Meet NFPA 70B Mandates with Exertherm's Continuous Thermal Monitoring (CTM) Technology

How Exertherm's thermal sensors meet NFPA 70B compliance

Exertherm's thermal sensors provide an advanced alternative to infrared thermography survey that provides real-time temperature monitoring of mission critical electrical assets. Unlike traditional periodic thermographic inspections, CTM offers permanently mounted thermal sensors that meet the requirement of NFPA 70B with 24x7 surveillance on the health of electrical assets, enabling early detection of potential electrical faults before they occur.

Exertherm's CTM technology complies with the operational and safety standard set by NFPA 70B and goes beyond by providing a proactive approach to compliance maintenance through the following features:

1. Advanced temperature differential monitoring

Exertherm's continuous thermal monitoring solutions track and monitor crucial temperature differences (ΔT) between:

• Comparable electrical components under similar load conditions
• Electrical component temperatures relative to ambient temperature

This ongoing differential analysis meets with NFPA 70B guidelines that emphasize temperature variances as key indicators of potential issues. By measuring these differences continuously rather than through periodic checks, engineers gain deeper insights into their electrical systems thermal patterns.

2. Unrestricted visual monitoring

Traditional infrared inspection methods often face challenges with component accessibility. Exertherm CTM technology eliminates these barriers by:

• Positioning thermal sensors in hard to reach parts of critical components
• Removing the need to disassemble panels for routine inspections
• Maintaining constant monitoring regardless of physical access constraints

This uninterrupted visibility ensures that thermal anomalies are detected promptly, fully satisfying the accessibility requirements outlined in NFPA 70B.

3. Robust documentation and analytical capabilities

NFPA 70B places significant emphasis on thorough documentation practices. CTM solutions deliver exceptional value in this area by:

• Maintaining continuous temperature differential records between monitored joints
• Triggering automatic notifications when temperatures exceed safe thresholds to alert personnel
• Building comprehensive historical datasets for trend analysis
• Supporting the shift from scheduled to condition-based maintenance approaches

This extensive documentation empowers engineers to make informed decisions about maintenance priorities based on actual performance data.

4. Load conditions and temperature assessment accuracy

Accurate thermal assessment requires proper loading conditions, as specified in NFPA 70B. CTM technology addresses this by:

• Monitoring equipment continuously during normal operations
• Accounting for natural load fluctuations throughout operational cycles
• Maintaining effective monitoring even at reduced loads (typically 40% of designed load)
• Contextualizing thermal data with corresponding load information

This intelligent correlation between temperature and loading provides a more meaningful analysis of equipment health and performance.

5. Comprehensive historical analysis

NFPA 70B recommends maintaining historical records for comparative analysis. CTM solutions comply with the standard by:

• Preserving detailed data on circuit loading characteristics over time
• Enabling comparison between current conditions and established baselines
• Identifying subtle degradation patterns that periodic inspections might miss
• Supporting thorough root cause analysis through advanced data visualization

 Implementation considerations for engineers

When evaluating CTM solutions for NFPA 70B compliance, engineers should consider:

• Sensor placement strategies for critical connection points
• Integration capabilities with existing Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Alert thresholds based on equipment specifications and criticality
• Scalability to accommodate future expansion
• Data storage and analysis capabilities
• Remote monitoring and reporting options

For organziations committed to maintaining safe, reliable systems, Continuous Thermal Monitoring represents a technological advancement that not only meets but exceeds NFPA 70B standards for electrical equipment maintenance. By implementing CTM technology, engineers gain a proactive approach to system health that transforms maintenance from reactive to predictive.

Exertherm’s Continuous Thermal Monitoring (CTM) technology is comprehensive in its reach and functionality, ensuring compliance with maintenance regulatory standards across multiple power distribution sectors and industries. CTM provides several benefits and intelligent monitoring measures that organizations can leverage to enhance safety, improve operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with both electrical safety standards and operational excellence.