapter 1 - Administration
This chapter lays out the intention of the NFPA 70B Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance:
“...to provide for the practical safeguarding of persons, property, and processes from the risks associated with failure, breakdown, or malfunction and a means to establish a condition of maintenance of electrical equipment and systems for safety and reliability.” (Section 1.2, NFPA 70B)
It also explains that it is not intended to supersede manufacturers’ instructions for maintenance or to prevent the use of maintenance systems superior to this standard. Basically, this standard is a baseline of protection, and it shouldn’t keep you from going even further in your electrical system maintenance protocols.
Chapter 2 - Referenced
This is a housekeeping chapter that lays out publications references in the standard. These publications include other NEC documents and dictionary entries, among other documents.
Chapter 3 - Definitions
This is your glossary for the NFPA 70B document. It has all the definitions for terms used in the standard.
Chapter 4 - General
This is where the document starts laying out more explicit directives. This chapter stipulates that an electrical equipment owner must implement and document an EMP that includes the following elements:
- An electrical safety program that addresses the condition of maintenance
- Identification of personnel responsible for implementing each element of the program
- Survey and analysis of electrical equipment and systems to determine maintenance requirements and priorities
- Developed and documented maintenance procedures for equipment
- A plan of inspections, servicing, and suitable tests
- A maintenance, equipment, and personnel documentation and records-retention policy
- A process to prescribe, implement, and document corrective measures based on collected data
- A process for incorporating design for maintainability in electrical installations
- A program review and revision process that considers failures and findings for continuous improvement (Section 4.2, NFPA 70B)
This EMP must be audited at (at least) five-year intervals and updated to reflect changing standards in technology and safety.
Chapter 5 - Personnel Safety
The EMP standards must be implemented and executed only by personnel qualified to operate with the proper electrical safety work practices. The definition of a ‘qualified person’ is the same as defined in NFPA 70E and includes someone who has demonstrated skills and knowledge related to the piece of equipment and has been trained on its safety standards. This qualification is not absolute for personnel across different types of equipment, either. Certain personnel may be trained on some electrical equipment but not others.
Chapter 6 - Single-Line Diagrams and System Studies
In this chapter, the NFPA lays out the requirements for maintaining single-line diagrams and the various electrical system studies that must be performed, such as Short-Circuit and Arc-Flash Studies. These tests and the SLD documentation provide critical points of reference for workers to identify where emergency maintenance needs to be performed. If you can measure it, you can change it, and these system studies provide data that is crucial to creating a responsive EMP.
Chapter 7 - Fundamental Tests
Included here are detailed descriptions of certain procedures to be used when performing electrical system maintenance. There are provisions for testing various electrical system connections and insulation resistance quality, and using infrared thermography to test temperature variations in system components.
Chapter 8 - Field Testing and Test Methods
This chapter lays out directions for testing in order to ascertain the overall condition of electrical equipment in the system. It stipulates that risk assessment should be performed prior to testing in order to determine if personnel require special protections, such as situations where the power supply cannot be disconnected before conducting the test.
Chapter 9 - Maintenance Intervals
This chapter centers around Table 9.2.2, which provides maintenance intervals based on the type of electrical equipment, scope of work, and condition of the equipment. Section 9.3 breaks the conditions of electrical systems into 3 groups, each in accordance with the last known date of EMP maintenance. This categorization helps to identify areas of critical importance within the electrical system.
Chapters 10-38 - Detailed References for Various Electrical Equipment
Chapters 10 through 38 go through various components of electrical systems with recommended maintenance tests, tasks, and performance intervals. These chapters will be updated as technologies and maintenance recommendations change.
How to comply with NFPA 70B?
To comply with NFPA 70B, your facility must implement and utilize an electrical maintenance program. Hopefully, you already have one, but you should make sure it covers the nine elements as described in Chapter 4 above. Sounds simple, right? With old facilities and incomplete electrical system documentation, however, getting and staying compliant becomes a Herculean task. There are, however, a few powerful tools that can help you stay on top of your EMP.
The Power of the Single-Line Diagram
Look more closely at Chapter 6. This latest edition of the NFPA 70B hits hard on why single-line diagrams for electrical systems must be accurate, up-to-date, and legible. In a cruel twist of fate, traditional methods of SLD documentation have always had a large margin of error, thanks to the unwieldy task of using pen and paper. When your SLD is on an all-in-one digital platform, though, it suddenly becomes a powerful tool powered by data. It is the crucial component that, once in place, makes all the other tasks in your EMP a piece of cake. When was the last time you checked your SLD to see if it was accurate and up-to-date?
How Condoit can help
Condoit offers you a way to create and maintain a single-line diagram of your electrical system in real time. A digital SLD gives you a way to add or edit electrical equipment with a tap of your finger, which keeps your information up-to-date and NFPA 70B compliant. Do you have hundreds of photos of unnamed electrical equipment on your camera roll? Attach them to your single-line diagram along with documentation of maintenance issues or code violations. Suddenly, your SLD is no longer a nuisance, but a powerful tool giving you peace of mind through the power of information.
When you’re powered by Condoit, you’re OSHA-compliant.
