High Voltage Switchgear Maintenance Checklist
A maintenance checklist for HV switchgear covering visual inspection, circuit breaker operation, protection relay testing, and thermographic surveys — for specialist electrical maintenance teams.
Also available as editable Excel and Word — with asset, sign-off and findings columns.
What is a hv switchgear maintenance checklist?
A high voltage switchgear maintenance checklist is a structured list of the 11 preventive maintenance tasks — covering visual, functional, safety and record-keeping checks — that keep a high voltage switchgear running safely and reliably. It groups routine checks by frequency, from daily inspections to annual servicing, so FM teams and building engineers can plan and evidence preventive maintenance.
Core hv switchgear checks
- Visual inspection of switchgear panels for signs of overheating, tracking, or damage
- Perform thermographic survey of all accessible connections and busbars
- Check earth connections and earth fault indicators
- Record transformer tap positions and load readings
What is a high voltage switchgear?
High voltage switchgear distributes and protects the primary electrical supply in large commercial buildings, typically operating at 11kV or 6.6kV. It contains circuit breakers, protection relays, busbars, and metering equipment housed in metal-clad compartments. HV switchgear requires specialist maintenance by authorised and competent persons due to the lethal voltages and fault energy levels involved.
This checklist is one of 17 in our electrical maintenance checklists, covering distribution boards, switchgear, generators, UPS, solar PV and EV charging — inspection, testing and thermographic checks.
Typical HV switchgear maintenance checklist
A practical starting point for planned preventive maintenance. Always refer to the manufacturer's O&M manual and site-specific requirements.
Visual Checks
- Visual inspection of switchgear panels for signs of overheating, tracking, or damage
- Check panel ventilation openings are clear and fans operational
- Inspect cable terminations and connections for signs of deterioration
Functional Checks
- Perform thermographic survey of all accessible connections and busbars
- Check circuit breaker trip counters and mechanism operation (where possible without de-energisation)
- Verify protection relay settings match the protection coordination study
Safety Checks
- Check earth connections and earth fault indicators
- Verify all interlocks and access restrictions are functional
Record Keeping
- Record transformer tap positions and load readings
- Review the single line diagram against actual installation
- Record all readings, thermal images, and inspection findings
Download the free HV switchgear maintenance checklist PDF
Get all 11 tasks as a printable PDF — free, no signup needed. Keep a copy in the plant room, attach it to work orders, or share it with your maintenance contractor.
The PDF is free and needs nothing. The Excel and Word versions add asset details, sign-off and findings columns so you can record the work as you do it — we ask for an email address for those.
Typical maintenance frequency
Suggested intervals for high voltage switchgear maintenance. Actual frequencies should follow manufacturer guidance and site-specific risk assessments.
Annually
- •Visual inspection
- •Thermographic survey
- •Protection relay check
- •Record load readings and trip counter
Every 6 Months
- •Full switchgear maintenance shutdown
- •Circuit breaker servicing
- •Insulation resistance testing
- •Contact resistance testing
- •Protection relay testing
Common faults and issues
Issues to be aware of when maintaining high voltage switchgear equipment.
Safety and compliance notes
Key safety considerations for high voltage switchgear maintenance. This is general guidance only — always follow OEM instructions, statutory requirements, and your organisation's safe systems of work.
Reference standards and frameworks
- United Kingdom
- BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- North America
- NFPA 70B (electrical equipment maintenance) and ANSI/NETA MTS
Frameworks commonly referenced when planning hv switchgear maintenance programmes. Always confirm the requirements that apply to your site and jurisdiction.
Managing HV switchgear documentation with PM Assist
PM Assist helps FM and building operations teams search their O&M manuals and building drawings in seconds. Upload your high voltage switchgear documentation and ask questions like “When was the last inspection carried out?” or “What are the rated specifications?” — and get source-cited answers instantly.
The checklist tells you what to check. The manual tells you the numbers.
Ask a hv switchgear manual a question and get the answer back with the page it came from. No signup, and you can drop in your own PDF instead of the sample.
“When was the last inspection carried out?”Runs against a sample chiller manual so you can see the shape of the answer — then try it on one of yours.
Take this checklist with you
Download the branded PDF, generate a custom version for your asset, or run AI search across all your building documentation.
Inspection checklists for this asset
Maintenance keeps the asset working; a statutory inspection records whether it currently passes. Both usually apply.
Further reading on hv switchgear maintenance
Compliance topics for hv switchgear maintenance
Compliance & CAFM
Run high voltage switchgear maintenance in PM Assist
This checklist is also a planned maintenance programme in PM Assist, included in every paid plan alongside the compliance register and mobile inspections.
- Add a high voltage switchgear to a building's asset register and this maintenance programme is created for you, with each task on its frequency in the planner.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report, HV Switchgear Maintenance and Thermographic Survey are tracked on the compliance register, with the date last done, the date next due and the certificate.
- Contractors can be given a login to see their jobs and upload certificates.
Frequently asked questions
How often should HV switchgear be serviced?
What is a thermographic survey?
Who can work on HV switchgear?
Manage your building documentation with AI
PM Assist gives FM teams instant access to O&M manuals, drawings, and maintenance knowledge — all searchable with AI.
- Upload and organise building documentation
- AI-powered search across all your manuals
- Source-cited answers for maintenance queries
- Team collaboration and access control
- No credit card required to start