The maintenance cycle in this six-phase program is when the electrical contractor and the facility owner seriously get down to business. As its name suggests, this part of the program is cyclical. In the best examples, it will develop a rhythm that continues year after year, closely integrating with the pulse of the core activities of the facility’s operations. 

As it becomes better each year at meeting the challenges of dovetailing with the facility’s operations, its true measure will be in its achievements in reducing risk, supporting NFPA 70E safe work practices, enhancing system reliability and providing the facility owners with a thorough understanding of the essential health of their electrical infrastructure.

ELECTRI International’s “Electrical Service and Maintenance Guide to NFPA 70 B&E” identifies six broad categories of NFPA 70B related activities.

1. Execute required testing, cleaning and inspection tasks. The maintenance cycle begins with completing the NFPA 70B–aligned tasks for each piece of equipment. These tasks may range from simple visual inspections to more advanced testing, depending on the equipment type, age, environment and manufacturer recommendations. Electricians should be trained on how to perform these tasks consistently and safely, ensuring they understand which tools to use, how to follow documented procedures and how to identify conditions that require further attention.

Completing tasks consistently is essential to building a clear picture of the equipment’s condition over time. Work should follow the intervals and methods defined during planning so the program remains predictable and repeatable.

2. Validate equipment condition and operational performance. After performing the required tasks, electricians will evaluate the equipment’s condition to determine whether it is operating safely. This includes looking for signs such as overheating, loose or deteriorated connections, environmental contamination, moisture intrusion or wear that indicates the equipment may not be performing as expected.

Validation is about identifying failures and confirming previous issues have been resolved, monitoring ongoing conditions and establishing trends that will guide future recommendations. This step ties the maintenance activity to meaningful operational understanding for the customer.

3. Document findings using standardized methods. Clear documentation is one of the most important deliverables in the maintenance cycle. Electricians must record what work was performed, any issues identified, readings or measurements collected and environmental or operational observations. Photos and supporting notes should be standardized to prevent ambiguity.

Standardized documentation benefits  the customer and your internal teams. For the customer, it establishes a formal record of system condition and supports compliance. For your team, it builds historical context that improves future troubleshooting, planning and scheduling. Documentation must be accurate, structured and easy to interpret.

4. Update asset records, one-lines and labeling. Data covering changes observed or performed during the maintenance cycle should be preserved accurately in the customer’s records. This may include, for example, updates to asset inventories and panel directories. One-line diagrams and equipment labeling are especially critical. 

5. Identify deficiencies and safety hazards. As electricians evaluate equipment, they may uncover issues that require follow-up work or corrective action. These deficiencies should be categorized based on severity, urgency and potential effects. Some issues require immediate attention, such as significant overheating, damaged insulation or compromised switching devices. Others may be moderate or long-term concerns that can be tracked and addressed through future cycles.

Clear categorization helps the customer make informed decisions and supports your internal process for creating follow-up scopes. This step ensures the maintenance program functions as a proactive risk ­management tool rather than a reactive checklist.

6. Communicate findings and next steps. The final step is presenting findings in a way the customer can understand and act on. This includes summarizing work completed, outlining key observations, highlighting any hazards or deficiencies and clearly recommending next steps.

Effective communication ensures maintenance outcomes are transparent and that customers feel informed rather than overwhelmed. This conversation sets the stage for follow-up work, long-term planning and future renewal discussions. The better your communication, the stronger your customer relationship becomes.

Next month’s article will explore the “agreement closeout,” the sixth and final step in developing NFPA 70B business.

ELECTRI International’s research is available to every member of the electrical construction industry throughout the United States and internationally. To obtain copies of this research or other studies go to www.electri.org/research-overview/research.

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