Did You Know? NFPA 70B: Industrial Safety and Code Compliance

The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 70B standard emphasizes electrical equipment maintenance as a critical component of industrial safety. It highlights the importance of a proactive maintenance program to prevent electrical failures, which can lead to dangerous conditions, unplanned downtime, and costly repairs.

The current NFPA 70B Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance is the 2023 release. Prior versions served as recommended practices and guidelines for maintenance, but the current publication transitioned to a standard for preventative maintenance programs.

How Does H2scan’s GRIDSCAN® Technology Support Your NFPA 70B Compliance?

H2scan’s GRIDSCAN® technology provides continuous, real-time hydrogen monitoring for liquid-filled transformers, offering an advanced solution for early fault detection. Unlike traditional maintenance methods that rely on periodic oil sampling, GRIDSCAN delivers instant, 24/7 monitoring, allowing operators to detect and address issues before they escalate.

• Proactive Maintenance with Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)
  ANSI and NETA standards recommend regular Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) for liquid-filled transformers as a key strategy in proactive maintenance. DGA identifies gases that are generated during abnormal transformer conditions like overheating, arcing, or insulation breakdown. Among these gases, hydrogen serves as the most critical early indicator of transformer health, making it essential for monitoring.Elevated hydrogen levels often signal the beginning of electrical faults, making it the key gas for early detection of issues that can progress into severe failures and unplanned power outages.
• Real-Time, Continuous Monitoring for Enhanced Safety
  Did you know that traditional maintenance standards rely on periodic sampling and analysis of insulting fluids testing, which can leave transformers vulnerable between tests? With H2scan’s GRIDSCAN technology, continuous, real-time hydrogen monitoring is possible. This approach not only aligns with NFPA 70B’s focus on preventive maintenance but also significantly enhances transformer reliability and operational safety.By providing immediate insights when hydrogen levels rise, GRIDSCAN enables faster, more targeted interventions.
• The Importance of Real-Time Hydrogen Monitoring
  Real-time hydrogen monitoring with H2scan’s GRIDSCAN technology improves transformer reliability, safety and long-term performance – helping industrial facilities meet and exceed the standards set by NFPA 70B.Although continuous monitoring isn’t currently mandated by ANSI or NETA (periodic monitoring is), both organizations recognize its growing importance in asset management. Online monitoring does however satisfy the periodic maintenance requirement. H2scan’s cloud-based software also addresses the record-keeping requirements defined in NFPA 70B (in addition to displaying and alerting you to deviations from normal).

Hydrogen is the first fault gas, or Key Gas, generated for all internal faults

Enhance Your Safety and Compliance Strategy

H2scan’s GRIDSCAN technology supports compliance with NFPA 70B by providing continuous, real-time hydrogen monitoring for liquid-filled transformers. NFPA 70B emphasizes proactive electrical maintenance to prevent failures and ensure workplace safety. Traditional maintenance methods rely on periodic oil sampling, which can leave transformers vulnerable between tests. GRIDSCAN enhances compliance by offering immediate detection of hydrogen—the earliest indicator of transformer faults such as overheating, arcing, or insulation breakdown. By integrating real-time monitoring, automated alerts and cloud-based data logging, GRIDSCAN helps facilities meet NFPA 70B’s record-keeping requirements while improving asset reliability and operational safety.

Incorporating real-time hydrogen detection into your maintenance strategy not only helps you stay compliant with NFPA 70B but also transforms how you manage electrical assets. With H2scan’s GRIDSCAN technology, you gain the tools necessary to enhance safety, prevent failures and optimize operational efficiency.

Ready to learn more about GRIDSCAN technology? Contact us to talk to one of our application engineers.

Traci Hopkins started her journey in electric power reliability in June 2012 as an adjunct instructor in various Training & Education departments for transformer technologies. Shortly after, she transitioned into the role of Diagnostic Analytic Coordinator for the international market while continuing to support training & education through international events. In 2022, she joined H2scan as the Sales Manager, Latin America responsible for promoting hydrogen sensing across multiple industries. Traci has received the CRL, MTMP, MTRP and DPS Training certifications. Traci is also a Senior member of IEEE PES, the Association of Asset Management Professionals and WIRAM (Women in Reliability and Asset Management) organizations.