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Frequently Asked Questions

BowVue is a portal that we patented over 5 years ago which provides the necessary visibility into your electrical specific needs for performing your required electrical risk assessments. It simplifies PPE selection, visibility of your condition of maintenance and also, the job titles you have that are deemed qualified at the asset level. One-lines, maintenance reports, IR, incident energy reports all in one place too. This solves the top 3 problems causing injury from electricity. 1. PPE, 2. Worker not qualified, 3. Equipment failure.

We provide a wide range of electrical services, beginning with Electrical Engineering studies (arc flash) backed up with dedicated NFPA 70E instructors training and building ESP programs that work. Safety is what started Bowtie in 2015. Quickly we took these tools and implemented them in our Electrical Maintenance and NETA testing group which includes simple IR thermography all the way up to complex primary injection testing of medium voltage switchgear. Energy Solutions group focuses on conservation with sub-metering solutions and programs such as installation of EV charging systems. Lastly we are considered industry leaders designing power systems for the Crypto Mining technology ensuring a more safe and reliable system with cost benefit, always staying 8 steps in front of the competitors with technology enabled solutions.

Workers should be trained according to NFPA 70E standards, expert in understand electrical hazards, and be capable of planning the safe work conditions. Certifications and ongoing education are a piece to maintaining compliance with safety practices, however, specific task based experience is critical to answer this question. Every maintenance worker shall have been through an Electrical Safety- NFPA 70E classroom training at every 3 years minimum.

We follow a systems approach to maintenance. We absolutely want to understand your equipment and the maintenance performed to date to find what has not been performed within industry best practices. We are Engineers with an eye on complexity different from our competitors. We can solve any program before it because of an outage or a safety issue. It might start with commodity work such as Infrared Thermography and reporting but we have engineers that evaluate the report and go from there into de-energized testing and cleaning. We look at system loads, balancing, harmonics, all are anomalies that stress the system and are typically overlooked by others. That’s what we do that makes us different. What makes us unique is running BowVue behind the scene with the data to support a safer day to day work environment.

LOTO procedures should be your #1 decision when performing electrical work (shut the power off). Your staff should be experts by now in LOTO, since it has been implemented as a requirement since the 1970s. What’s really important is getting all 8 steps fluent in your qualified workers so it’s as natural to them as any other task.

BowVue enhances compliance by linking job titles with shock and arc risks and maintaining updated records that makes your evaluating process not only faster and easier, but no reason to skip steps and take on risk. We provide a Free demo virtually too. In addition if we have a service contract with your company, BowVue is also free for you and your team to use.

Infrared thermography helps identify ‘hot spots’ and potential failures in electrical systems before they result in costly downtime or hazards. Its the first basic step in electrical maintenance scope of work. Its performed with your building in service, so no disruption of power. When Bowtie performs IR, what makes us different is you will also get a report of any/all code violations we find while the covers our open. This gives you time to do repairs before they become outages. No extra charge and everything is documented with technology enabled vision and BowVue.

The process includes identifying potential hazards, evaluating risk levels, and implementing necessary safety controls to mitigate those risks.

  • On-Site data collection
  • Engineering Analysis (SKM, EasyPower, ETap)
  • Installation of Incident Energy Labels
  • Delivery of report with electrical one-lines
  • BowVue Training
  • Electrical Safety NFPA 70E training

Bowtie Engineering’s Energy Solutions improve overall energy efficiency, helping businesses reduce operational costs, enhance sustainability, and comply with energy regulations. Any time the C-Suite executives can perform the same task at less cost, that profit goes right to the bottom of the balance sheet. Any time a piece of equipment is running more efficiently one can see how the lifecycle of the equipment will be longer, with less down time and less spending on capital equipment.

