Learn how the recent changes may impact your business
NFPA 70B was conceived in 1973, soon after the OSHA Act was signed into law. As a recommended practice, NFPA 70B has provided nonmandatory suggestions and recommendations for maintaining electrical equipment to improve service reliability and worker safety. Over the past decade, it has become clear that safety is highly dependent on the proper assessment of the condition of electrical equipment within a power system. As a result, the industry saw a need to change NFPA 70B into a standard.
In 2023 it evolved from a recommended practice into an industry standard, solidifying that the NFPA 70B provisions are now enforceable. Some of the recommended practices that were not seen as mandatory requirements were removed, leaving only strictly prescriptive language. Content was reworded from using words like "should" and changing them to words like "shall." Similar to other industry standards and codes such as NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) will need to adapt this new standard to make it fully enforceable. We expect many will begin implementing these requirements immediately to not only ensure improved equipment reliability but, most importantly, ensure worker safety.
Electrical Reliability Services (ERS) is here to help you understand the changes and to inform you on how they impact your maintenance program. We have an in-depth knowledge of these requirements and are ready to help to ensure your program is compliant. Contact us today and we can help you with the following:
- Assist in the creation of an Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) that is specific to your facility
- Perform electrical preventive maintenance on all low, medium, and high voltage equipment to improve reliability and extend the life of components and systems
- Develop up-to-date single-line drawings, perform and maintain short circuit and coordination studies, and conduct incident energy analyses to increase the safety and reliability of your systems
- Provide safety and technical training that is customized for your facility and equipment
- Perform protection & controls systems upgrades to ensure reliability and compliance with standards
- Conduct acceptance testing for new or updated equipment and systems, providing baseline data for comparison to future maintenance test results
- Offer DC power systems services such as testing, maintenance and upgrades of UPS and battery systems
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these new changes and modifications. Our data sheet will help you understand some of the key changes and the Equipment Condition Assessment brochure will help you examine and identify areas to update within your maintenance plan.
