Electrical workers, supervisors, and managers are instinctively aware that getting to the root cause of electrical incidents involving the safety of their people and/or the integrity of their equipment requires insightful questions. Failure to find the foundational root cause is a tragedy that compounds the incident itself. Unfortunately, if the first question asks, “Why did it happen?” the answer often …
The Key to Understanding NFPA 70E
The 2021 edition of the NFPA 70E is almost upon us. In June 2020, it should be approved at the technical meeting during the NFPA Conference and Expo, and the Standards Council will issue the standard soon thereafter, likely in August 2020. A pdf version of the standard will likely be released in September, with a printed copy available in …
ANSI/NETA Standards Update
ANSI/NETA ATS–2017 Revision Underway ANSI/NETA ATS–2017, Standard for Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment & Systems continues an American National Standard revision process that is scheduled to be completed in fall 2020. A project intent notification published in ANSI’s Standards Action on January 3, 2020, announced the opening of a 45-day public comment period. The initial ballot was issued …
NFPA 70B Committee Report
The NFPA 70B committee continues to update the existing guide to a standard. They meet every other Friday for a two-hour conference call to make progress on various chapters. The chapter numbers have changed to improve the flow of the document and make it easier to follow. The progress has been a bit slow, and now that issue has been …
Testing and Commissioning Digital Protective Relays
The proven advantages of digital technology for power system protective relays are now commonplace in the power producing and delivery industry. Digital relays provide unsurpassed reliability and extended capabilities at an economical cost. However, keeping pace with the testing and commissioning requirements of these devices has proven to be a challenge for both protective relay engineers and technicians. Although testing …
Intellirent: Logistics, Training, Support
NETA Corporate Alliance Partners (CAPs) are a group of industry-leading companies that have joined forces with NETA to work together toward a common aim: improving quality, safety, and electrical system reliability. In our CAP Spotlight series, we look at what makes CAPs special and highlight some of their individual successes. In this issue, NETA World interviews Drew Welton, intellirent’s Vice …
Best Practices for Safe Return to Service Following Maintenance Outage
Returning electrical equipment to service after a planned maintenance outage creates a unique set of hazards. Facility managers are under stringent time constraints when taking a system out of service, performing necessary maintenance tasks (as well as making unanticipated repairs), and returning the system to service. Common, real-world factors may place workers at great risk as the system is returned …
Fight COVID-19 with PPE
It was great seeing everyone at PowerTest 2020 in Chicago! On behalf of the NETA Board of Directors, we thank our sponsors, Corporate Alliance Partners, and trade show vendors, and applaud the hard work and dedication of the NETA Staff who help make PowerTest successful. In this NETA World, we look at NFPA 70E‐2018 requirements for labeling electrical equipment for …
Using NFPA 70E to Determine Shock and Arc Flash Boundaries
The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E is still active, even though many people are looking forward to a new edition in 2021. The 2021 edition will be released to the public in late September or early October, first in pdf form, then as a printed document. Until that release, the current edition must be referenced. Shock Boundaries Shock remains the …
ANSI/NETA Standards Update
ANSI/NETA ECS–2020 Revision Completed ANSI/NETA ECS, Standard for Electrical Commissioning of Electrical Power Equipment & Systems, 2020 Edition, completed the American National Standard revision process. ANSI administrative approval was received on September 9, 2019. ANSI/NETA ECS–2020 supersedes the 2015 Edition. A project intent notification published in ANSI’s Standards Action on May 18, 2018, announced the intent to revise the standard. …










