Is your factory up to date with the recent NFPA changes? We’re here to help to ensure you stay OSHA compliant and keep your insurance coverage.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently made significant changes to the NFPA 70B in 2023, transforming it from a “recommended practice” to a “mandatory industry standard.” These updates have far-reaching implications for electrical maintenance, recordkeeping, and overall safety. These changes make them enforceable by OSHA and often required by insurance companies as a condition for coverage.
The 2023 updates to NFPA 70B represent a significant shift in how electrical maintenance is approached, with a greater emphasis on safety, compliance, and proactive management. By understanding these changes and implementing the necessary procedures, you can ensure that your operations remain safe, compliant, and efficient. We’re here to support you every step of the way, from maintenance and monitoring to training and technical support.
Here’s what you need to know about these changes and how they impact your business.
(1) Enhanced Recordkeeping: Why It Matters
In the latest NFPA update, the importance of comprehensive and accurate recordkeeping has never been more crucial. Given the changes in equipment conditions and inspection frequencies, keeping detailed records will help in:
- Tracking maintenance history: Ensuring you have a clear log of all maintenance activities and inspections.
- Assessing equipment condition: Allowing for better evaluation of equipment health and planning future maintenance.
- Planning future maintenance cycles: Facilitating proactive maintenance scheduling to avoid costly downtimes.
Accurate recordkeeping is not just about compliance; it’s about being prepared and ensuring the longevity and reliability of your electrical systems.
(2) Frequent Equipment Inspections
It is now mandatory for all electrical equipment to be inspected at least every 12 months. Additionally, equipment that falls under Equipment Physical Condition 3*, especially those that have previously shown urgent issues, must undergo thermographic inspections at least every 6 months.
Inspection Protocols:
- Cover removal: All necessary covers must be removed prior to infrared thermography to ensure a clear line of sight.
- Temperature documentation: Any temperature differences between areas of concern and reference areas must be documented.
- Circuit loading: Inspections should be performed under normal circuit loading, or at a minimum of 40% of nominal circuit loading if full loading is not feasible.
- Transformer maintenance: Previously recommended maintenance intervals, such as liquid sampling and testing, are now mandatory.
These standards aim to enhance safety and reliability in electrical systems, reducing the risk of incidents such as arc flashes.
(3) Simplifying Compliance: How We Can Help
Navigating these new standards can be complex, but we’re here to help you simplify the process. NFPA 70E recommends that only “qualified” personnel perform work inside the arc flash protection boundary. This means that during thermographic inspections, a qualified person must accompany the thermographer to remove covers, and both must be in full PPE.
The Serve Electric Team can help with:
If you have any questions or need assistance with the new standards, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your safety and success are our top priorities.
*According to the 2023 edition of NFPA 70B, Equipment Physical Condition 3 (EPC 3) is a category of electrical equipment that requires more frequent inspections:
- Equipment that has missed two maintenance cycles in a row
- Equipment that has had issues in the previous two maintenance cycles that require repairs
- Equipment that has urgent issues identified in previous scans
- Equipment that requires action based on predictive techniques or continuous monitoring system notifications
- Critical equipment that could endanger people, such as patient care receptacles
