What Is NFPA 70B?

NFPA 70B is the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. It provides structured guidance on how to maintain electrical systems safely and reliably throughout their lifecycle. The document covers topics such as:

• Preventive and predictive electrical maintenance programs (EMPs)
• Inspection and testing intervals
• Maintenance of breakers, switchgear, transformers, panels, and wiring systems
• Infrared thermography and thermal imaging inspections
• Documentation, corrective actions, and recordkeeping

For years, many organizations treated NFPA 70B as “nice to have” guidance. With the 2023 reclassification, that mindset is no longer sufficient—especially for facilities that want to be aligned with best practices and reduce electrical risk.

From Recommended Practice to Standard: Why That Matters

Prior to the 2023 edition, NFPA 70B was a Recommended Practice. That designation implied guidance and suggestions rather than minimum requirements. In the 2023 revision, NFPA elevated 70B to a full Standard.

That change is significant. In NFPA language, a Standard communicates minimum acceptable requirements that can be:

• Adopted directly by jurisdictions
• Referenced by other codes and standards, such as the NEC (NFPA 70)
• Used by OSHA and insurance carriers as a benchmark for acceptable electrical maintenance

In simple terms: NFPA 70B now represents what the industry views as the baseline maintenance expectation for electrical systems—especially in commercial, industrial, and mission-critical facilities.

Is NFPA 70B Legally Mandatory Everywhere?

The short answer is: not automatically, and not everywhere in the exact same way. However, in practice, NFPA 70B is rapidly becoming functionally mandatory in many environments due to how it is referenced and applied.

Here’s how to think about it:

• NFPA 70B is mandatory where it is adopted directly by a jurisdiction, owner, or governing body.
• It becomes effectively mandatory when other adopted codes and standards reference it, or when OSHA and insurers treat it as the minimum standard of care.
• Even where it is not explicitly adopted, failing to follow NFPA 70B can be seen as ignoring recognized industry practice, especially in the event of an incident.

So while you may not see “NFPA 70B” listed on every permit or inspection checklist, you will increasingly see its principles enforced through NEC compliance, OSHA expectations, and insurance requirements.

How NFPA 70B Connects to the NEC (NFPA 70)

The National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70) focuses primarily on the installation of electrical systems. NFPA 70B focuses on their maintenance. The two standards complement each other.

The NEC establishes requirements such as:

• Safe installation methods
• Conductor sizing and protection
• Overcurrent protection and grounding
• Emergency and standby systems

But once the system is energized and in service, ongoing maintenance is what keeps it safe and reliable. That’s where NFPA 70B steps in, and in many cases:

• NEC requirements for reliability of emergency systems are best met by implementing a formal maintenance program.
• NEC references to proper operation and condition of equipment are supported by the maintenance practices in NFPA 70B.
• Manufacturers’ installation instructions and listing requirements often align with NFPA 70B practices, including thermal imaging inspections where appropriate.

While the NEC doesn’t list every maintenance task explicitly, an AHJ, engineer, or facility owner looking for a recognized maintenance standard will inevitably end up at NFPA 70B.

NFPA 70B and OSHA: Recognized Industry Practice

OSHA does not adopt NFPA 70B word-for-word in its regulations. However, OSHA does require employers to provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards and to follow accepted industry practices for electrical safety.

When OSHA evaluates an electrical incident, they often look to:

• NFPA 70 (NEC) – for installation and basic safety rules
• NFPA 70E – for electrical safety in the workplace
• NFPA 70B – for electrical equipment maintenance

If a facility never performed thermal imaging, never tightened or inspected terminations, or allowed critical equipment to run without documented maintenance, OSHA can argue that the employer failed to follow recognized industry practice. NFPA 70B provides the benchmark they use to support that argument.

Insurance, Risk Management, and NFPA 70B

Insurance carriers are increasingly focused on electrical risk and fire prevention. Electrical failures are a major source of claims, downtime, and property loss. As a result, many insurers now:

• Ask whether the facility has a formal Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP)
• Request documentation of thermal imaging surveys and corrective actions
• Expect alignment with NFPA 70B’s maintenance intervals and methods
• Encourage or require infrared thermography as part of preventive maintenance

In practice, if a major electrical failure occurs and there is no NFPA 70B-style maintenance program in place—no thermal imaging records, no scheduled inspections, no corrective documentation—the facility may face tougher questions during claim evaluations.

Where Thermal Imaging Fits into NFPA 70B

One of the most powerful tools emphasized in NFPA 70B is infrared thermography, commonly referred to as thermal imaging. This technology allows electricians to detect abnormal heating in electrical components long before there is visible damage, arcing, or failure.

