There’s an inherent risk working around electricity. This truth dates back to Benjamin Franklin, who felt electric shocks during the famous experiment with a key on a kite string. It inspired him to invent the lightning rod, which protects structures from lightning strikes.

Today, the mantle of improving electric safety falls under the purview of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)—the NFPA, which traces its roots back to the 1890s. While there were existing electrical codes before the NFPA, they were a fragmented collection from five different sources.

In 1897, an organization published the first National Electrical Code. “And in 1911, the work to periodically revise and publish new editions of this document was transferred to NFPA.” Today, the NFPA updates the code every three to five years.

The next update to NFPA 70B, the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, is expected in 2026. While we eagerly await to learn of the upcoming changes, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be as seismic as the 2023 NFPA 70B updates were.

From Suggest to Must

In 2019, NFPA 70B included recommendations for maintaining electrical systems. In 2023, the association shifted from recommending standards related to implementing and running an Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) to making it compulsory.

Here are some of the changes made:

• Maintenance intervals – maintenance scopes and intervals are now based on more specific Equipment Condition Assessments (ECAs).
• Three factors are considered: physical condition, criticality, and environment. The worst-rated factor sets the maintenance frequency. 70B outlines these intervals used when manufacturer guidance is absent (they do not take the place of manufacturer guidelines). 
• Unserviceable or nonconforming equipment requires immediate action. 
• Decal system – Organizations must install a decal on equipment after servicing it to provide electrical workers with a clear visual indication of its maintenance condition. 
• Clearly defined Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) = The requirements associated with an EMP are clearly defined. The requirements include nine elements. 
• Field testing methods – The update provides clear prescriptive guidance related to field testing for preventive maintenance. It defines four test categories based on equipment status and diagnostic needs. These are minimum requirements that manufacturer guidelines supersede. 
• Study intervals - System studies are mandatory with intervals of no more than five years. These include short-circuit studies, coordination studies, and incident energy analyses. Any changes to the electrical system, including utility upgrades, require updated single-line diagrams and revised studies to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

Focus on Maintenance, Performance, and Safety

What drove the changes to NFPA 70B?

The organization notes that “…key term within the defined purpose of NFPA 70B is condition of maintenance.” They tie it back to “… the reliability of electrical equipment and business processes critical to production, as well as overall safety of the electrical systems and those individuals tasked with working on them.”

Others add it’s meant to clear up a misnomer, “The need for these updates stems from a widespread misconception that correctly installed electrical equipment is inherently safe. In reality, even well-installed systems can become hazardous if not properly maintained.”

To summarize, NFPA 70B establishes a standard for electrical maintenance in equipment and building operations. Previously, each organization could determine its approach to maintaining electrical systems.

While the benefits of moving from a slapdash to a standardized approach are clear, why was 2023 the year to make the change?

“… power systems have become increasingly complex,” argues Plant Engineering magazine. They continue, “More industrial organizations are installing microgrids, backup generation and multiple power sources, coupled with digital systems to control this equipment. Each new addition to the power system represents another potential point of failure.”

They add that changes in the electrical contractor industry also could have impacted the change. “… maintenance staff are retiring en masse. New hires do not always possess the requisite experience or skill level to replace departing knowledge. The result is that where facilities once had many specialized maintenance engineers, they may now have only one person responsible for everything from the loading dock to the microgrid.”

Next Round

One might think that the 2026 NFPA 70B updates would be minor, given the dramatic changes introduced in 2023. However, we may be in for continued dramatic changes.

The NFPA reported that individuals submitted 3,933 public inputs (PIs), which is slightly below the 4,006 submitted for the 2023 version. Although PIs are the first step in the process, the vast volume suggests that more change is forthcoming.

The ultimate goal of the NFPA is to keep up with electrical applications. They add, “With every new edition of the NEC, there are technical changes brought about by new technologies and processes, as well as continued concern for the betterment of overall electrical safety. Changes are also considered to improve the code’s usability.”

The only certainty about the next edition of NFPA 70 (NEC) is that it will have changes from the previous edition.

At Miller Electric, our team of qualified electricians and full-time engineers is well-versed in the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). As a full-service solutions provider, we’re here to support the entire lifecycle of your electrical infrastructure. We understand the importance of maintenance and are prepared to develop a customized maintenance strategy tailored to your business needs.

Contact us today to learn more.