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WHAT DOES ELECTRICAL PANEL INSPECTION CONSIST OF?

The electrical panel (or panels, in a large structure) is the intersection of the electrical supplier’s
incoming service wiring and the building’s internal wiring. For voltage to be safely stepped
down and electricity to flow safely and reliably, the electrical panel must be correctly installed
and maintained. 

A good, thorough electrical panel inspection consists of these basics, following an electrical
panel inspection checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked:

 Inspection of the panel cover for structural integrity;

 Openings in the panel;

 Appropriate labels;

 Proper amperage for each circuit;

 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs);

 Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs);

 Workmanship and neatness of wiring layout;

 Proper grounding.

WHY IS ELECTRICAL PANEL INSPECTION NEEDED?

While businesses routinely have their roofs, driveways and paved areas, or HVAC systems
serviced and inspected on regular schedules, many people do not take the time to ensure their
electrical system is up to current code and safe. 

A neglected electrical panel is a fire waiting to happen. Behind the protective metal cover, all
sorts of harm can be building up:

 Corrosion or oxidation of wiring;

 Water leakage;

 Insect or rodent nesting and damage;

 Arcing wires.
The slightest disturbance to a poorly maintained electrical panel could upset the delicate balance
and cause an electrical fire with catastrophic results.

WHEN TO HAVE YOUR ELECTRICAL PANEL INSPECTED

If you suspect an uneven flow of electricity or notice brownouts or seemingly random tripping of
breakers, your panel is sending warning signs that you need electrical panel inspection.

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Electrical Preventive Maintenance Checklist

Most companies and commercial establishments run on large and widespread electrical systems.
While the majority of modern power supply networks have protective devices installed, they’re
still prone to electrical failure. This calls for an effective electrical preventive maintenance
program that ensures uninterrupted electrical distribution and prevents outage-related downtime.

Defective electrical components are some of the biggest causes of equipment failure.

Considering how complex today’s electrical equipment is, preventive maintenance is the only
viable solution if companies wish to save on overall maintenance costs.

If you’re looking for an effective EPM program guide for your company, keep reading. In this
article, I’ll provide a comprehensive electrical preventative maintenance checklist that covers all
maintenance inspection bases.

Let’s get right into it.

Electrical Preventive Maintenance Checklist [An Overview]

Electrical preventive maintenance refers to maintenance procedures that are performed to prevent
damage and malfunction to electrical connections and local networks.

Electrical maintenance is typically performed in the following areas:

 Residential Locations: Houses, apartments/condos, and mobile homes are included in this
category.
 Industrial and Commercial Establishments: These include factories, hotels, shopping malls,
entertainment centers, etc.
 Healthcare and Special Occupancies: Hospitals, assembly lines, storage areas,
boatyards/marinas, and theaters are included in this category.
Any of these will usually have a routine or scheduled maintenance framework set up according to
requisite electrical safety (NFPA, OSHA, IEEE, etc.) standards.

Depending on the size and scope of the establishment, it may have in-house electricians or third-party
electrical contractors and other qualified personnel to perform that maintenance.

However, it’s rare to find an actual preventive maintenance management system that considers all
malfunction possibilities and prevents them from happening in the first place.

Furthermore, a lot of facilities don’t even consider the importance of electrical preventive maintenance
for new equipment.

Electrical pm programs are all the more important today for all these reasons and more.

While such programs involve a huge variety of maintenance tasks, there are some basic procedures that
every program includes.

These are:

 Regular inspections of all living areas including bedrooms, kitchens, lounges, hallways, and
bathrooms.
 Close examination of inlets, circuit breakers, panelboards, and electrical distribution systems.
 Detailed surveys of residential feeders and various service equipment.
 Inspections and repair of commercial transformers, capacitors, and wiring manifolds.
 Checking indoor and outdoor lighting, relays, and control panels.
 Monitoring of running electrical systems in Class I, II, and III hazardous locations.
 Initial and finished surveys of special occupancy units.

Additionally, this includes checking for all major and minor signs of electrical malfunction such as short
circuits, loose connections, visible burning and arcing, and small (serial) explosions.

Now that you have a basic overview of what electrical preventive maintenance looks like, let’s look at
each electrical maintenance area to develop a full checklist.

Residential Location Checklist

Residential areas (also known as dwellings) usually have a smaller electric supply requirement.

This means fewer circuit panels and less wiring.

However, a preventive maintenance plan is just as important in a residence as it is in large facilities.

Here’s a list of pointers that will help you develop such a plan:

 Check cable assemblies and other wiring methods in rooms, hallways, stairways, and attics.
 Check cable installations and circuit boxes for general suitability.
  Examine boxes for warning lights and other irregularities.
 Ensure equipment grounding conductors are suitable for use according to the size and quantity
of equipment.
 Examine lighting outlets and ensure they are properly wider on general lighting circuits.
 Inspect wall and countertop receptacle spacing and proximity to heat, cold, and water sources.
 Survey relevant receptacle outlets for branch circuit type (ensure they’re supplied by small
appliance circuits).
 Identify and repair frayed wires close to water outlets in bathrooms.
 Look for irregular wiring arrangements and lighting outlets on walls.
 Check the grounding electrode conductor connections and buried connections for heat damage
or suitable placement.
 Examine and repair electrical surge protection units (where installed).
 Inspect timers, power supply units, relays, and control wiring for humidity or temperature
damage, as well as regular wear.
 Detect signs of electrical disturbance as an indicator of minor shorts and sparking.
 Ensure proper voltage in all rooms and areas of majority electrical usage.

Of course, any electrical maintenance checklist is incomplete without NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E, and Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) compliance standards.

Industrial and Commercial Establishment Checklist

Commercial facilities usually consume a significant amount of electricity on a regular basis.

Some of these places need their own power supply plants and dedicated electrical equipment
maintenance teams.

Nevertheless, even the most organized commercial establishment can benefit from a checklist that
includes some crucial and sometimes overlooked maintenance pointers.

These are:

 Check all power meters for regular function before shutting them down for maintenance.
 Confirm that indicators, sensors, and warning lights are functioning correctly.
 Torque test and inspect bolted electrical connections to specified levels whenever needed.
 Visually inspect primary control points for signs of deterioration and overheating.
 Disassemble battery tripping packs and check for signs of general battery integrity and any signs
of corrosion or heat damage.
 Perform thermal imaging surveys using precise thermography equipment.
 Check for signs of persistent overheating and single out specific areas for repair or part
replacement.
 Inspect motor control circuits and check for appropriate overcurrent protection.
 Confirm that all motor disconnects are close to the motors and are easily accessible for
maintenance.
 Check if multi-unit conductors are properly supplying to all connected units and if they are rated
for their connections.
 Verify that ground-fault and feeder short-circuit protection is sized according to the specific
application.
  Confirm if the transformers rated at over 1,000 volts have adequate overcurrent protection
(install protection if necessary)
 Inspect transformers for any failsafe elements or means of disconnecting immediately.
 Conduct a detailed survey of all machinery and moving systems (elevators, dumbwaiters, and
platform lifts), check for proper wiring, and ensure correct voltage supply.

Furthermore, make sure all room circuits are rated for the number of machines and other electric
equipment they are connected to.

Electrical Systems

1. Switchgear and Switchboard Assemblies

2. Transformers
3. Cables
4. Switches
5. Circuit Breakers
6. Protective Relays
7. Instrument Transformers
8. Metering Devices
9. Grounding Systems
10. Motor Control Centers
11. Direct–Current Systems, Batteries
12. Capacitors and Reactors
13. Emergency Systems, Engine Generator