NETA has taken a leadership position in support of the NFPA 70B–2023 maintenance requirements by establishing its new Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company (QEMC) and Worker (QEMW) Program.
This new qualification program is in response to the recently ANSI-approved NFPA 70B®, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance®, which makes proper electrical equipment maintenance mandatory and enforceable.
The new program is intended to meet the anticipated demand for vetted, qualified electrical equipment maintenance companies and workers. The vetting process includes a company review and the testing of the company’s electrical maintenance workers.
NETA will award all vetted, qualified companies with the Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company (QEMC) designation.
NETA will award vetted, company-employed electrical maintenance workers who have passed an exam with the Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Worker (QEMW) designation.
NETA is proud to have welcomed nine new Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Companies (QEMC) since the program was launched in 2024. Within those nine companies, 37 Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Workers (QEMWs) have passed the examination.
Congratulations, NETA QEMCs!
- Blackmon Power
- Fleming Controls & Power Specialties
- Holaday-Parks, Inc
- Industrial High Voltage
- Jesse Stutts, Inc.
- Piquette & Howard Electric
- Recore Electric
- Sabino Electric
- VarcoMac LLC
NETA’s recognition of these Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Companies provides assurance of the organizations’ electrical power system maintenance experience and worker qualifications.
“NETA stands as the foremost authority in the field of electrical power systems maintenance and testing,” explains Chasen Tedder, Hampton Tedder Technical Services, NETA Board of Directors, and Chair of the QEMC and QEMW Committee. “This prestigious position has been earned through the unwavering commitment of its network of NETA Accredited Companies (NACs) that form the backbone of its membership.
“The industry has long relied on its NACs to provide a specialized level of expertise in maintenance and testing of electrical equipment and systems. Now that NFPA 70B is a required standard, facility owners are expected to perform system maintenance more often, typically once a month or more. This means that the testing specifications for some of the shorter maintenance intervals are less specialized. It’s a smart ongoing maintenance plan, then, that utilizes their qualified electrical maintenance workers for the routine light maintenance tasks, and these workers can coordinate with a NAC to bring in a NETA Certified Technician for the testing experience needed for larger maintenance projects.
“To help address the increased need for maintenance services and verified maintenance workers, NETA has implemented the QEMC and QEMW program, which is designed to meet the needs of clients and customers and provide a better value option for routine inspections and limited maintenance services. NACs can still and will continue to provide these services to clients and customers but can now also work in concert with qualified maintenance companies to augment the strained test technician labor force.”
WHY BECOME A QEMC?
Facility owners and operators are aligning their electrical maintenance programs with the NFPA 70Brequirement that maintenance be performed by “qualified electrical workers.” To comply, facility owners will need to provide proof of their maintenance workers’ qualifications, and facility owners hiring electrical contractors will choose service providers based on their ability to verify and be assured of the qualifications of a contractor and its workers.
QEMC REQUIREMENTS
To become a Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Company, an organization must submit a QEMC application and complete a standardized organizational review process, administered by NETA, including:
- Appropriate business license in the state where work is performed
- Review of the company’s maintenance capabilities
- Confirmation of a standards-compliant safety program
- Verification of a routine equipment calibration program
- Confirmation of electrical equipment maintenance experience and quality service business operations
- Examination and confirmation of a minimum number of company-employed electrical equipment maintenance workers
QEMW REQUIREMENTS
A Qualified Electrical Equipment Maintenance Worker (QEMW) applicant must pass an exam, administered by NETA, verifying their knowledge and expertise in performing routine electrical equipment maintenance services.
These routine maintenance services support the advanced, electrical testing services specified in the ANSI/NETA standards and performed by NETA Certified Technicians at NETA-Accredited independent, third-party testing organizations. To be eligible for the QEMW exam, applicants must meet the following prerequisites:
- Completed one year as an Electrical Apprentice
- Completed NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Training
NETA’s QEMW examination process delivers third-party validation of a company’s field and maintenance workers’ qualifications and knowledge. The QEMW exam aligns with NFPA 70B 4.3.3 and is designed around routine maintenance services that support the advanced electrical testing services specified in the ANSI/NETA standards. The QEMW exam, which can be taken anytime throughout the year, is coordinated by NETA using the Pearson VUE online proctored platform or at an approved testing center.
CALL TO ACTION
Jill Howell, NETA Director of Sales and Marketing, shares, “In talking with facility owners and operators, they need to align their electrical maintenance programs with NFPA 70B.To do this, they must prove the qualifications of their maintenance workers. Electrical contractors also see the program as a way to verify the credentials of their technician team. The NETA QEMC and QEMW program was created to provide that third-party verification of NFPA 70B qualifications that organizations are looking for.”
RESOURCES
More information on the QEMC and QEMW program, including a detailed content outline, a benefits brochure, and how to apply can be found at NETAWorld.org/QEMC-QEMW.
Interested in participating in the QEMC and QEMW Program? Email us at qemc@netaworld.org or call the NETA Office at 888-300-6382.