Free checklist
ElectricalElectrical preventive maintenance checklist
Electrical systems drift out of spec quietly, a failed fitting here, a tripped device there, until the callback or the failure makes it loud. This recurring maintenance checklist catches the drift early, with photo evidence that proves the round actually happened. Work is commonly verified against NEC (NFPA 70). Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo evidence it needs
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.
Panels and distribution
Panel interiors inspected for heat, corrosion and debris
Discoloration at lugs, rust trails, dust or pests inside the enclosure.
Working clearances in front of panels maintained
No storage in the clearance zone; floor marking still visible where it exists.
Directories still accurate after tenant changes
Spot-check breakers against the directory; update labels where loads have moved.
Infrared survey findings reviewed and ticketed
Where infrared scanning is in the maintenance scope, the qualified person's latest survey report is on file and each flagged panel or lug has a work order.
No photoDead fronts, latches and fillers still in place
All dead-front screws present, doors latch or lock, no open breaker spaces or knockouts since the last round.
Devices and life safety
GFCI devices tested at wet and exterior locations
Test/reset each device; replace any that fail to trip.
Exit and emergency lighting on and undamaged
Test function where equipped, lenses intact, no blocked egress lighting.
Damaged devices, plates and cords replaced
Cracked plates, warm receptacles, daisy-chained strips documented and corrected.
Wet-location covers and gaskets intact
In-use covers close, gaskets seal, no water staining or corrosion inside exterior boxes and fixtures.
Occupant-reported electrical issues reviewed and closed
Work orders for tripped breakers, flickering lights or dead outlets since the last round each show a closing action.
No photo
Service equipment and records
Electrical rooms dry with doors closing and latching
No roof or pipe leaks, condensation or pests in the electrical room; the door closes and latches and the room lighting works.
Surge device status indicators showing protected
Where panel-mounted surge protective devices are installed, indicator lights read normal; any showing failed are flagged for replacement.
No photoGrounding electrode connection at the service intact
Grounding electrode conductor and its clamp at the water pipe, rod or service still attached, tight and uncorroded; any clamp removed during plumbing work restored.
Last round's open items rechecked
Each deficiency from the previous maintenance round marked closed or carried forward with a reason.
No photo
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Rounds signed off from the truck, with no per-panel photos to prove the panel was opened.
- Tripped GFCIs and dead devices reported by occupants weeks after they failed.
- Heat damage at lugs found only after a failure, with no baseline photos to compare.
Verified against
Common questions
6 answers
- What does this electrical pm checklist cover?
- 14 items across 3 sections, covering panels and distribution, devices and life safety, service equipment and records. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The facilities electrician or service tech on a scheduled maintenance round.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Quarterly or semi-annually in occupied space, aligned with the building's maintenance calendar and any warranty requirements.
- Why do these items ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 14 items call for photo evidence, 12 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails an electrical pm inspection?
- Rounds signed off from the truck, with no per-panel photos to prove the panel was opened. Tripped GFCIs and dead devices reported by occupants weeks after they failed. Heat damage at lugs found only after a failure, with no baseline photos to compare.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.
Related checklists
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 12 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.
See all 508 checklists · 6741 items and 5984 photo requirements in total.