Electrical Preventive Maintenance

Checklist
Commercial and Industrial Systems

Electrical system breakdowns and resulting fires are

a leading loss driver across all types of occupancies. Consistent with established protocols, there are various
In addition, electrical failures may cause production levels of testing and inspection.
and business shutdowns, resulting in lost revenue and • Visual inspections determine if equipment is
sales. All electrical equipment has an expected service operating in a cool, clean, dry and tight condition
life, which can be negatively affected by environmental with no abnormal heat, smells, noises or vibrations.
conditions, misuse and, most importantly, lack of • Electrical testing is performed by trained
maintenance. Studies have estimated that nearly 70 personnel using electronic and computer controlled
percent of electrical system failures could have been testing equipment. Examples include insulation
prevented by an electrical preventative maintenance resistance test, contact resistance, dielectric
program. strength, earth continuity test and current leakage
test.
The following checklist helps define those areas that
require scheduled preventative maintenance. Suggested • Mechanical inspection utilizes mechanical
timeframes for inspections are listed; however, testing means such as re-torquing major connection
and inspection frequency must be modified based on points, exercising circuit breakers, performing
environmental conditions. For example, if switchgear a functional check of charging mechanisms and
is in manufacturing areas that are prone to high dust lubrication of circuit breakers per manufacturers’
concentrations, the testing/inspection intervals should recommendations.
be increased accordingly with the environmental • Dissolved gas analysis of critical oil filled
conditions. transformers helps detect conditions occurring
within the transformer such as incipient faults,
For any inspection/testing program to be effective and overheating and internal arcing. An oil sample is
safely performed, trained and experienced personnel collected and sent to a qualified laboratory facility
must be employed. Many of the visual inspection tasks for analysis. This testing also measures the level of
can be performed by in-house employees that have dissolved metals, oxidation and moisture content
received special training. However, the mechanical and of the transformer oil.
electrical tests require a highly trained electrician with
• Infrared testing requires trained and certified
experience in medium/high voltage, multi-phase
personnel to perform thermographic surveys of
systems. Additionally, they should be NICET certified or
electrical distribution equipment to detect defective
comply with the latest version of NETA standard for
certification of electrical testing technicians (ETTs), components and other conditions that could result
ANSI/NETA ETT- 2010, “Standard for Certification of in electrical breakdown and fire. The testing reveals
Electrical Testing Technicians.” Arc Flash training in hot spots in the equipment that indicate excessive
compliance with NFPA 70e would also be required for heat generated from problem areas.
individuals administering this program. *Retesting intervals may be more frequent depending on test
results and recommendations from the technician.
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Electrical Preventive Maintenance
Checklist
Commercial and Industrial Systems

Visual Mechancial and Electrical, Mechanical and

Equipment to be tested/inspected
(months) Visual (months) Visual (months)
Switchgear and switchgear assemblies 12 12 24
Transformers
Small dry type 2 12 36
Large dry type 1 12 24
Liquid-filled 1 12 24
Oil sampling - - 12
Cables
Low voltage 2 12 36
High/medium voltage 2 12 24
Switches
Low voltage air 2 12 36
Medium voltage metal enclosed - 12 24
Medium/high voltage open 1 12 24
Medium voltage oil 1 12 24
Medium voltage vacuum 1 12 24
Medium voltage SFs 1 12 24
Cutouts 12 24 24
Circuit breakers
Low voltage - molded case 1 12 36
Medium voltage air 1 12 36
Medium voltage oil 1 12 36
Sampling - - 12
High voltage oil 1 12 12
Sampling - - 12
Medium voltage vacuum 1 12 24
Extra high voltage SFs 1 12 12
Motors
AC motors 1 12 24
DC motors 1 12 24
AC generators 1 12 24
DC generators 1 12 24
Motor controls
Low voltage motor starters 2 12 24
Medium voltage motor starters 2 12 24
Low voltage motor control centers 2 12 24
Medium voltage motor control centers 2 12 24
Speed drive control systems 1 12 24
Surge arresters
Low voltage devices 2 12 24
Medium/high voltage devices 2 12 24
Emergency power systems
Emergency generator 1 2 12
Full load/functional testing - - 2
Uninterruptable power systems 1 12 12
Full load/functional testing - - 2
Automatic transfer switches 1 12 36
Full load/functional testing - - 24
Metal enclosed busways 2 12 24
Infrared surveys - - 12
Grounding systems 2 12 24
Ground fault protection systems 2 12 12
Direct current systems
Batteries 1 12 24
Battery chargers 1 12 24
Exteriors 1 12 36