Planning for NETA Electrical Maintenance for a 24/7 Operations Facility

National Electrical Testing Association which is now called The International Electrical Testing Association, is an organization working for the improvement of electrical testing standards in the United States. At the same time, this organization is trying its best to help others by sharing these standards globally. 

Planning for electrical NETA (InterNational Electrical Testing Association) maintenance of a 24/7 critical operations facility involves several key steps. The main motive of this plan is to ensure that the facility's electrical system is maintained in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner while minimizing disruptions to operations.

Key Steps for Effective Electrical Maintenance

Here are the measures to follow for electrical power system maintenance:

1. Create a maintenance plan: The first step is to prepare an extensive plan that includes a schedule for electrical NETA maintenance activities. These activities include testing, inspection, and maintenance of electrical equipment and components.

2. Consider timing: Always try to plan maintenance activities during times of low demand. We think holidays or weekends are the best options in order to minimize disruptions to operations. If you want to keep operations smooth, then discuss the timing with the facility’s operations team to make sure that the maintenance work does not affect critical operations.

3. Identify critical equipment: Identify the electrical equipment that has an essential role in the process of overall operations. Then keep that equipment on first priority in the process of maintenance and testing as a part of the NETA maintenance plan.

4. Define scope and criteria: Define each and every step related to NETA maintenance activities, including the specific tests and examinations to be performed. Define what equipment will be tested and also the criteria accepted from the test results.

5. Cooperate with the stakeholders: Discuss the NETA maintenance plan and schedule with all the relevant authorities. This list should include the facility’s operations team, maintenance team, and other contractors working in the facility operations.

6. Monitor progress: You need to keep an eye on the progress of the NETA maintenance activities and make sure that they are completed in the given time. Also, monitor whether the given plan is followed or not. And dont forget to keep records of the test results, inspections, and maintenance activities performed.

7. Continuously evaluate and improve: In order to make the NETA maintenance plan effective, continuously monitor and evaluate it. To get your desired results, you need to observe the activities and plan to point out areas for improvement. Take all the steps to make sure that the electrical system is maintained in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner.

These steps can help the facility managers in electrical NETA maintenance of a 24/7 critical operations facility. By following these easy procedures, managers can minimize the rate of disruptions to operations. This can also help ensure that the company's electrical system is well-maintained, reliable, and working efficiently.

AllumiaX offers to engineer and consulting to help our clients plan for electrical maintenance tests in an efficient and effective manner. Some of our clients include hospitals, data centers, mission-critical facilities, and others. Contact us if you need help planning for your next maintenance!

Scope and Criteria of a NETA Maintenance Plan

If you want to know how the scope and criteria of the NETA maintenance plan work. Then it involves determining the specific tests, inspections and maintenance activities that are about to perform on the overall electrical systems. Here we have listed all the steps that are needed to define the scope and criteria of a NETA maintenance plan:

1. Identify the equipment: First of all, you have to identify the electrical equipment and systems that are going to be tested and evaluated under the maintenance plan. These types of equipment include transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, and other important electrical components that are essential for operations.

2. Review manufacturer recommendations: Consider the recommendations given by the manufacturer for testing and maintenance of the equipment. These recommendations can have periodic maintenance activities, such as cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment, as well as more comprehensive testing and inspection activities.

3. Consider NETA standards: Do check out the NETA standards that are needed for the specific types of equipment and systems. In case you dont know, NETA has given extensive guidelines about the standards that are needed for maintenance and testing activities. These steps include following the ANSI/NETA MTS Standard for Maintenance Testing Specifications.

4. Prioritize equipment: Keep in mind that always put the most important equipment on first priority. This step can help you determine the level and scope of the maintenance activities for each piece of equipment.

5. Define test procedures: In order to make the maintenance plan more successful, you have to define the specific test steps that are going to take place to evaluate the performance of particular equipment. These tests can be visual inspections, electrical testing, infrared thermography, and other non-destructive testing methods.

6. Establish acceptance criteria: Define the acceptance criteria for the test results, as this will help in determining whether the equipment is operating within acceptable limits. It can also identify any corrective actions that are needed for the efficient working of the equipment.

7. Define reporting requirements: Fair reporting for maintenance activities is essential. To make the plan more effective, the facility managers need to define the reporting requirements for the maintenance activities. He/she needs to keep a record of the test results and look for all the flaws and issues. Then provide helpful recommendations for corrections.

NETA Testing Procedures

Here are some important steps to consider when developing test procedures for a NETA maintenance plan:

1. Identify the equipment: First and foremost step is to identify the electrical equipment and systems that need testing. This equipment can be transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, and other critical electrical components that are important parts of electrical system operations.

2. Determine the test methods: Choose suitable test methods for each piece of equipment. Now, these tests can be based on its type, size, and rating. You can use NETA or other standards to decide the ideal test methods for each piece of equipment.

3. Define the test procedures: If you are planning to make this maintenance plan useful, then create extensive test procedures for each piece of equipment and system. Ensure that each procedure should include the necessary steps to perform the test, the equipment required to perform the test, and any safety precautions that need to be taken.

4. Schedule the tests: Create the timetable for the tests according to recommendations given by manufacturers, NETA standards, and industry best practices. The type of tests will determine by the significance of the equipment in the system and the type of test being performed.

5. Assign responsibilities: To gain the best results, assign duties to the relevant individuals. These duties include performing tests, who will perform the tests, who will oversee the tests, and who will be responsible for documenting the results.

6. Review and update: Keep checking and updating the test procedures continuously to make sure that the system and equipment remain effective. Also, see which new equipments need to include in the system and then update the test procedure accordingly.

We have given all the steps that every facility manager should follow during the test procedure for a NETA maintenance plan. These tests are necessary to guarantee that the concerned authority about electrical equipment and systems are tested safely and effectively.

We here at AllumiaX perform different types of studies related to the protection of Power systems. Engineers at AllumiaX are capable of providing high-quality protective device coordination studies including Protective Relay Settings and Coordination Services. For further information feel free to contact us today or Request a Quote.

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  About The Author

  Abdur Rehman is a professional electrical engineer with more than eight years of experience working with equipment from 208V to 115kV in both the Utility and Industrial & Commercial space. He has a particular focus on Power Systems Protection & Engineering Studies.