NFPA 70B 2023: New Guidelines for Electric Inspections

Every three to five years, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) updates NFPA 70B, a set of guidelines for creating an effective electrical preventive maintenance (EPM) program commonly used in industrial plants, commercial buildings, and large residential complexes.

NFPA 70B is a key document that drives electrical safety choices in the USA, including methods of electrical inspection, what kinds of equipment should or must be inspected, and who is qualified to inspect. It is important for companies in the USA to review this document and to incorporate the updated standards into their work practices. 

The previous NFPA 70B version recommended thermography (aka “infrared scanning”) be conducted annually on outdoor substation, switchgear assemblies, stationary batteries, motor control equipment, busway, and UPS systems.

In 2023, NFPA70B makes mandatory the inspection of ALL electrical equipment at least every 12 months, with equipment that meets the Equipment Physical Condition 3 requiring thermographic inspection at least every 6 months. Condition 3 includes equipment where urgent actions were identified in previous scans along with certain other circumstances.

As the leading thermography tools provider for over 50 years, we will be examining the impact of the changes both internally and in consultation with industry experts. Follow this link to learn more about the specific thermography regulations, and click here to learn more about documenting inspection findings. 

For more details regarding specific thermal imaging recommendations in NFPA 70B 2023, read our informational article.
For more details on the requirement for PD testing in NFPA 70B, read our article on Partial Discharge testing. 
Review the specific thermography regulations within NFPA 70B
Learn how to document thermal inspections findings.
And for a more thorough discussion including a Q&A session, watch an Infrared Training Center webinar on NFPA 70B recommendations 

Contact your local FLIR sales manager