When it comes to your Electrical Preventive Maintenance (EPM) program, the electricians you hire will handle most of the process -- including your inspection, maintenance, code updates, and repairs. As a business owner or facility manager, the actual electrical labor is the most technical but easiest part of the process to manage.
That said, there are a number of things you can do both before and after your annual EPM inspection to make sure you’re getting the most out of your program -- especially if it’s your first time.
Below are some tips to help you prepare for and wrap up your yearly inspection.
Come Prepared with Questions, Concerns, and Paperwork
Your Lemberg electricians working on your facility are ready and willing to share advice when you need it, so now’s the time to be prepared with a list of questions and concerns you may have about your electrical setup. Make a list that includes questions about:
- Any machine failures since your last inspection (even if it was just a one-time thing).
- The equipment you may be concerned about failing in the future.
- Any equipment you’re considering replacing in the future.
- Facility performance optimization.
- Safety code updates (your annual EPM inspection is a great way to make sure all of your systems are up to code).
This is also the perfect time to make sure all your records are in order, including records of any repairs, maintenance, or replaced parts within the last year. Make sure to also have warranties, instructions, permits, and any other necessary paperwork for your equipment ready for review.
It’s also a great opportunity to review your own EPM checklist to ensure your Lemberg electrician is inspecting all elements and equipment that require professional evaluation. This may include items like:
- Inspecting and testing all transformers at your facility
- Inspecting and testing arc fault circuit breakers (AFCI)
- Inspecting and testing ground fault circuit breakers (GFCI)
- Inspecting and testing voltage regulators
- Inspecting all electrical panels
- Verifying that all on-site metering works correctly
- Inspecting and cleaning motor controls
- Inspecting and testing switchgear
- Inspecting the distribution system for mechanical and electrical integrity
- Inspecting all on-site grounding and overcurrent protection devices
By creating your own thorough checklist, you can feel confident no electrical elements are overlooked during your EPM inspection. For your convenience, we have a checklist you can download and use.
Walk Through, Tidy Up and Prepare for Inspection
While your annual EPM inspection isn’t something you have to worry about passing or failing, it’s still good to walk through your facility and tidy up the electrical equipment and the surrounding areas before your Lemberg technician arrives.
Cleaning and moving equipment that doesn’t belong will help your technician access the parts they need to without delay. Keeping these areas clean and clear of clutter is also good practice in general, especially in your electrical room. Dust contamination is one of the most common disruptors of electrical currents.
Bear in mind, though, that certain cleaning tools are made of electrically conductive material (steel wool, metalized cloth, silicon carbide) and even some liquid solutions are conductive. To comply with OSHA and NFPA 70E standards, maintenance can only be performed on de-energized equipment.
Maintenance performed for each piece of equipment must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Be sure to consult the owner’s manual for your machinery to determine the recommended cleaning solutions and methods.
Have the Facility Ready for a Power Outage If Needed
It’s ideal to perform an EPM inspection while all equipment and machinery is up and running. In fact, the best time to schedule an EPM inspection in Wisconsin is in the summer, when all the HVAC and air conditioning systems are in full operation. Although, it’s still best practice to prepare for a potential power outage, which may arise if your electrician identifies the need for immediate and critical repairs. For example, faulty machinery that could result in an explosion.
Here are a couple of steps that can help you prepare for a power outage:
- Understand which electrical systems may be affected if immediate maintenance or repairs are required. If critical repairs are identified, we'll coordinate a convenient time to safely shut down and lock out the supply equipment. These repairs are typically completed under a separate work order and are not performed on the day of the inspection.
- Notify employees and have a work plan in place so they can make the most of the downtime.
- If your customer service will be impacted, notify your customers and consider making a post on social media.
- Alarm and phone systems may be impacted, so it’s prudent to notify your alarm and phone company.
- Address any potential work-conflicts, such as janitorial services (who may be in the way of the technicians) or deliveries that need to happen with the power on.
- Prepare for the possibility that electric systems such as cooling and heating, IT Equipment, refrigeration and freezers may be powered down for a long time.
Your Lemberg electrician will provide an audit of what machinery will be inspected prior to the inspection dates. This will help give you better insight into what machinery and departments may be impacted by a shutdown.
At Lemberg, our team will work closely with your facility to outline the scope of work and provide a detailed quote. This ensures all stakeholders understand what to expect and allows us to plan accordingly. Learn more about our Electrical Preventive Maintenance services.
What Happens During Your Annual EPM Inspection?
The EPM Inspection and Walk Through
Depending on your facility size and needs, your annual EPM inspection can take anywhere from one day to multiple weeks to complete. Your Lemberg electrician will work their way through the facility and perform the EPM inspection using technologies like infrared (IR) testing, which allows them to scan electrical panels, switchgear, and key components under load to detect overheating, loose connections, or other potential hazards.
If critical issues are found at any point during the EPM inspection, managers will be immediately notified. Any emergency repairs should be conducted as soon as possible to prevent further damage or potential failure or explosion. If this happens, a shutdown will be needed, which your electrician will coordinate with your team to minimize downtime.
Your electrician will take pictures and document the entire process. This helps you keep a clear and detailed record of all needed repairs and maintenance tasks, placing them in priority order. These records will be key to determining what should be repaired immediately and forecasting what may need to be repaired in the near future.
***Your EPM inspection is a great time to see first-hand which elements of your electrical setup are working and what changes need to be made. Here, you can ask our team questions you may have for the upcoming year.
Ensure OSHA and National Electrical Code (NEC) Compliance
Electrical safety is a big part of OSHA and National Electrical Code (NEC) compliance. Your annual EPM inspection is a great time to check in on your safety standards (it should be part of your checklist), and refresh your staff about safety protocol. Your Lemberg electrician will take the time to look for any code violations and offer help and guidance on how you can correct the issues as soon as possible.
One of the most violated OSHA standards in 2020 is the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). Other common OSHA violations are improper wiring methods and problems with general electrical equipment. This may be an opportunity to have proper lockout/tag out capability installed on a piece of equipment that does not allow you to comply with the regulation.
After Your Annual EPM Inspection
Update Your Electrical Maintenance Records
Maintaining a detailed record of all inspections and preventive maintenance is essential for preventing unnecessary equipment failure costs. In fact, some consider it just as important as the EPM inspection itself.
Depending on the type of report requested and quoted, your electrical contractor will provide a detailed summary following the EPM inspection. This report includes comprehensive documentation of all scanned components, along with an incident report that highlights any critical issues for quick and easy review.
For larger facilities, reports may contain hundreds of images, so we include hyperlinks to high-priority concerns, making it easy for facility managers to review and address urgent issues.
It’s essential you review all documentation and update your files on any equipment that has had maintenance performed or parts replaced, as well as any notes the technician may have documented.
Click here to learn more about how an Electrical Preventive Maintenance Plan can improve your operations.
Lemberg Is Your Trusted Electrical Preventive Maintenance Partner
At Lemberg, we’re ready to put our decades of experience to work for you, keeping your facility safe from year to year so you can focus on what you do best without worry about the condition of your electrical systems. We firmly believe that scheduled maintenance like your annual EPM is the best way to avoid expensive, dangerous issues, and we’re here for you.
As a full-service contractor, we’ll fully inspect and evaluate all of your electrical equipment so you’re prepared for the year ahead. We’re quality-focused and we never skip steps which means you can trust our electrical preventative maintenance services to keep you up and running. Want to learn more about what we can do for you? Contact us today!
