Top NFPA 79 Compliance Failures for Industrial Machinery

04 Sep 2026

The Issues We See Again and Again

NFPA 79 compliance challenges are rarely caused by obscure requirements buried deep within the standard. In our experience evaluating industrial machinery, a relatively small number of recurring issues account for the majority of nonconformities. 

The frustrating part for many manufacturers and integrators is that these findings are often discovered late in the project lifecycle, such as during commissioning, customer acceptance, or compliance evaluation. When nonconformities are found during these late stages the corrective actions become more costly and disruptive. 

The good news is that most of these issues are predictable and can be addressed long before they impact project schedules. 

The Compliance Problems That Keep Reappearing 

Across a wide range of industrial machinery evaluations, our engineers consistently encounter the same types of deficiencies, including: 

• Electrical disconnecting means that don’t fully meet NFPA 79 requirements 
• Common errors involving overcurrent protection devices 
• Grounding and bonding deficiencies with significant safety implications 
• Wiring and conductor identification issues 
• Missing markings, labels, and documentation needed to demonstrate compliance 

While these findings may appear straightforward, they are often overlooked during design reviews and panel construction, leading to unnecessary rework and delays. 

Why These Findings Matter 

Even seemingly minor issues can have a significant impact on project timelines. A missing label, an incorrectly selected protective device, or an overlooked grounding detail can quickly become a compliance obstacle when equipment is being prepared for shipment, installation, or inspection. 

Many organizations focus heavily on machine functionality and performance during development, only to discover that compliance requirements were not fully considered until much later in the process. 

Understanding where these common issues occur is often the first step toward avoiding them. 

Learn the Top NFPA 79 Findings – and How to Avoid Them 

To help manufacturers, integrators, and machinery builders proactively address these challenges, Intertek has developed a short technical webinar:

Top NFPA 79 Failures (and How to Avoid Them) On-Demand Webinar 

In this webinar, we discuss:

• The most common NFPA 79 deficiencies identified during machinery evaluations 
• Why these issues continue to appear across the industry 
• Practical approaches to identifying compliance gaps earlier 
• Steps organizations can take to reduce rework and avoid late-stage surprises 

Whether you are designing new equipment, modifying existing machinery, or preparing for a compliance review, this session provides valuable insights into the issues that matter most. Watch the webinar to learn more: https://www.intertek.com/resources/webinars/2026/industrial-top-nfpa-79-failures/