NFPA 70B is a standard that should not be overlooked. It provides guidelines for electrical system maintenance. The standard gives accurate recommendations concerning the maintenance of electric power systems and components and points out the need for planning to avoid failures in electric systems.
This article gives an insight into the basic concepts and requirements that are crucial in ensuring that the NFPA 70B maintenance program is implemented correctly and effectively, including training, scheduling, automation, analysis, safety, and compliance.
Identify Training Needs
The training to execute the NFPA 70B maintenance program is vital to personnel who service electrical equipment and those who work near electrical equipment. The NFPA 70B Electrical Maintenance Training offers solutions customized according to a particular company’s requirements and technical know-how challenges.
This involves the diagnosis of faults and causes and the practical demonstration of the application of maintenance concepts to the organization’s equipment and systems. This way, the participants have an opportunity to find any flaws in the electrical system and fix them before they lead to failure.
Develop a Maintenance Schedule
The maintenance schedule is critical when implementing the NFPA 70B maintenance program. The schedule should include the preventive maintenance plan, which covers inspecting, testing, and servicing electrical equipment according to manufacturers’ recommendations and general practices.
These measures consist of the preventive inspection of electrical systems by their physical examination and functionality and the testing of electrical components, including insulation, thermal, and circuit breaker tests. Also, routine maintenance such as cleaning, lubrication, and connection tightening should be scheduled to prevent the equipment’s wearing and tear.
Utilize Technology and Tools
Electrical management also requires embracing technology and the right equipment. The tools range from the basic to the advanced. They include infrared and ultrasonic analysis tools, which are used to detect defects that cannot be detected by a simple visual check.
Therefore, the maintenance team can identify and rectify all the problems that could lead to failure. Also, an online Arc Flash project management dashboard may be helpful for maintenance. This technology enhances the maintenance schedule since all the tasks are checked and tracked until completion.
Conduct Root-Cause Analysis
When electrical problems occur, they should be solved to avoid the recurrence of the same problem. According to the NFPA 70B maintenance program, the causes of failure and subsequent actions are identified to prevent such failures.
This involves looking at the history of the failed equipment, how it has failed in the past, and determining the root cause of the failure. Therefore, the root cause can be targeted to make the electrical systems more reliable and durable.
Summary
For a company to have an effective NFPA 70B maintenance program, it should ensure the safety and reliability of the electrical system in a facility. Therefore, facilities can develop a reliable maintenance program, minimize risks, and enhance work performance by identifying training needs, integrating technology, identifying causes of failures, and ensuring safety compliance. By doing so, organizations can avoid loss, increase the performance of electrical systems, and manage electrical systems.