At Lewis Bass International Engineering Services, we’ve seen it all: fires, floods, exploding panels, and plenty of “uh-oh” moments that could’ve been “uh-oh no-no-no” moments if it weren’t for one critical thing: NFPA 79 Standards.

If you’re not familiar, NFPA 79 is the Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery, and it’s become the go-to playbook for safety in facilities that don’t want to play games with unlisted equipment, improperly wired systems, or shady installations.

We asked three Facility Managers from across the U.S. to share their own close calls—real situations where NFPA 79 didn’t just keep them compliant. It saved their skin, their budgets, and in one case, their entire building.

#1 – The Power That Almost Wasn’t

Name: Jim C.
Facility Type: Industrial manufacturing plant
Location: Rockford, Illinois

Jim’s facility had just upgraded their packaging line with a European-built machine that looked amazing on paper but came with a glaring issue—none of the electrical components were UL listed. The installation crew wired it up anyway.

Luckily, Jim had just completed a site audit and flagged this machine for evaluation. He called a local Field Evaluation Body, who field-labeled the equipment under NFPA 79 standards, made sure proper overcurrent protection was in place, and corrected some improperly grounded circuits before signing off.

A month later? One of those circuits shorted out due to a manufacturer defect. But thanks to the properly installed circuit protection and system isolation—you guessed it, per NFPA 79—damage was limited to a single breaker and zero downtime.

“If that label hadn’t gone on and those corrections weren’t made,” Jim said, “we would’ve lost the whole panel. Maybe the whole line.”

#2 – The Fire That Got Paid For

Name: Clarissa N.
Facility Type: Semiconductor fab
Location: Eaton, Ohio

Clarissa had a nightmare on her hands: a late-night electrical fire that started in a rarely used piece of R&D equipment. The flames were put out quickly, but smoke damage spread fast. The insurer initially raised eyebrows—was the equipment even listed?

Here’s where NFPA 79 swooped in like a caped crusader. Months earlier, Clarissa had arranged for the equipment to be field evaluated and labeled by Lewis Bass under NFPA 79/791 standards. The labeling documentation and inspection report showed that the equipment, while unlisted by an NRTL, had been brought into compliance and labeled accordingly.

The result?

“The insurance company approved the claim in full,” Clarissa recalled. “They said it was the only reason they didn’t push back. Without that field label, I don’t think we’d be getting paid out right now.”

In this case, NFPA 79 didn’t just prevent a disaster—it ensured financial survival after one.

#3 – The Automation Shutdown That Didn’t Happen

Name: Marcus B.
Facility Type: Research & Development lab
Location: San Jose, California

Marcus oversees a tech-heavy R&D lab with rapidly evolving automation. One afternoon, during a routine PM check, a technician noticed arcing at the disconnect switch for a new robotic arm.

Luckily, Marcus had enforced a strict NFPA 79 standards integration policy for all new machinery:

• Wiring diagrams must be reviewed

• Disconnects must meet the standard

• Emergency stop circuits must be verified

• Field inspections are required for all unlisted equipment

Because of this, the disconnect was installed in a separate enclosure with proper short-circuit protection. The technician was able to safely shut it down, and the root cause (a misaligned terminal) was corrected without any equipment loss.

“That one little arc could’ve shut down our whole lab for days. NFPA 79 gave us the blueprint to stay safe and operational.”

Do you have a need for our services?

Lewis Bass can help your team identify the most common safety issues in your facility, along with providing immediate referrals to our trusted partners to address them on your behalf.

Not sure what service you need from us?

Take our service identifier quiz here.

Are you uncertain if your equipment is unlisted or not at your facility?

Lewis Bass has you covered here as well: download our unlisted equipment self-identification flyer here.

Do you have a need for an urgent machinery evaluation?

Please reach out to us using our contact form here or call/text us directly on our office line 408-942-8000. We are always available to help with rush jobs and permit-blocking safety situations at your facility.