Infrared Inspections: Your First Line of Defense Against Electrical Failures
- Steve Oliver
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
Most electrical failures provide warning signs before they happen — but they are invisible to the naked eye. Infrared thermography makes the invisible visible.
By detecting heat patterns that signal loose connections, overloaded circuits, or failing components, infrared (IR) inspections give facility maintenance and reliability leaders a powerful tool to prevent dangerous incidents before they happen.
Why Electrical Failures Are So Dangerous
Arc flashes, equipment fires, and unplanned outages may feel rare, but when they happen, the consequences can be severe. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reports that an average of 150 workers die each year from electrical incidents, while thousands more suffer life-altering burns and injuries.
And beyond the human cost, downtime can halt operations for days or weeks, with losses climbing into the millions.
The absence of incidents doesn’t mean your facility is safe. It often means you’ve been lucky, and luck eventually runs out.
What Infrared Thermography Does
Infrared thermography uses specialized thermal imagers (called IR cameras) to capture a “heat map” of your electrical equipment while it’s energized. The hotter-than-normal areas reveal potential problems well before they cause electrical failures.
IR inspections are:
Non-contact, non-invasive and non-destructive — no need to shut down operations
Fast and safe — large numbers and types of electrical equipment and machinery can be scanned quickly
Proven effective — detects problems invisible to the naked eye
Think of it as your early warning system.
IR Finds Problems — Before Failures Happen.
Real-world examples of issues infrared inspections uncover:
Loose or corroded connections
Overloaded circuits or breakers
Failing fuses and switches
Imbalanced loads in panels and switchgear
Each of these, left uncorrected, can lead to fires, arc flashes, or catastrophic equipment failures. Each of these can lead to damaged equipment, minor to severe injuries or worse for employees, contractors or customers.
Compliance and Best Practices
Infrared inspections aren’t just smart — they’re becoming expected.
NFPA 70B (2023) now requires annual or more frequent infrared thermography as part of electrical maintenance programs.
OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires employers to provide workplaces free from recognized hazards — and infrared inspections help prove due diligence.
By adding IR to your safety program, you not only strengthen compliance but also show your team that you take their protection seriously.
The ROI of Infrared Inspections
An IR inspection costs a fraction of what even a single electrical failure could cost your facility.
One inspection can reveal a hot breaker or loose connection that, left unchecked, could shut down production for days or injure an unsuspecting employee.
OSHA estimates a $4–$6 return for every $1 invested in safety programs.
The math is simple: a modest investment today prevents catastrophic costs tomorrow.
How Guidant Power Delivers Infrared Safety
Recognizing the added value of infrared inspections to our existing service portfolio, Guidant Power has partnered with Monroe Infrared, one of the premier, most trusted providers of thermography services with 25,000+ infrared inspections completed and over four decades of experience.
Our IR inspections provide:
Clear, actionable reports — not just images, but insights
Trending data — track equipment over time, not just a single snapshot
Integrated services — we connect IR results to your arc flash studies, training, and overall safety program
We don’t just take pictures. We help you act on them.
Take Action Today
If your facility has never had an Infrared Electrical Safety Inspection, or if it’s been a while, now is the time. Don’t wait until a failure costs you downtime, equipment, or worse — someone’s life.
Contact Guidant Power today to schedule your infrared inspection and uncover risks before they turn into emergencies.
70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, NFPA 70®, NEC®, and National Electrical Code® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved. This informational material is not affiliated with nor has it been reviewed or approved by the NFPA.
