Main Breaker Yearly Testing

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mahobbs

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I have worked in a hospital for 22 years now; We have always performed a yearly Main Tie Main breaker test
We open one of the mains to see if the tie will close, then we close the main and see if the tie will open. Then we repeat the same steps for the other main.
I have always been told that this is a code requirement, but I never took the time to look it up.
Now that the monkey is on my back, I went to look up the code requirement, and I can?t find one.
Do any of you know of and code from NEC or JCAHO
 
mahobbs said:
I have worked in a hospital for 22 years now; We have always performed a yearly Main Tie Main breaker test
We open one of the mains to see if the tie will close, then we close the main and see if the tie will open. Then we repeat the same steps for the other main.
I have always been told that this is a code requirement, but I never took the time to look it up.
Now that the monkey is on my back, I went to look up the code requirement, and I can?t find one.
Do any of you know of and code from NEC or JCAHO
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Yearly testing is not covered by the NEC, however it is addressed in both both NFPA70E and NFPA70B.
 
It is one thing to test to assure that the system is functioning as it should but simply exercising a breaker just to assure that the moving parts are lubricated and that the contacts have a chance to reset is seldom done because power has to be interupted.
When breakers are opened and closed a few time the moving contact just doesn't simply close against the stationary contact be rubs against it. This commonly reduces contact resistance in the process.
 
JCAHO’s Environment of Care (EC) standards require written Utility Systems Operational Plans. I suspect that your testing procedure is part of that approved plan for your facility. In general, JCAHO has adopted the NEC (NFPA 70), Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance (NFPA 70B), Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces (NFPA 70E), Standard for Health Care Facilities (NFPA 99), and Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) as the basis for the requirements of the design, installation, operation, testing, and maintenance of the electrical power distribution system(s). NFPA 99: Standard for Health Care Facilities, for one instance, contains the tie breaker testing requirement.

4.4.4.1.2.1 Circuit Breakers. Main and feeder circuit breakers
shall be inspected annually and a program for periodically
exercising the components shall be established according to
manufacturer’s recommendations.

8.5.2.2 Servicing and Maintenance of Equipment.
8.5.2.2.1 Service manuals, instructions, and procedures provided
by the manufacturer shall be used in the maintenance of
equipment.
 
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In 22 years I would hope there has been more maintenance and testing than just basic operation of the Main-Tie-Main
 
Main Breaker testing

Main Breaker testing

Thank you for the information

We tested the main-tie-main, and main A failed to send the signal to the tie to close. We had to rack it out then back in to get it to work

We had it repaired/cleaned

Mike
 
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