NFPA 70B is the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. It provides requirements for how electrical equipment should be inspected, tested, maintained, documented, and evaluated as part of an Electrical Maintenance Program. NFPA describes 70B as covering preventive maintenance for electrical, electronic, and communication systems and equipment, including systems commonly found in industrial plants, commercial buildings, and institutional facilities.

The purpose of NFPA 70B is simple: properly maintained electrical equipment is safer, more reliable, and less likely to fail unexpectedly. Electrical equipment can loosen, deteriorate, corrode, overload, or develop abnormal heating over time. These conditions may create fire risk, equipment damage, personnel hazards, unplanned outages, and costly downtime.

A major change occurred with the 2023 edition of NFPA 70B. What was previously a “Recommended Practice” became a Standard with mandatory language and requirements. In other words, much of the language changed from guidance such as “should” to requirement language such as “shall.”

Infrared thermography is an important part of this standard because it allows qualified personnel to inspect energized electrical equipment under load and identify abnormal heating patterns that may indicate loose connections, overloaded components, failing terminations, unbalanced loads, damaged equipment, or other developing problems. NFPA 70B now places much more emphasis on documented, routine infrared inspections as part of an overall electrical maintenance program. Industry guidance on NFPA 70B 2023 notes that infrared inspection of electrical equipment is generally required at intervals not exceeding 12 months, with more frequent inspection for certain higher-risk equipment conditions.

NFPA 70B applies primarily to owners and operators of electrical equipment in facilities such as:

• Water and wastewater treatment facilities

• Utilities and substations

• Industrial plants

• Manufacturing facilities

• Hospitals and healthcare facilities

• Senior living facilities

• Commercial and institutional buildings

• Critical infrastructure sites

• Large facilities with switchgear, MCCs, panelboards, transformers, breakers, motors, pumps, and distribution equipment

The equipment owner is responsible for implementing and documenting an Electrical Maintenance Program, including assigning responsibility for the program and maintaining records of inspections, testing, corrective actions, and equipment condition.

It is important to understand that NFPA 70B is not just about “checking a box.” The real value is reducing risk. A properly performed infrared inspection can identify problems before they become failures, allowing repairs to be planned before they result in equipment damage, fire, safety hazards, production loss, or service interruption.