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

Bowtie Engineering’s NFPA 70E electrical safety training is an 8-hour, instructor-led program delivered on-site at your facility. Each session covers arc flash hazard awareness, lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) selection, OSHA CFR 1910 Subpart S requirements, and the current NFPA 70E standard for electrical safety in the workplace. Sessions are capped at 25 participants to ensure focused instruction. Every attendee who passes the written exam receives a completion certificate.
Yes. Bowtie Engineering offers both on-site and online NFPA 70E training formats. The online course provides OSHA and NFPA-aligned instruction with digital certificates upon completion. Bowtie also offers a proctor-based format, which combines online course delivery with on-site supervision by a designated proctor — meeting OSHA’s instructor-led training requirements. This format can be delivered in one full 8-hour day or four shorter 2-hour sessions to suit your schedule.
Each on-site NFPA 70E training session is capped at 25 participants. This limit is intentional — smaller groups allow the instructor to tailor content to your facility’s specific hazards, conduct meaningful hands-on exercises, and ensure every participant is prepared to pass the written exam.
NFPA 70E requires that electrical safety training be refreshed at a minimum every 3 years. Bowtie Engineering follows this standard and recommends more frequent refreshers — or immediate retraining — whenever there is a change in job tasks, equipment, or applicable codes. Every maintenance worker at a facility should have current NFPA 70E classroom training on record.
Yes. All Bowtie Engineering NFPA 70E training aligns with OSHA 1910 Subpart S and is delivered by expert instructors according to NFPA 70E standards. The proctor-based format specifically satisfies OSHA’s ‘instructor-led’ training requirement. On-site sessions include live instruction, hands-on exercises, written testing, and full documentation.
Bowtie Engineering’s training is led by licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.) and certified instructors with deep expertise in NFPA 70E and OSHA compliance. John Welch, P.E., C.E.M., Founder and CEO, is a qualified electrical safety instructor whose contact for training scheduling is john.welch@bowtie8.com. All instructors are credentialed in OSHA regulations and NFPA standards.

ARC FLASH STUDIES & INCIDENT ENERGY ANALYSIS

An arc flash study — also called an incident energy analysis — is an engineering assessment that calculates the arc flash hazard level at every piece of electrical equipment in your facility. The results are used to label equipment with incident energy ratings (in cal/cm2) and shock hazard boundaries, and to determine the correct PPE required for workers performing tasks on or near that equipment. Arc flash studies are required for compliance with NFPA 70E and OSHA CFR 1910, and are essential for data centers, manufacturers, industrial plants, and commercial buildings.
Bowtie Engineering conducts all incident energy studies in alignment with NFPA 70E, IEEE 1584, and OSHA CFR 1910. IEEE 1584 is the industry-standard calculation methodology for arc flash energy. Studies identify high-risk equipment, provide accurate labeling, and ensure your facility meets the requirements of all three standards.
Bowtie Engineering provides arc flash studies for data centers, manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings. Studies are designed for any facility with complex or critical electrical systems that require NFPA 70E and OSHA compliance.
Yes. Following the completion of an incident energy study, Bowtie Engineering provides accurate arc flash and shock hazard labels for all analyzed equipment. Labels communicate incident energy values and PPE requirements directly to qualified workers at the point of work.

ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE & NETA TESTING

Bowtie Engineering’s Electrical Maintenance Services follow a systems approach to maintenance, using NETA testing and NFPA 70B compliance standards. Services range from infrared (IR) thermography and basic diagnostics through to complex primary injection testing of medium voltage switchgear. The goal is to identify what has not been performed within industry best practices and build a proactive maintenance program that prevents outages and safety incidents.
NETA (InterNational Electrical Testing Association) testing is a set of industry standards for the commissioning and maintenance of electrical equipment. NETA-compliant testing verifies that electrical systems are functioning correctly and safely. Yes — Bowtie Engineering’s Electrical Maintenance Services are NETA-compliant, and the team includes qualified field technicians with engineering oversight.
Yes. Bowtie Engineering offers thermal imaging and infrared (IR) thermography as part of its electrical maintenance services. These inspections identify hot spots, loose connections, overloaded circuits, and other electrical deficiencies that may not be visible to the naked eye. Bowtie’s thermal inspections include photographs and corresponding infrared images to document findings.

BOWVUE PLATFORM

BowVue is Bowtie Engineering’s proprietary, patented electrical safety management platform. It provides electrical system managers with a real-time dashboard for arc flash risk assessment, PPE selection, condition-of-maintenance visibility, and compliance tracking. BowVue works seamlessly alongside Bowtie’s three core service areas — Incident Energy Studies, Electrical Maintenance, and Energy Solutions — and is available exclusively through Bowtie Engineering. BowVue 2.0 is the first app to allow electrical system managers to manage their full safety program in a single platform.
BowVue is available exclusively through Bowtie Engineering and is designed to integrate with Bowtie’s service programs. It is most effective when connected to an active incident energy study and electrical maintenance program, as it relies on accurate, up-to-date facility data to function correctly.

