Safe Electrical Inspections What You Need to Meet Compliance

See our recommendations for cameras, tools, apps, and software that can make your job easier.

Having the right tools at hand makes it easier to comply with any safety-focused program. So, whether your aim is to meet NFPA 70B or similar safety regulations, here are some recommendations for products that will keep you in compliance.

A thermal camera with the proper features doesn’t just make inspections easier: it reliably extends the life of critical facility assets as well.

This image displays two temperature measurement spots and the ΔT.

Thermal Imaging Cameras

Key to complying with NFPA 70B is having a thermal imaging camera that can detect temperature differences, or Delta T (ΔT). In practice, this means having a camera that can take more than one temperature measurement at a time.

Some lower-end, inexpensive thermal cameras offer just one temperature measurement spot in the center of the imaging field. To meet section 7.4.1, it's best to have a camera that can measure multiple targets at once and determine the temperature difference for you. That means analytical features such as multiple spot meters and isotherms, plus a ΔT function.

Multiple spot meters give you the ability to measure two or more areas within the scene at the same time. This helps you quickly identify faults and confirm that they deviate from the standard.

Isotherms are color palettes that highlight certain temperature ranges within the image. They make identifying faults even faster because you'll see the color difference immediately.

In terms of FLIR products, handheld infrared devices such as the Ex Pro-Series, Exx-Series, and the range of T-Series thermal imaging cameras all offer the measurement features needed for fast, efficient inspections that meet NFPA 70B guidelines.

Of course, it's not enough to just have an advanced thermal camera. Complying with NFPA 70B also requires proper camera training and thermography qualifications. An advantage of FLIR products is access to training in camera use and in thermography as a practice.

FLIR Academy offers live, interactive online courses with direct access to skilled trainers, so you can ask questions on camera settings and get real-time feedback. This training is offered free when you register a new FLIR Exx-Series camera and will soon be extended to other handheld thermal imagers.

The Infrared Training Center provides both online and in-person thermography courses that connect theory to real-world applications. Thermography Level I, II, and III courses follow industry best practice standards (ASNT/ISO), ensuring ITC students have gold-standard certifications that are recognized globally.

Test & Measurement Tools

Managing Your Meters

Electrical maintenance programs will most likely include multiple Test and Measurement (T&M) devices such as multimeters or clamp meters that inspectors can use along with their thermal imagers to capture data on electrical performance.

Having multiple testing tools enables you to take advantage of each device’s benefits. But it can also create inefficiency from compiling data from multiple additional sources for records. So, when considering T&M equipment, maintenance program managers should look for devices that can automatically upload data to a secondary device for logging.

Features such as FLIR METERLiNK®, for example, can connect several measurement tools to a single smart device for simultaneous recording.

METERLiNK is a smartphone app that connects to many FLIR T&M devices over Bluetooth®. It allows you to upload data directly from a test tool to your phone, so you can then include it in reports.

Data synchronization enables maintenance teams to easily organize and monitor readings from multiple devices and keeps inspection programs efficient.

Another advantage of METERLiNK is you can take data from your enabled meter and embed it directly into images on your thermal camera. You can set this up on your thermal camera through the Bluetooth setting in the Connections menu. You'll need Bluetooth active on the camera and meter to relay data.

Once the meter and camera are connected, you should begin to receive data from the meter directly on the camera screen. In this mode, you can press the P button to add readings to the screen. Then, save the image.

You can also save data directly to recorded images in the gallery using the Edit Image function. Press the P button to add your meter data and then resave the image.

Acoustic Imaging Cameras

Acoustic imaging cameras visualize PD and makes it significantly easier to identify.

Partial Discharge Testing

NFPA 70B requires partial discharge (PD) inspections on equipment over 1000 Volts, with the exceptions of busways and medium voltage (MV) power and distribution transformer windings, which must be inspected if less than 600 V.

PD can lead to equipment failure and cause safety hazards, including damage to insulation and electromagnetic waves—with potential impacts to the grid power quality.

While PD can result in local temperature increases that could be picked up with thermal imagers, they don’t always occur before failure and could be missed.

The most common and reliable way to perform PD testing is through ultrasonic acoustic tools, which are fitted with microphones that detect the ultrasound frequency emitted from partial discharges and displays them as colors over a visual image.

PD testing and surveys must be conducted at least yearly for most applicable electrical assets according to NFPA 70B. Acoustic imagers, such as the FLIR Si2-Pro, could be used to inspect the following assets as per NFPA 70B:

  • Busways
  • Power and distribution transformer windings
  • Power cables and conductors
  • Substations and switchgears
  • HV substation corona tests and surveys

The FLIR Si2 for PD Testing

Historically, ultrasound technology required significant time for training and was limited to single-transducer detectors that would scan for ultrasound frequencies from long distances. Developments from recent years though have culminated into the FLIR Si2 acoustic imaging camera.

The FLIR Si2 offers a variety of benefits that make PD testing easy, efficient, and safe.

The acoustic camera’s high sensitivity enables wide area scanning and speeds up inspection times with low risk of missed faults. Faults are measured and evaluated for severity by the camera, which will then recommend the next course of action to the user.

Large scale industrial settings can also ensure operational efficiency through cloud data integration, allowing data to easily be shared across devices.

The FLIR Si2’s features come together to create a strong ROI through easier training, faster inspection times, efficient data management, and detecting faults before they turn into breakdowns and costly failures.

Reporting and Analysis Tools

Finally, it's important for inspectors to have the appropriate reporting and analysis software to document their findings as required—specifically noting the ΔT between their target and a reference area.

Not only is documentation critical to creating an effective electrical preventative maintenance program, it also ensures that differences recorded between inspections over time are properly accounted for.

Collecting this data, analyzing it, organizing it, and maintaining historical records requires a robust software that easily connects to your cameras and devices for image and data uploads.

For example, FLIR Ignite—a camera software included in new Ex Pro-, Exx-, and T-Series models—automatically uploads images from the camera to the Ignite cloud for access anywhere on a computer or mobile device. Once logged into the cloud account, you can edit and analyze images, share them, and generate detailed reports.

The following are some important criteria to consider before purchasing software:

Image Analysis and Interpretation:

  • Look for software with advanced algorithms that accurately analyze thermal images and identify potential electrical issues.
  • Features like temperature trending, spot measurement, and anomaly detection aid in interpreting the data effectively.

Reporting and Documentation:

  • Efficient software should allow for easy generation of comprehensive reports to document inspection findings and track maintenance activities.
  • Look for customizable templates, report exporting options, and integration with other maintenance management systems.

Integration and Connectivity:

  • Ensure the software can seamlessly integrate with your specific cameras, facilitating smooth data transfer and analysis.
  • Leverage cloud-based connectivity to quickly gather inspection results from the field for analysis and reporting needs.

Conclusion

With NFPA 70B 2023’s focus on thermography and documentation, it's critical to ensure your cameras, T&M tools, and software provide the features needed to work efficiently, and further, can work together towards meeting these standards.

Integrating thermal cameras and software into an electrical maintenance program offers numerous benefits—regardless of whether NFPA guidelines impact your region—including proactive issue detection, improved safety, streamlined documentation, and predictive maintenance planning. By investing in tools with the right features, organizations can ensure the longevity, safety, and reliability of their electrical systems.