In a typical NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance program, thermal imaging for electrical systems is used to evaluate:

• Panelboards, switchboards, and switchgear
• Bus ducts and bus connections
• Transformers, terminations, and lugs
• Motor control centers and drives
• Main service equipment and distribution gear

By deliberately loading the system and using a properly configured thermal imaging camera, electricians can:

• Identify high-resistance connections and loose terminations
• Spot overloaded conductors or phases
• Reveal hidden failures behind breakers or lug covers
• Document thermal trends over time, not just “one and done” snapshots

NFPA 70B provides guidance on the frequency of inspections, the use of infrared thermography, and the documentation needed to support a defensible maintenance program.

Why Thermal Imaging Is Essential for Modern Electrical Maintenance

From an engineering standpoint, many thermal issues relate directly to the classic I²R (I squared R) relationship: current squared times resistance equals heat. Even relatively small increases in resistance at a termination can generate significant heat as current flows, and that heating effect compounds over time.

The problem is that many of these issues are invisible to the naked eye until it’s too late. A breaker face might look perfectly normal, while behind it the conductor connection is slowly cooking. Thermal imaging helps you see those problems before they become:

• Equipment failures and unplanned outages
• Insulation damage and conductor failure
• Arc faults and potential arc-flash incidents
• Electrical fires and costly downtime

That’s why thermal imaging for electricians isn’t just a “cool gadget” anymore—it’s a core part of a modern NFPA 70B-style maintenance strategy.

Practical Steps for Electricians & Contractors Who Want to Align with NFPA 70B

If you’re an electrician, electrical contractor, or maintenance manager, here are practical steps to bring your work closer in line with NFPA 70B and modern thermal imaging practices:

1. Obtain a quality thermal imaging camera suitable for electrical work, with appropriate resolution and temperature range.
2. Get proper training that is specifically designed for thermal imaging for electricians and focuses on electrical systems—not just generic thermography.
3. Develop a documented Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) that includes:
   • Inspection schedules
   • Thermal imaging routes and procedures
   • Criteria for what constitutes an abnormal condition
   • Corrective action workflows and timelines
4. Coordinate with facility owners, engineers, and insurers so everyone understands the value of NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance and thermal imaging.
5. Capture and store thermal images with good documentation—dates, load levels, equipment IDs, and corrective actions.

The more structured and repeatable your process is, the more clearly you can demonstrate that you are following recognized best practices for electrical maintenance and thermal imaging.

Frequently Asked Questions About NFPA 70B & Thermal Imaging

Is NFPA 70B mandatory in every jurisdiction?

No, not word-for-word in every jurisdiction. However, jurisdictions, owners, and insurers frequently use NFPA 70B as the baseline standard for electrical maintenance. It may be adopted directly, referenced through other codes, or applied after an incident to evaluate whether maintenance was adequate.

Does OSHA enforce NFPA 70B?

OSHA does not simply “copy and paste” NFPA 70B into its regulations. Instead, OSHA expects employers to follow recognized industry practice. NFPA 70B is one of the main documents they use to define what proper electrical maintenance looks like, including the use of thermal imaging where appropriate.

Do I have to use thermal imaging to comply with NFPA 70B?

While NFPA 70B allows multiple approaches to maintenance, infrared thermography (thermal imaging) is one of the most effective and efficient methods for identifying early-stage electrical problems. In practice, it has become a key element of a robust electrical maintenance program.

Is NFPA 70B only for large industrial plants?

No. While large industrial and commercial facilities often adopt NFPA 70B first, its principles apply to any facility that relies on electrical systems—from small commercial buildings to large campuses. Any site that cares about uptime, safety, and liability can benefit from NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance and thermal imaging inspections.

Take the Next Step: Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program

Understanding that NFPA 70B is now a Standard is only the beginning. To truly stand out in today’s market, electricians need the skills to apply thermal imaging correctly, interpret what they see, and connect it back to sound electrical theory and code-based expectations.

That’s exactly why Electrical Code Academy, Inc. created the Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program—a thermography and thermal imaging for electricians training pathway designed specifically for the electrical trade.

In the Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program, electricians learn how to:

• Use thermal imaging cameras effectively on real-world electrical systems
• Apply I²R concepts to understand why components heat up under load
• Document thermal imaging results in a way that supports NFPA 70B-style maintenance programs
• Communicate findings to customers, engineers, and facility owners with professional reports
• Turn thermal imaging into a profitable, value-added service offering

If you’re serious about aligning your work with modern expectations for electrical equipment maintenance and leveraging thermal imaging as a key diagnostic tool, this program is built for you.

Ready to level up your skills?
Learn more about becoming a Certified Thermal Electrician™ and how our training can help you integrate NFPA 70B-compliant thermal imaging practices into your services by visiting:
https://thermalelectrician.com