EV CHARGING & ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Yes. Bowtie Engineering supports the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure by providing design, installation, and evaluation services for commercial and industrial clients. Services include proper power distribution planning, load analysis, safety measures, and code-compliant integration. Bowtie ensures your EV infrastructure is future-ready and aligned with local electrical codes.
Bowtie Engineering’s Energy Solutions help businesses reduce operational costs and improve energy efficiency through strategic upgrades, usage diagnostics, sub-metering, and cost-saving recommendations. Services include feasibility studies, simple payback analysis, and renewable energy integration. A 2% annual reduction in energy waste over five years produces a meaningful ROI impact for most facilities.

ABOUT BOWTIE ENGINEERING

Bowtie Engineering was founded in 2015 with a single mission: solve the electrical safety puzzle for complex facilities. The company began as a provider of arc flash studies and electrical engineering services and has grown into a full-spectrum electrical safety, maintenance, and energy firm serving clients nationally. Bowtie has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies three times — in 2020 (#3103), 2022 (#3305), and 2024 (#4068).
Bowtie Engineering is headquartered at 1400 Market Place Blvd, Suite 124, Cumming, Georgia 30041. However, the company operates as a national provider and delivers training, arc flash studies, electrical maintenance, and engineering services across the United States. Bowtie specializes in standardizing safety programs across multiple sites and locations for enterprise clients.
Bowtie Engineering has delivered over 900 successful programs across the United States. Clients include data centers, manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings. The company has worked with enterprise-level organizations including Rolls Royce, Amazon and CleanSpark, among others.
Yes. Bowtie Engineering has been a BBB Accredited Business since July 31, 2019. The company is listed under the Professional Engineers category in Cumming, Georgia.
You can reach Bowtie Engineering by phone at 866-730-6620 (Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm), by email at sales@bowtie8.com, or through the contact form at bowtie8.com. To schedule NFPA 70E training specifically, contact John Welch P.E., C.E.M. directly at john.welch@bowtie8.com.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

An arc flash is a sudden, violent release of energy caused by an electrical fault — when current jumps through the air between conductors or from a conductor to ground. The event generates an intense burst of heat (up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the arc), a pressure wave, molten metal spray, and blinding light — all in a fraction of a second. Arc flash is one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatality among electrical workers. Even at distances of several feet, an arc flash can cause third-degree burns, hearing loss, vision damage, and blast injuries. NFPA 70E and OSHA CFR 1910 exist specifically to protect workers from arc flash hazards through proper training, PPE, and risk assessment.
NFPA 70E is the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, published by the National Fire Protection Association. It establishes the requirements that employers must follow to protect workers from electrical hazards — including arc flash, electric shock, and electrocution. NFPA 70E defines how to conduct arc flash risk assessments, what personal protective equipment (PPE) workers must wear when working on or near energized electrical equipment, and how electrical safety programs should be structured. It is updated on a three-year cycle and works in tandem with OSHA CFR 1910 Subpart S. Compliance with NFPA 70E is the primary way US employers demonstrate electrical safety due diligence.
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) is an OSHA-required safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machinery and equipment are properly shut off and cannot be accidentally re-energized while maintenance or servicing work is performed. LOTO is required any time unexpected energization, startup, or release of stored energy could cause injury. Under OSHA CFR 1910.147, employers must have a written LOTO program, provide training, and use authorized lockout devices on all energy isolation points. NFPA 70E also covers LOTO procedures for electrical systems. Failure to follow LOTO is one of OSHA’s most frequently cited violations.
The PPE required for electrical work depends on the incident energy level at the specific equipment and condition of maintenance, as determined by an arc flash risk assessment. The only way to correctly determine which PPE applies to a given piece of equipment is to have an arc flash incident energy study conducted by a qualified electrical engineer.
An incident energy analysis (also called an arc flash study) is an engineering calculation that determines the amount of thermal energy a worker could be exposed to at a specific piece of electrical equipment during an arc flash event. Results are expressed in calories per square centimeter (cal/cm2). The analysis follows IEEE 1584 methodology using your facility’s actual electrical system data — equipment ratings, cable lengths, upstream protection settings — to calculate hazard levels at every point in the system. The output is used to label equipment with arc flash boundaries and PPE requirements. An incident energy analysis is required for NFPA 70E compliance and is the foundation of any effective electrical safety program.
OSHA 1910 Subpart S is a federal law — it sets the legally enforceable minimum electrical safety requirements for general industry workplaces in the United States. NFPA 70E is a voluntary consensus standard published by the National Fire Protection Association that provides detailed technical guidance on how to meet OSHA’s requirements in practice. OSHA sets the legal obligation; NFPA 70E is the industry-accepted method of fulfilling it. OSHA inspectors use NFPA 70E as the reference when assessing whether an employer has adequately protected workers from electrical hazards. Most electrical safety professionals treat NFPA 70E compliance as the practical definition of OSHA compliance for electrical work.

