Navigating electrical maintenance facility requirements: What you need to know
New NFPA 70B guidelines: What you need to know
The NFPA 70B guidelines serve as a guide for industrial and commercial facilities. Published in 2023, the updated NFPA guidelines include updated language, marking a shift from a recommendation of maintenance to noting an electrical maintenance plan (EMP) as a formal plan facilities shall have in place moving forward. According to the NFPA, the updated language serves to 'provide for the practical safeguarding of persons, property, and processes from the risks associated with failure, breakdown, or malfunction.' The regulations are also designed to offer safety and reliability within a facility with 'a condition of maintenance of electrical equipment and systems.'
The importance of electrical maintenance plans
Electrical maintenance plans set a strong foundation for a well-maintained facility. Under NFPA 70B, electrical maintenance plans outline equipment testing, user training, risk assessments, and documentation requirements to promote safety and efficiency for building managers, facility engineers, and equipment operators.
Every EMP should be designed to fit the individual facility's needs. Overhauling an entire building at once in order to meet code requirements is not always the most efficient or budget-friendly solution. Egan Company's team has worked with commercial and industrial facilities of all sizes, helping create custom solutions to bring equipment and buildings up to code methodically without drastically impacting budgets.
Electrical maintenance plans can include:
Electrical apparatus testing
Infrared scans
Electrical maintenance training
Gear cleaning
Arc flash studies
Arc risk assessments
Electrically safe work conditions
Documentation of equipment and service
Equipment and facility alerts
Maintenance tracking and record-keeping
Condition logging
Maintenance intervals based on equipment type, criticality, and condition
Asset tracking
Implementing a customized electrical maintenance plan empowers facility teams, giving them greater control of the facility and electrical systems while promoting safety and efficiency.
Make a plan (or update a plan) for your facility
The safety, efficiency, and reliability of your facility's equipment is critical for your business' operations. A well-designed electrical maintenance plan that is up to date with NFPA 70B codes, as well as other local, state, and federal regulations, can extend the lifespan of your equipment, reduce downtime from unexpected breakdowns, and enhance the overall performance and safety of your facility.
While running a commercial or industrial facility demands a lot from building managers and engineers, keeping up with electrical codes and maintenance plans doesn't have to be one of them. Multi-trades contractors and system integrators like Egan Company work alongside facility teams of all sizes, developing custom plans that fit each unique facilities' equipment and budget needs. Safety is at the heart of everything Egan does, and its electricians, service technicians, and account managers stay up to date with the latest safety guidelines from the NFPA and other organizations to ensure that wherever Egan goes, safety follows.
To dig deeper with NFPA 70B or other electrical code requirements, connect with Egan, your local resource serving buildings across the state for over 80 years.
Egan Company is a locally owned multi-trades contractor and system integrator with expertise in mechanical, electrical, engineering and design, curtain wall/glazing/panel systems (InterClad), millwrights, fabrication, building systems, controls and system integration, and service. Its purpose is anchored in passion and pride, Egan builds better lives and communities — together.
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