SMB Electrical Inspection Checklist

1. General walk-down (all areas)

• Electrical rooms clean, unlocked only to authorized personnel, 36" working clearance maintained (NEC 110.26).
• Labels and arc-flash warnings legible; NFPA 70E PPE category posted.
• No unusual smells (ozone, insulation), sounds (hum, buzz, arcing), or thermal signatures.
• No temporary wiring or extension cords used in place of permanent circuits.
• Emergency lighting and exit signs operating; battery tests up to date.
• Fire extinguishers present, inspected, appropriate class for electrical fires.
• Housekeeping: no storage within 3 ft of electrical equipment.

2. Switchgear / Switchboards (baseline 12 mo)

• Infrared thermography on bus joints, lugs, and breakers under load.
• No evidence of corrosion, moisture ingress, rodent activity, or tracking.
• Indicator lights, metering, and protective-relay targets functional.
• Ground-fault protection tested per NFPA 70B §11.12 where equipped.
• Insulation resistance tested on feeder cables per manufacturer or IEEE 43.
• Operating mechanisms exercised; trip settings verified and documented.

3. Liquid-filled transformers (baseline 24 mo)

• Oil level in sight glass normal; temperature gauge within rating.
• No leaks at gaskets, bushings, or radiators; pressure/vacuum gauge normal.
• Bushings free of cracks, tracking, or contamination.
• Annual DGA (dissolved-gas analysis) sample collected where critical.
• Surge arresters, grounding connections, and neutral bonds inspected.

4. Dry-type transformers (baseline 12 mo)

• Ventilation unobstructed; ambient temperature within rating.
• Windings free of dust and debris; cleaned with low-pressure dry air if required.
• No discoloration, hot spots, or unusual odor.
• Taps verified in correct position; no evidence of overheating at terminals.

5. Motor Control Centers (baseline 12 mo)

• Buckets secure; no evidence of arcing, pitting, or contact erosion.
• Overload heaters/thermal elements sized correctly for connected motors.
• VFD drive air filters cleaned; cooling fans operating.
• Door interlocks functional; selector switches operating smoothly.
• Thermography on line/load terminals under normal operating load.

6. Panelboards & Branch Circuits (baseline 24 mo)

• Circuit directory accurate and legible.
• No double-tapped breakers, incorrect breaker types, or missing knockouts.
• Neutral and ground bars properly bonded per NEC 250.
• GFCI / AFCI circuits tested with test button and external tester.
• Thermography on bus bar and lugs; torque check where manufacturer specifies.

8. Uninterruptible Power Supplies (baseline 12 mo)

• Battery runtime test performed; string voltages and impedance recorded.
• Cooling fans and filters clean; ambient temperature within rating.
• Bypass, maintenance-bypass, and static-switch operation verified.
• Event log reviewed for alarms since last inspection.

9. Motors > 50 HP (baseline 12 mo)

• Vibration signature captured and trended.
• Insulation resistance / polarization index at temperature.
• Bearing temperature and lubrication per manufacturer schedule.
• Alignment and coupling wear checked.
• Cooling air path clear; stator surface temperature within rating.

10. Chapter 9 Equipment Condition Assessment scoring

For each asset, score Physical Condition, Criticality, and Operating Environment 1–5. Composite score = the lowest of the three.