COMPLIANCE, REGULATIONS & LIABILITY

NFPA 70E requires that electrical safety training be completed at a minimum every three years. Retraining must also occur immediately whenever there is a change in an employee’s job tasks, a change in the electrical equipment they work on, new or revised safety procedures, or a change in applicable codes and standards. OSHA also requires refresher training whenever there is reason to believe a worker lacks the required knowledge or skills. In high-hazard environments such as manufacturing plants, data centers, and utilities, annual refresher training is considered best practice even when the three-year minimum has not elapsed.
OSHA penalties for electrical safety violations depend on the classification. As of 2024, OSHA’s maximum penalties are: Serious violations — up to $16,131 per violation; Willful or repeated violations — up to $161,323 per violation. Electrical violations consistently appear in OSHA’s annual top-ten most-cited standards list. Beyond direct fines, an arc flash incident resulting in worker injury can trigger OSHA investigations, halt operations, generate civil litigation, and result in significantly larger financial liability. Proactive compliance through arc flash studies, proper labeling, and documented NFPA 70E training is far less costly than the consequences of a citation or incident.

NETA stands for the InterNational Electrical Testing Association. NETA testing refers to the standards and procedures NETA publishes for the commissioning, maintenance, and field testing of electrical equipment. When equipment is tested to NETA standards, qualified technicians have followed a defined, auditable methodology to verify that equipment is operating correctly, safely, and within manufacturer and code specifications. NETA testing matters because electrical equipment degrades over time — insulation breaks down, breakers fail to trip correctly, connections loosen. Facilities that skip NETA-compliant testing are operating on assumptions about equipment condition rather than verified data, increasing the risk of arc flash, equipment failure, and unplanned downtime.

OSHA does not explicitly use the term ‘arc flash study’ in its regulations, but OSHA CFR 1910.333 and 1910.335 require employers to assess hazards before allowing workers to perform tasks on or near energized equipment and to provide appropriate PPE based on those hazards. The practical and legally defensible way to meet this obligation is to conduct an arc flash incident energy analysis in accordance with NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584. OSHA inspectors reference NFPA 70E when evaluating whether electrical hazard assessments are adequate. In the event of an arc flash incident, the absence of a documented arc flash study is treated as evidence of negligence.
In electrical safety, gross negligence occurs when an employer has prior knowledge of an unsafe electrical condition and fails to take reasonable action to correct it. This is distinct from ordinary negligence — gross negligence implies a conscious disregard for worker safety. If an arc flash study identifies a high-hazard piece of equipment and the employer fails to label it, fails to update PPE requirements, or allows workers to perform energised tasks without appropriate protection — and an incident subsequently occurs — the employer faces not only OSHA violations but potential criminal liability. Documented arc flash studies, up-to-date equipment labeling, and verifiable training records are the primary defences against a gross negligence finding.

