Many have commented about the variance from site to site and company to compay with respect to NFPA 70E.

Had an experience a couple of weeks ago that really set me back though.....

Client (multi-site) was all into 40 KCal suits, etc., but....wasn't one bit averse to opening connection boxes on running loaded 13.8 KV LARGE motors, 13.8 KV cabinets with only about a foot between the back of the cabinet and the MCC block wall.....was a LOT less than comfortable doing this and have never seen it allowed in about 20 years of conducting IR surveys in switchgear.

Anybody seen anything similar out there....

Don,

The errors I've seen have been on the side of caution. In your case, it sounds like someone is over-anxious to test the caloric protection of their suits.

At one place someone had done all the calculations and labeled all of the cabinets as Category 1, 2, 3 or 4. This had been in place for a couple of years and no one was clear as to what that meant. Because of the lack of understanding, it was applied to any who was near the cabinet, regardless of their proximity or the type of work being performed. Some 277V lighting panels were considered Category 4 and some 1600 amp/480 v breakers in substations were Category 2.

I understand that some clarification of 70E is due out soon.

I hope so, because it is not widely understood and is interpreted very differently at different locations.

The new version of 70E is due out early 2009. It should directly address many of the concerns thermographers have had in the past when our tasks were not specifically called out. From what I hear, in general the document should be much easier to use.

Dear All:

The 2009 edition of NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace is available now.

Copies may be ordered through their website, www.nfpa.org or by calling 800-344-3555.

I will be presenting a short course on this topic at our annual IR/INFO conference in Orlando, FL on January 19, 2009. This short course is free to conference attendees. Course admission may also be purchased separately for only $99.

For additional information please visit: IR/INFO Short Course 2

Hope this is helpful.


Jim Seffrin, Director
Infraspection Institute

Infraspection Institute
IR/INFO XX

Thanks, Jim! I guess I've been running in too many directions lately and missed the fact that the pre-publication is out. I've purchased and downloaded a copy and am thrilled to find, as anticipated, that thermography is specifically called out as an activity. I look forward to spending more time reviewing this important document and hope other readers will do the same.

quote:

2009 edition of NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

It sure would be great to get leaders like Jim and John to post some highlights about the new standard here to follow up on the announcement that it is available and that there is a commericial training course available.

As a reminder for commercial training companies - free event listings and announcements are available at http://shopper.mro-zone.com

Over 10,000 maintenanceforum.com members may be able to learn something from the insight they could share and who knows - maybe even save a life. I am sure all would agree that the contribution would be most appreciated by the community.

Anyone else with knowledge or experience about NFPA 70 E (and B) is encouraged to post as well.

Thanks

Terry O