NFPA 79

NFPA 79 is an Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery used in the United States and developed by the National Fire Protection Association. It is, according to the NFPA, "intended to minimize the potential hazard of electrical shock and electrical fire hazards of industrial metalworking machine tools, woodworking machinery, plastics machinery, and mass-produced equipment, not portable by hand." The standard provides detailed requirements for the design, construction, wiring, component selection, and safeguarding of electrical systems used within these machines.

Many customers will be familiar with NFPA 70, also known as the National Electrical Code (NEC), which governs electrical installations in a broad range of structures and focuses primarily on the connection of power to the equipment. NFPA 79 goes beyond NFPA 70 and specifically covers the internal wiring, components, and control systems of industrial machinery.

NFPA 79 for Heat and Vacuum Sealing Machinery

Heat and vacuum sealers contain electrical components that are directly affected by NFPA 79 requirements. These systems typically include:

• Heating elements, temperature controllers, and thermocouple circuits
• Vacuum pumps, motors, and solenoid valves
• PLC-based or relay-based control systems
• Air-assisted mechanisms, which often rely on electrically actuated pneumatic components
• Operator control panels, HMI screens, and safety interlocks
• Internal wiring bundles that can be exposed to elevated temperatures or moving assemblies

NFPA 79 validation is the process of ensuring that industrial equipment complies the electrical safety requirements in the NFPA 79 standard, often through a combination of design review, compliance checks, and on-site field evaluation by third-party certification entities. The purpose of the validation process is to verify that the equipment is free from electrical hazards such as shock, fire, and control system failure by thorough examination of its wiring practices, components, and overall electrical architecture.