Test & Measurement

10 Ways NFPA-70B and Thermography Can Be Your Best Friend

March 26, 2025

Real-world examples from the field demonstrate how thermography can catch problems before they spark.

NFPA-70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, provides the details for establishing an electrical maintenance program (EMP) for your facility. A key component of the standard is performing an equipment condition assessment and then performing different scopes of work based on the defined types of electrical equipment.

Table 9.2.2 Maintenance Intervals, requires infrared thermography for “all equipment.” Based on the equipment condition assessments, the maintenance intervals for thermography can be either six months or 12 months.

This photo gallery provides real-life examples of how integrating infrared thermography into your EMP can provide instant benefits that exceed the implementation costs. Using infrared thermography provides early-warning insights that allow you to take corrective actions before catastrophic and costly electric equipment failures occur.

NFPA-70B and thermography will uncover those impending electrical disasters in your own facility. After your first few problem discoveries, you will see the wisdom in making NFPA-70B and thermography your best friend!

About the Author

John Weber | Principal Electrical Engineer

John Weber is principal electrical engineer for The Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) Inspection and Insurance Company in Hartford, Conn.

About the Author

JR Smith

JR Smith has more than 25 years of experience performing infrared surveys. He began his thermography career performing infrared inspections for an electrical contractor at USS/Kobe Steel in Lorain, Ohio in 1998. There, he performed various types of inspections such as electrical, mechanical, refractory, etc. for the different departments within the steel mill. In 2000, he began performing inspections for various other clients after he obtained his Level II certification. In 2001, Smith was hired by HSB to conduct infrared inspections that would service both insureds and non-insureds. In 2010, he became one of the very few people in the world to obtain his Infrared/Thermal Testing Level III certification from The American Society on Nondestructive Testing (ASNT). He became the Director of Thermography Services in 2011 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations as well as HSB’s overall thermography program. As the in-house Level III within HSB, he is also responsible for ensuring the infrared NDT program complies with the company’s written practices, and the training of Level I and Level II thermographers. He also still performs various infrared inspections for customers nationwide. Smith is currently Vice Chair of the Infrared & Thermal Committee for the ASNT Certification Management Council, and has been a member of The American Society of Nondestructive Testing since 2004.