The Expert Speaks
The Benefits of Adopting NFPA 70B for Electrical Inspections: Beyond Compliance
By John Gould
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching”.
The words from the author C.S. Lewis ring incredibly true in the area of maintenance—are we doing the right things to protect our assets, our people, when no one is watching? What about when actions and activities aren’t specifically required or mandated?
When it comes to electrical maintenance, adhering to standards is crucial for ensuring safety and efficiency. The National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 70B, now an active standard, offers a comprehensive framework for electrical equipment maintenance. While compliance is essential, the benefits of adopting NFPA 70B extend far beyond mere regulatory adherence. This article explores the best practices for electrical maintenance, emphasizing safety, the role of less experienced thermographers, and overall preventative maintenance improvements.
Enhancing Safety Through Best Practices
Safety is paramount in electrical maintenance. NFPA 70B provides a structured approach to identifying and mitigating risks associated with electrical equipment. By following its guidelines, facilities can significantly reduce the likelihood of electrical failures and accidents.
So, let's discuss key safety practices.
1.
Regular Inspections and Testing
Routine inspections and testing of electrical systems help identify potential issues before they escalate. This proactive approach ensures that equipment operates safely and efficiently. Regardless of the requirements of NFPA 70B, having a proper program in place to inspect, document and identify potential failures will ensure your equipment is operating optimally, reduce the risks of unplanned downtime and safety related incidents.
2.
Lockout/Tagout Procedures
Implementing lockout/tagout procedures prevents accidental energization of equipment during maintenance, protecting workers from electrical hazards.
The challenge with proper inspections related to the necessary insights you need; the equipment needs to be energized to capture a proper thermal scan. As such, implementing solutions such as IR Windows will provide the necessary safeguards to ensure proper testing can be performed and keep your staff safe in the process.
3.
Training and Certification
Ensuring that maintenance personnel are properly trained and certified in electrical safety practices is crucial. This includes ongoing education to stay updated with the latest safety standards. Being trained not only on the safeguards and practices, but proper training for use of the thermal camera is critical an electrical maintenance program’s success. NFPA 70B calls out the specific requirements, but without properly trained thermographers, the data that is being captured may not provide the value that it is intended to.
Supporting Less Experienced Thermographers
Thermography is a critical tool in electrical maintenance, allowing for the detection of hot spots and potential failures. However, less experienced thermographers may face challenges in accurately interpreting thermal images.
The following are some of the ways the NFPA 70B addresses differences in experience levels.
1.
Standardized Procedures
Providing clear, standardized procedures for thermographic inspections helps ensure consistency and accuracy, regardless of the thermographer's experience level. Tying this back to systems where camera functionality can support standardization of image capture is critical for programmatic success.
2.
Training Programs
Offering comprehensive training programs for thermographers to enhance their skills and confidence in using thermal imaging equipment. Use of the camera, certification of skill levels show a level of support within your organization that thermography is important and we are investing in the people to ensure they have the right skill sets to perform the necessary tasks.
3.
Documentation and Record Keeping
Emphasizing the importance of detailed documentation and recordkeeping to track inspection results and identify recurring issues will provide a level of transparency throughout the organization. The data that is collected, on its own, is never enough. Given the requirements set by NFPA 70B, consistent, time bound data collection will allow for better data, standardization of capture leading to the necessary insights to make informed decisions.
Preventative Maintenance Improvements
Preventative maintenance is a cornerstone of NFPA 70B, aimed at extending the lifespan of electrical equipment and preventing unplanned outages. These activities should be considered ‘table stakes’ in the world of reliability. Preventative and predictive maintenance programs are underpinned by the need for consistency in data and addressing key operational need to ensure program success.
The following are some of the ways the NFPA 70B addresses preventative maintenance improvements.
1.
Risk Assessment
Conducting thorough risk assessments to prioritize maintenance activities based on the criticality and condition of equipment. This is a foundational element—what assets do I have, how critical are they to my operation and where can I ensure that I am spending the appropriate activities to support the needs of my maintenance plans.
2.
Maintenance Intervals
Establishing recommended maintenance intervals tailored to the specific needs of different types of equipment. NFPA 70B provides this acute level of guidance, however, within the operational context of your business, intervals may need to be increased based on the criticality of the asset, the age of the equipment as well as the desired impact to procedures. Inspections on their own are not enough. Driving towards condition-based maintenance strategies will be fundamental in adoption of a preventative maintenance program that is effective.
3.
Predictive Maintenance
Leveraging advanced technologies such as AI and IoT for predictive maintenance, allowing for real-time monitoring and early detection of potential failures is an area that more organizations are striving towards. The elements within NFPA 70B that address this are not rooted in the outcome, more so the procedures. Keeping this in mind, for organizations to effectively adopt predictive strategies, AI modeling and machine learning, the data—consistent data—is critical. NFPA 70B provides the framework, but it’s up to you and your organization’s goals to determine how best to shift the maintenance culture.
Conclusion
Statistics highlight the importance of effective electrical maintenance. For instance, predictive maintenance can yield savings of 30-40% compared to reactive maintenance. Additionally, proper maintenance practices can significantly reduce workplace injuries and fatalities, with electrical incidents being a leading cause of occupational fatalities.
Adopting NFPA 70B for electrical inspections offers numerous benefits beyond compliance. By following best practices for safety, supporting less experienced thermographers, and implementing preventative maintenance improvements, organizations can enhance the reliability and efficiency of their electrical systems. Adopting this approach, guided by the foundational elements provided within the NFPA 70B framework further ensures a proactive approach to electrical maintenance, ultimately safeguarding both personnel and equipment.
