Electric Infrared Inspections
NFPA 70B required infrared scanning of electrical distribution equipment that identifies overloaded panels, failing connections, and hazards before they cause fires and critical equipment failure.
What It Is
An infrared electrical inspection uses a thermal camera to measure surface temperature across an entire panel or piece of equipment in a single scan while it is energized and under load. Heat that would be completely invisible during a standard visual inspection, inside a breaker, at a bus bar connection, along a conductor, registers clearly as a temperature differential against the surrounding equipment. It is usually the fastest and most effective way to survey large amounts of electrical equipment and switchgear. Every scan is performed and interpreted by our Infraspection Institute Certified Level III Thermographer, the highest level of thermography certification, who is also a CCPIA Certified Commercial Property Inspector, so the thermal imagery is correctly interpreted, not just collected.
Electrical scanning is one of several commercial infrared inspections we perform, from roof moisture surveys to building envelope and hidden leak detection.
Now a Mandatory Standard, Not Just Best Practice
NFPA 70B, the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, has long been the governing document for commercial electrical maintenance programs. The 2023 edition converted 70B from a recommended practice into a mandatory standard, replacing advisory "should" language with "shall" throughout, and it establishes explicit requirements for infrared thermographic inspection of electrical distribution equipment, switchgear, panelboards, and motor control centers on a defined maintenance interval. The interval depends on the condition of the equipment: at least once a year for equipment in good or fair condition, and at least every six months for equipment in poor condition.
| Equipment condition | What it means | Scan at least every |
|---|---|---|
| Condition 1 | Like new. Enclosure clean, dry and secure, with no open issues from prior maintenance. | 12 months |
| Condition 2 | Generally sound, but maintenance results are drifting from previous data, or the manufacturer calls for more frequent maintenance. | 12 months |
| Condition 3 | Poor. Maintenance was missed for the last two cycles, or the last two cycles found major issues needing repair or replacement. | 6 months |
Summary of NFPA 70B Table 9.2.2. These are maximum intervals; the owner's electrical maintenance program can set shorter ones for critical equipment.
What the Scan Covers
- Main switchgear, distribution panels, sub-panels, and motor control centers
- Visible conductors at termination points, scanned with the panel cover open or through an IR-transparent window
- Findings classified by severity based on temperature differential, from monitoring items to emergencies requiring immediate correction
What You Get
A written report with thermal and visible-light images of each finding, temperature data, severity classification, and recommended action, documentation that supports insurance requirements and becomes part of the building's maintenance record. Findings are cross-referenced with the core inspection report where applicable.
Don't Wait for Disaster to Strike
Regular infrared scans, annually for most equipment and more often where problems are likely, catch overloaded panels and failing connections while they're still a repair rather than an emergency.