The transition of NFPA 70B into a mandatory standard has significantly changed how industrial facilities, utilities, and commercial infrastructures manage electrical maintenance. Electrical Preventive Maintenance (EPM) is no longer optional—it is now a structured, auditable requirement affecting operational reliability, insurance assessments, and safety compliance.
As global industries look for practical ways to meet NFPA 70B requirements, a clear trend is emerging:
Thermal imaging, remote diagnostics, and AI-assisted video monitoring are becoming essential tools in modern EPM programs.
At Sunell Technology, we specialize in thermal sensing, dual-spectrum cameras, and AI-driven operational analytics, providing solutions that naturally align with the needs defined in NFPA 70B.
NFPA 70B at a Glance
NFPA 70B establishes the framework for an effective Electrical Preventive Maintenance Program, requiring:
• A complete electrical asset inventory
• Criticality classification of equipment
• Periodic inspection and testing
• Infrared thermography for key assets
• Documentation, reporting, and continuous improvement
• Safety compliance under NFPA 70E
Infrared imaging and condition-based monitoring (CBM) are emphasized as mandatory practices for critical electrical equipment such as switchboards, MCCs, transformers, UPS systems, and power distribution panels.
Where Traditional EPM Falls Short
Many facilities still rely on:
• Annual infrared scans using handheld cameras
• Manual recording of hotspots
• Infrequent inspections
• Lack of centralized data
• Slow response to abnormalities
This results in missed early-stage failures, inconsistent documentation, and difficulty demonstrating compliance during audits.
NFPA 70B encourages facilities to shift toward continuous or semi-continuous condition monitoring, which is where Sunell’s technology ecosystem fits seamlessly.
How Sunell Technologies Support NFPA 70B Compliance
1. Continuous Thermal Monitoring of Electrical Assets
NFPA 70B requires infrared inspections—Sunell enhances this by enabling always-on monitoring.
Our fixed thermal and dual-spectrum cameras provide:
• Real-time temperature measurement
• Configurable alarms for abnormal heating
• Detection of loose connections, overloads, insulation degradation
• Automated reporting for compliance audits
Compared with annual handheld inspections, continuous monitoring offers earlier detection of failures, reducing downtime and fire risk.
2. AI-Enhanced Fault Detection
Sunell’s thermal analytics are optimized for industrial reliability:
• Trend-based temperature deviation detection
• AI classification of hotspot severity (aligned with NFPA 70B criticality levels)
• Environmental compensation algorithms to reduce false alarms
• Automatic generation of temperature curves, essential for EPM documentation
These capabilities support NFPA 70B’s requirement for condition-based maintenance (CBM).
3. Dual-Spectrum Fusion for Complex Electrical Rooms
Electrical rooms often have variable lighting, enclosed spaces, or airborne particles (dust/oil).
Sunell’s dual-spectrum thermal + visible cameras provide:
• Reliable detection in low-light or degraded visibility
• Confirmation video for maintenance verification
• Integrated alarm logic combining thermal anomalies and visual context
This assists maintenance teams in assessing risk levels and determining the urgency of intervention.
4. Centralized Reporting for NFPA 70B Documentation
NFPA 70B places strong emphasis on record keeping and traceability.
Sunell’s software platform provides:
• Automated logs of temperature alerts
• Exportable reports for insurers and auditors
• Device-level maintenance history
• Integration with SCADA/EMS/CMMS systems (Modbus/TCP, ONVIF, MQTT)
• Long-term trend storage for root-cause analysis
By automating these reports, facilities can meet the documentation requirements without additional labor.
5. Remote Monitoring for Multi-Site Operations
For customers operating several plants or distributed assets (utilities, manufacturing, data centers), Sunell enables:
• Centralized remote thermal monitoring
• Unified alarm management
• Multi-site dashboards
• Secure cloud or on-prem deployment
This greatly reduces the need for frequent physical inspections while maintaining compliance across all sites.
Use Cases Aligned with NFPA 70B
Power Plants & Substations
• 24/7 monitoring of switchgear, busbars, transformers
• Early detection of partial faults and thermal runaway
Manufacturing Facilities
• Monitoring MCC rooms, UPS/battery banks, ovens, motors
• Supporting predictive maintenance programs
Data Centers
• Tracking anomalies in PDUs, breakers, and cooling systems
Oil & Gas / Petrochemical
• Hazardous-area monitoring with thermal-only detection
Logistics & Warehousing
• Electrical panel monitoring to reduce downtime risk
Why Industrial Integrators and OEM/ODM Partners Choose Sunell
Partners value:
• A robust thermal product line suitable for industrial and utility clients
• Customizable firmware and analytics (ideal for ODM/OEM)
• Global certifications and integration experience
• Proven deployments in energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors
• Long lifecycle industrial-grade hardware
For system integrators, Sunell offers a technology platform that boosts service revenue, enabling them to deliver NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance solutions.
For OEM/ODM partners, Sunell provides flexible hardware platforms that can integrate their proprietary applications and comply with local regulatory standards.
Conclusion
As NFPA 70B reshapes electrical maintenance standards worldwide, facilities are seeking technologies that deliver continuous monitoring, actionable intelligence, and reliable documentation.
Sunell’s thermal imaging, dual-spectrum fusion, and AI-driven analytics offer a natural, non-intrusive pathway toward compliance—enhancing safety while reducing operational risk.
Whether you are a system integrator, an industrial operator, or an OEM/ODM partner, Sunell provides the tools needed to meet the evolving standards of electrical reliability.