The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently issued five revised guides to help in assessing electrical equipment that was damaged by natural disasters or extreme weather events. Aimed at facility owners, inspectors, contractors and other stakeholders, the guides offer structured evaluation criteria to determine whether affected and essential electrical equipment can be safely returned to service. The goals are to reduce risk, minimize replacement costs and enable faster recovery after emergencies. 

“Electrical contractors are on the front lines of the effort to get power to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure restored in the wake of natural disasters and severe weather events,” said Patrick Hughes, senior vice president of strategy, technical and industry affairs for NEMA. “In these situations, speed is always the priority. But responding without a solid technical foundation can be a liability.”

Faster power restoration is critical in determining when families can return home, when businesses can reopen and when essential services come back online. But it must also be safe. These guides are aligned with the National Electrical Code, so they follow the current requirements and use the same language for inspectors, contractors and all authorities. 

            The guides include:

• NEMA Technical Position on Reconditioned Equipment (NEMA CS 70011-2026)
• Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment (NEMA CS 70006-2026) 
• Evaluating Fire- and Heat-Damaged Electrical Equipment (NEMA CS 70008-2026)
• Evaluating Earthquake Damaged Electrical Equipment Guide (NEMA CS 70007-2019)
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance for Electrical Equipment (NEMA CS 70009-2025)

“NEMA’s guides give contractors what they need to answer the call of disaster recovery with confidence, providing them with a consistent and documented framework for field evaluation, repair or replacement,” Hughes said. “These documents help contractors ask the right questions and deliver safe, reliable installations for their customers.”

Clear, consistent criteria for evaluating electrical equipment provides the basis for identifying what can safely return to service versus what needs to be replaced, and for determining when to consult the manufacturer.

In addition to aiding disaster recovery by restoring power safely and quickly, the guides may also restore public confidence in the safety and resilience of electrified systems.