The facility manager in charge of the electrical maintenance when downtime is not an option will benefit from knowing what to look for when selecting an electrical testing firm. Not all electrical testing firms are the same. It is crucial to find a firm that can meet all your facility needs and make knowledgeable recommendations about your equipment maintenance.

A firm that is qualified to perform electrical maintenance and testing must have the following:

  • High safety standards
  • Third party – independent testing
  • Total system service
  • Qualified technicians
  • Complete range of calibrated electrical maintenance tools

High Safety Standards:

An electrical maintenance and testing firm recognizes that its safety program is paramount to ensuring all other operational goals are met. Safety compliance means upholding the highest standards in the industry: standards put forth by OSHA, ASTM, NFPA, IEEE, The National Safety Council, CSA, NEMA, and others. With a dedication to safety, each NETA accredited company implements procedures and continually reviews and updates the firm’s safety program.

Third Party – Independent Testing:

The firm should be an independent electrical power system testing service provider. They must be divested of competing service or manufacturing interests. As third-party auditors, they provide unbiased electrical testing results while ensuring accurate testing and reporting; they are never influenced by conflicting factors involved with budgeting, installation, or product manufacturing.

Total System Service:

The firm should employ a team of certified technicians and support personnel experienced in all facets of electrical power system testing and maintenance, doing so in accordance with ANSI/NETA standards.

Qualified Technicians:

The firm should employ certified technicians that have earned Level 2, Level 3, or 4 certifications in electrical power systems testing and bring the knowledge and field experience necessary to perform testing according to industry standards. A certified technician’s work experience, education, and training keeps them current with new technologies and provides them the knowledge to perform testing across a wide variety of power systems.

Complete range of calibrated electrical maintenance tools:

The firm should be laser-focused on electrical maintenance, equipped with a complete range of testing tools calibrated annually by outside third-party firms that are ISO QS9000 and ISO/TS16949 certified. That means all tools are traceable to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology).

When evaluating an electrical maintenance and testing firm, all the above items should be top of mind in your selection process. Selecting a firm can be a difficult decision. Once you select a firm, it is important that the firm meets your facility’s needs and standards.

Questions to ask might include:

  1. Do you have 24 hours 365 days a year emergency services?
  2. How many years has the company been in business?
  3. What do other customers say about this firm?

Electrical Maintenance is critical when downtime isn’t an option.  Finding a firm that works for your facility takes time and research. Learn more by downloading our Why, What, When, and Who of Electrical Maintenance white paper.