Equipment maintenance: an absolute must that’s often forgotten

I liken system-wide maintenance to caring for an automobile. The owner’s manual lists all the important upkeep aspects over a car’s lifespan. Most of us have the routine stuff down, like changing the engine oil every 3,000 miles. But how many of us change the radiator fluid after the first 60,000 miles, or the differential fluid, or the spark plugs? All are recommended by car manufacturers but are usually ignored or forgotten. 

Similar maintenance shortcomings can happen in our industry. For instance, the NEC tells us to recalculate fault current and incident energy after making changes to the distribution system, such as when motors are added or subtracted. But most don’t do it. Maintenance always seems to be the last item thought of when a project is scoped and rarely afforded a budget after installation.

It’s important that companies regularly perform upkeep. Using the same car maintenance analogy, do you enjoy visiting a mechanic for an oil change only to find out you need to flush the radiator, change the transmission fluid, install new brake pads and maybe replace the shocks? Of course not. Just like a car owner, many in our line of work simply don’t plan for things to go wrong.

Maintenance is a “just-get-it-done” situation that has safety implications. And, while not explicitly stated, some sections within NEC code imply general safety maintenance. For instance, NEC Section 90.1’s “Purpose” section contains all-encompassing language stating that, if systems are to perform as intended, all devices must be installed, maintained and free of hazard as outlined by manufacturers’ instructions. But, in my opinion, few codes offer enough guidance for specific products or scenarios. There’s nothing in NEC 210.8 , for example, that says ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers and receptacles must be tested monthly (which I’ll bet few in the industry realize). Only manufacturer instructions provide that guidance.

Protecting lives and the business

Following all manufacturer instructions is extremely important because, when it comes to maintenance and other issues outside of installation requirements, there’s no Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in most cases. Maintenance of electrical equipment has a direct tie to safety and is interwoven into the fabric of NFPA 70E. Think of the electrical worker who reads an incident energy label to determine what level of PPE is needed for the justified energized work about to be performed. The incident energy value on the label is dependent upon an upstream overcurrent protective device working as it was designed and intended to function by the manufacturer when it left the factory. The manufacturer has maintenance instructions to help ensure that device will function as it is intended when called upon to do so. If proper maintenance is not performed as specified, the incident energy value that the worker dressed for could very well be wrong and the worker could be underdressed for the occasion should an arc flash incident occur. It’s all about safety. Ignoring maintenance places workers, your facility, your business and your livelihood at risk. 

So, what can be done to prevent maintenance issues? 

1. Understand and employ the pillars of success for your facility.  
   • NFPA 70, The National Electrical Code, includes installation requirements and provides the bare minimum requirements for safety.
   • NFPA 70E, The Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, provides necessary information required for electrical worker safety. 
   • NFPA 70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, provides maintenance information to help reduce hazards to life and property that can result from failure or malfunction of industrial-type electrical systems and equipment.
2. Think ahead. Plan for maintenance by installing solutions that provide workers an ability to reduce safety risk while performing necessary maintenance on the electrical distribution system.
3. Have a maintenance budget at the ready. Companies spend thousands for generators, motors, switches, receptacles and the like, but maintenance helps ensure the investment lasts.
4. Follow manufacturer instructions and adhere to an upkeep schedule. We’re all human and many of us don’t always take the time to read instructions that come with new devices, so put a process in place that increases the likelihood of proper device installation and delivers owners the documentation they need to meet proper maintenance requirements. 

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