FINDING & HIRING AN ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROVIDER

NFPA 70E requires that electrical safety training be completed at a minimum every three years. Retraining must also occur immediately whenever there is a change in an employee’s job tasks, a change in the electrical equipment they work on, new or revised safety procedures, or a change in applicable codes and standards. OSHA also requires refresher training whenever there is reason to believe a worker lacks the required knowledge or skills. In high-hazard environments such as manufacturing plants, data centers, and utilities, annual refresher training is considered best practice even when the three-year minimum has not elapsed.
OSHA penalties for electrical safety violations depend on the classification. As of 2024, OSHA’s maximum penalties are: Serious violations — up to $16,131 per violation; Willful or repeated violations — up to $161,323 per violation. Electrical violations consistently appear in OSHA’s annual top-ten most-cited standards list. Beyond direct fines, an arc flash incident resulting in worker injury can trigger OSHA investigations, halt operations, generate civil litigation, and result in significantly larger financial liability. Proactive compliance through arc flash studies, proper labeling, and documented NFPA 70E training is far less costly than the consequences of a citation or incident.

NETA stands for the InterNational Electrical Testing Association. NETA testing refers to the standards and procedures NETA publishes for the commissioning, maintenance, and field testing of electrical equipment. When equipment is tested to NETA standards, qualified technicians have followed a defined, auditable methodology to verify that equipment is operating correctly, safely, and within manufacturer and code specifications. NETA testing matters because electrical equipment degrades over time — insulation breaks down, breakers fail to trip correctly, connections loosen. Facilities that skip NETA-compliant testing are operating on assumptions about equipment condition rather than verified data, increasing the risk of arc flash, equipment failure, and unplanned downtime.

NETA stands for the InterNational Electrical Testing Association. NETA testing refers to the standards and procedures NETA publishes for the commissioning, maintenance, and field testing of electrical equipment. When equipment is tested to NETA standards, qualified technicians have followed a defined, auditable methodology to verify that equipment is operating correctly, safely, and within manufacturer and code specifications. NETA testing matters because electrical equipment degrades over time — insulation breaks down, breakers fail to trip correctly, connections loosen. Facilities that skip NETA-compliant testing are operating on assumptions about equipment condition rather than verified data, increasing the risk of arc flash, equipment failure, and unplanned downtime.

NETA stands for the InterNational Electrical Testing Association. NETA testing refers to the standards and procedures NETA publishes for the commissioning, maintenance, and field testing of electrical equipment. When equipment is tested to NETA standards, qualified technicians have followed a defined, auditable methodology to verify that equipment is operating correctly, safely, and within manufacturer and code specifications. NETA testing matters because electrical equipment degrades over time — insulation breaks down, breakers fail to trip correctly, connections loosen. Facilities that skip NETA-compliant testing are operating on assumptions about equipment condition rather than verified data, increasing the risk of arc flash, equipment failure, and unplanned downtime.

INCIDENT RESPONSE & WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AN ARC FLASH

Immediately after an arc flash incident: get injured workers emergency medical treatment — arc flash burns require specialist care. Secure the scene and de-energize all affected equipment before anyone approaches. Notify OSHA if the incident resulted in a fatality (within 8 hours) or in-patient hospitalization (within 24 hours) — this is a federal requirement under 29 CFR 1904. Preserve all physical evidence and do not restore power or clean up the scene until documentation is complete. Begin an incident investigation to identify the root cause. Review your arc flash study data, equipment labels, and training records immediately — these will be the first things OSHA requests.
The majority of arc flash incidents are caused by human error — specifically, failure to follow established electrical safety procedures. Common root causes include: working on energized equipment without an arc flash risk assessment; incorrect PPE selection due to missing or outdated equipment labels; failure to implement lockout/tagout before opening electrical enclosures; use of improper tools near energized conductors; and inadequate or lapsed NFPA 70E training. Organizational culture is a significant contributing factor — facilities where safety culture is weak or shortcuts are tolerated see higher arc flash rates. The most effective prevention combines current arc flash studies, accurate equipment labeling, and regular hands-on NFPA 70E training.
An arc flash study does not have a fixed expiration date, but NFPA 70E requires it to be reviewed and updated every 5 years or whenever there is a significant change to the electrical system — such as adding or modifying equipment, changing protective device settings, adding load, or modifying distribution topology. As a practical guideline, most electrical safety professionals recommend reviewing arc flash studies every three to five years even without system changes, as utility supply characteristics and equipment conditions shift over time. An outdated arc flash study with incorrect labels is arguably more dangerous than no study at all, because workers may rely on incorrect PPE guidance.

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