The Electrical Cycle of Safety is the three-part framework of NFPA standards that governs electrical safety and compliance in industrial and manufacturing facilities. It consists of NFPA 70E (the Electrical Safety Standard, covering worker protection, arc flash hazards, and safe work practices), NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code, governing electrical installations), and NFPA 70B (the Electrical Maintenance Standard, covering ongoing equipment maintenance). These three standards work together as a complete system. NFPA 70 governs how electrical systems are built. NFPA 70E governs how workers interact with them safely. NFPA 70B governs how they’re maintained over time. DL and L Energy Consulting covers all three.

Both. OSHA’s electrical safety standards (29 CFR 1910 Subpart S for general industry) require employers to protect workers from electrical hazards, and OSHA references NFPA 70E as the recognized standard for meeting that obligation. Independently, the National Fire Protection Association mandates compliance with the Electrical Cycle of Safety — NFPA 70E, NFPA 70, and NFPA 70B — as the framework for preventing electrical fires, worker injuries, and equipment failures. Facilities that focus only on OSHA and ignore NFPA requirements, or vice versa, are leaving significant compliance gaps.

NFPA 70E is the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. It covers everything from how to assess arc flash hazards to what PPE workers need to wear. OSHA uses it as the benchmark when evaluating whether an employer is meeting its electrical safety obligations. The NFPA independently requires it as the foundation of any electrical safety program. If your facility has qualified electrical workers, compliance is not optional. Facilities that don’t comply face OSHA citations, NFPA violations, and — more importantly — workers who are exposed to hazards they don’t have the training or information to protect themselves from.

An arc flash is a violent release of electrical energy caused by an unintended current path through the air. It happens in milliseconds and releases a burst of intense heat (up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit — roughly four times hotter than the surface of the sun), a pressure wave, molten metal, and ultraviolet radiation. Even at several feet away, an arc flash can cause severe burns and permanent injury. About 400 workers in the US die from electrical incidents every year, and thousands more suffer life-altering injuries. Most of those incidents are preventable with proper training, hazard assessment, and appropriate PPE.

Both. OSHA requires employers to train workers on the electrical hazards they may encounter. NFPA 70E defines what that training must cover, including arc flash hazard awareness, PPE selection, safe work practices, and approach boundary requirements. The NFPA mandates this training as part of a complete Electrical Safety Program under the Electrical Cycle of Safety. Employers who can’t document that their electrical workers have received proper NFPA 70E training are exposed to citations from both bodies.

The standard practice is to review and update an arc flash assessment at least every five years. Any time a facility makes a significant change to its electrical distribution system — new equipment, a utility service change, a major renovation — the assessment for the affected areas should be updated right away. An outdated assessment can give workers inaccurate hazard information, which defeats the purpose of having one.

NFPA 70B is the Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. It covers the ongoing maintenance of electrical systems and equipment and is part of the Electrical Cycle of Safety mandated by the NFPA. OSHA’s General Duty Clause also requires employers to maintain electrical equipment in safe operating condition, meaning facilities that experience preventable equipment failures due to deferred maintenance face OSHA exposure even without a specific NFPA 70B code adoption. Proper maintenance under NFPA 70B prevents equipment failures, reduces fire risk, and keeps electrical systems operating safely.

A turnkey Electrical Safety Program is a complete, documented compliance solution that covers every element of the Electrical Cycle of Safety — arc flash assessment and labeling, worker training and certification, electrical code compliance, and a full preventive maintenance program — all built around your specific facility, equipment, and workforce. DL and L Energy Consulting builds these programs from the ground up, creating written procedures, training records, and maintenance documentation that satisfy both OSHA and NFPA requirements and hold up to any inspection. Rather than piecing together compliance from multiple vendors, a turnkey program gives you a single, coordinated solution with no gaps.

We offer a full range of NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance services: infrared thermography for electrical connections and equipment, transformer maintenance and oil analysis, circuit breaker testing and maintenance, cable testing using IR, VLF, Hi-Pot and Tan Delta methods, and fiber optic testing. Together these services are designed to catch problems before they cause equipment failures, unplanned outages, electrical fires, or safety incidents.

A thermal imaging camera detects heat differences across electrical equipment that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Loose connections, failing components, overloaded circuits, and deteriorating insulation all generate abnormal heat long before anything visibly breaks down. An infrared scan gives you a picture of your system’s thermal condition — where things look normal, where there’s a developing issue, and where something needs immediate attention. It’s non-contact, non-invasive, and can be done while equipment is energized and running.

These are three different tools for evaluating cable insulation. Insulation Resistance testing is a basic check for gross failures and moisture. VLF testing applies a test voltage at a very low frequency to find insulation weaknesses in medium-voltage cables without adding stress to the cable. Hi-Pot testing applies a higher voltage as a go/no-go proof test to verify the cable can handle its rated operating voltage. Tan Delta testing is the most sensitive method — it detects early-stage insulation deterioration before any fault actually occurs, making it the best tool for predictive maintenance. We’ll recommend the right approach based on your cable type, age, and risk profile.

We handle everything. DL and L Energy Consulting offers a comprehensive turnkey solution that covers the full Electrical Cycle of Safety under one roof — NFPA 70E arc flash training and assessment, NFPA 70 electrical consulting, and NFPA 70B preventive maintenance, plus a written Electrical Safety Program tailored to your facility. Most facilities that piece this together from multiple vendors end up with gaps, inconsistencies, and headaches at audit time. We coordinate everything as a single compliance partner so nothing falls through the cracks.