ELECTRICAL TEMPLATES · CHECKLIST

Electrical maintenance checklist

Written by Chameera Sampath · Not yet reviewed by a licensed electrician. See the methodology.

What an electrical maintenance checklist is

An electrical maintenance checklist is a schedule of inspections, tests and adjustments carried out on electrical equipment at set intervals to keep it working and to find deterioration before it causes a failure. It is the working document of a preventive maintenance program for a building, a plant or a portfolio of sites.

Each round produces a record: what was checked, what was found and what was done about it. Over several rounds that record shows trends, such as a termination that runs warmer each year.

What's included

Seven sections with starting items: Visual and thermal checks, Panelboards and breakers, GFCI/AFCI testing, Grounding and bonding, Lighting and emergency lighting, Generators and transfer switches, and Records.

Results are entered as Pass, Fail or N/A with a note per item, for example a measured current or an infrared temperature, and a photo note to tie the item to a thermal image. The item list is editable so that it can match a site's own equipment, and progress is counted as the round goes on. A US Letter PDF, carrying the business name and logo when entered, serves as the maintenance record.

How to use it

Enter the site or equipment name, the address, the technician and the date of the round.
Adjust the items to the equipment actually present: remove the generator section where there is no generator, add a line for each switchboard or transfer switch.
Carry out the checks with the equipment's own maintenance instructions at hand, and enter each reading in the note.
Mark failures and describe the corrective action needed in the note.
Download the PDF, file it with the equipment records and schedule the next round.

Measured phase currents can be compared with each panel's panel schedule, and a long feeder that shows low voltage at the far end can be checked with the voltage drop calculator. Background on the protective devices being tested is in GFCI vs AFCI and grounding and bonding explained.

The checklist

Saved only in this browser on this device. This checklist is lost if browser data is cleared, and another browser or device does not have it. Download backup saves a JSON copy; Restore from backup opens a copy as a new, unsaved checklist and keeps the one it replaces.

Job details

Job nameAddressTechnicianDateBusiness name (optional)

0 of 30 checked · 0 pass · 0 fail · 0 N/A

Visual and thermal checks 0/5

Item 1Electrical rooms clean and dry, with no storage in the working space
Item 2No signs of overheating: discoloration, melted insulation or a burning odor
Item 3Infrared scan of panelboards and switchgear under load; hot spots recorded
Item 4Enclosure covers, doors and dead fronts closed and undamaged
Item 5No water entry, corrosion or pest damage in enclosures

Panelboards and breakers 0/5

Item 1Panel directory current and legible
Item 2Terminations checked for looseness against the manufacturer's torque values
Item 3Breakers operated (exercised) as the manufacturer recommends
Item 4Breakers free of cracks, heat damage, taped or tied handles
Item 5Current on each phase measured and recorded

GFCI/AFCI testing 0/4

Item 1GFCI receptacles tested with the test button and reset
Item 2GFCI breakers tested with the test button and reset
Item 3AFCI breakers tested with the test button and reset
Item 4Devices that failed replaced and tested again

Grounding and bonding 0/4

Item 1Grounding electrode conductor connections tight and free of corrosion
Item 2Bonding jumpers on water and gas piping in place
Item 3Equipment grounding continuity checked at sample receptacles
Item 4Ground resistance measured where the maintenance plan calls for it

Lighting and emergency lighting 0/4

Item 1Failed lamps, ballasts and drivers replaced
Item 2Emergency lighting units run on battery for the specified test duration
Item 3Exit signs lit and legible
Item 4Timers, photocells and occupancy sensors switching correctly

Generators and transfer switches 0/4

Item 1Generator exercised under load on the manufacturer's schedule
Item 2Fuel, oil, coolant and starting battery checked
Item 3Transfer switch run through a transfer and retransfer
Item 4Block heater and battery charger working

Records 0/4

Item 1Findings, readings and corrective actions recorded
Item 2Deficiencies assigned an owner and a due date
Item 3Next maintenance date scheduled
Item 4Thermal images and test reports filed with the equipment records

Preventive vs corrective maintenance

Preventive maintenance is planned work done on a schedule whether or not anything has failed: thermal scans, tightening terminations, exercising breakers, testing GFCI devices and running the generator. Its purpose is to catch wear and loose connections early, while they can be fixed at a convenient time.

Corrective maintenance is the repair that follows a failure or a defect found during inspection, such as replacing a breaker that no longer trips or a receptacle that failed its test. A preventive checklist feeds corrective work: every Fail result becomes a repair with an owner and a due date, recorded in the Records section.

Limitations

The starting items are generic and do not replace the equipment manufacturer's maintenance instructions, the facility's own program or a recognized maintenance standard adopted by the owner. Intervals and test methods depend on the equipment and its condition. Work on energized equipment calls for qualified persons, safe work practices and appropriate personal protective equipment, which the checklist does not cover. Requirements for maintenance records, such as for emergency lighting and standby generators, vary by jurisdiction. The template follows US (NEC) practice only.

Frequently asked questions

How often should electrical preventive maintenance be done?

Intervals depend on the equipment, its environment and its condition. Many programs run visual checks and device tests monthly or quarterly and thermal scans and termination checks annually, adjusted by the manufacturer's instructions and the results of earlier rounds.

What does an infrared scan find?

Connections and components running hotter than similar ones under the same load, which usually points to a loose or corroded termination, an overloaded conductor or a failing breaker. The scan has to be made with the equipment carrying load to show these differences.

Should GFCI and AFCI devices be tested during maintenance?

Yes. Pressing the test button confirms the device trips; it should then reset. A device that does not trip or will not reset is replaced and the new one tested.

What belongs in the Records section?

The findings, measured values, corrective actions, who is responsible for each open item and when the next round is due. Thermal images and test reports are filed with the PDF so the history of each piece of equipment stays together.

Can one checklist cover several buildings?

One checklist holds one round at one site. For several buildings, a separate checklist is completed and downloaded for each, so each PDF carries its own job name and address.