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NFPA 70B in plain language: what the standard says and who is in scope
By Ashton Bott, Level III Certified Master Thermographer, President of Infinite Infrared. Updated 2026.
NFPA 70B is now the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. The 2023 edition changed it from a recommended practice to a standard with mandatory "shall" language. Here is what changed, what it says, and how it actually applies to a given facility.
What changed in 2023
For decades NFPA 70B was a recommended practice. The 2023 edition changed it into a standard, the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, and it now uses mandatory "shall" language for electrical maintenance program requirements, including infrared thermography of electrical equipment.
The standard describes inspection of electrical equipment at intervals not exceeding twelve months, with higher risk or higher consequence equipment sometimes warranting shorter intervals, in some cases six months, depending on equipment condition, risk assessment, manufacturer instructions, AHJ or insurer requirements, and the facility's maintenance program.
Who is in scope
The standard describes systems typically found in industrial facilities, commercial and institutional buildings, and large multi-family residential complexes. Consumer and residential appliances are outside its scope.
Manufacturer instructions take precedence where they exist, and inspection intervals relate to the risk to personnel and operations.
How NFPA 70B actually applies to your facility
NFPA 70B uses mandatory language, but that does not mean it is automatically legally enforceable for every facility everywhere in the same way. How it applies can depend on whether your authority having jurisdiction has adopted it, what your insurer or contracts require, manufacturer instructions, your internal safety policy, and your own documented maintenance program.
We tell facility teams the truth here, because your engineers and risk managers will check. The point is not that a single law forces every facility to comply identically. The point is that NFPA 70B is now the recognized standard of care for electrical maintenance, and documented infrared inspection is how most facilities meet it.
This page is educational and should not be treated as legal, engineering, or code enforcement advice. Facility teams should verify requirements with their AHJ, insurer, a qualified electrical professional, or internal safety leadership.
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