Electrical Infrared Inspection Requirements

Routine infrared inspections of energized electrical systems should be performed annually prior to shut down.

Electrical infrared inspection requirements.

Conducting infrared electrical panel inspections. Systems and equipment covered are typical of those installed in industrial plants institutional and commercial buildings and large multifamily. More frequent infrared inspections for example quarterly or semiannually should be performed where warranted by loss experience installation of new electrical equipment or changes in environmental operational or load conditions. 1 1 1 this recommended practice applies to preventive maintenance for electrical electronic and communication systems and equipment and is not intended to duplicate or supersede instructions that manufacturers normally provide.

Nfpa 70b declares a well administered electrical preventative maintenance safety program will reduce accidents save lives and minimize costly break downs and unplanned shutdowns of production equipment 70b further recommends routine infrared safety inspections of energized electrical systems. The use of infrared scanning to detect early indications of system failure is a preemptive measure that can minimize equipment breakdown and downtime. Infrared thermal imaging inspections detect hot spots and other defects. This standard covers an application which is both art and science.

Before an electrical component burns up it heats up. Figure 1 is an old style liquid nitrogen cooled two piece infrared camera system that weighed in excess of 60 pounds. Infrared thermography is used to perform pd pm inspections on electrical equipment because excess heat is usually the first sign of trouble on electrical or mechanical apparatus. The infrared electrical testing allows for inspection of a large amount of electrical equipment in a short time as opposed to the alternative method of physically inspecting and tightening electrical components.

While some of the requirements are redundant to osha s 1910 nfpa 70e is more comprehensive. Standard for infrared inspection of electrical systems rotating equipment foreword this standard outlines the procedures and documentation requirements for conducting infrared inspections of electrical systems and rotating equipment. Since thermography is solely inspection and not maintenance part iii is not applicable for infrared inspections. The infrared electrical systems survey is typically conducted on an annual basis as part of a regular preventive maintenance program.