Line, Load, & LOTO: Simplify NFPA 70E Compliance with Test Points

An electrician is standing in front of a locked-out panel on a conveyor system. The isolator switch is off, the permit is signed, but before any mechanical work can begin, there’s one last step: verifying the absence of voltage.

Without a test point installed, this requires full personal protective equipment (PPE), a second qualified person as standby, and manually opening the panel to test with a multimeter. The Live-Dead-Live process drags on. Downtime racks up.

Now imagine the same task done safely, thru-door, in minutes, with no extra PPE, no second person, and no exposed conductors. That’s the impact of high-impedance test point Permanent Electrical Safety Devices (PESDs) installed on both the line and load sides.

The NFPA 70E Requirement: Live-Dead-Live

The Live-Dead-Live test, outlined in NFPA 70E 120.6(7), is a critical verification step in Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures. It ensures your voltmeter is working and confirms the equipment is truly de-energized before work begins.

The steps:

1. Live: Test your meter on a known voltage source
2. Dead: Check the equipment for absence of voltage
3. Live: Re-test the meter on the known source again

But what qualifies as a “known voltage source”? And how do you safely access both line and load sides without opening enclosures? That’s where PESDs come in.

The Solution: GracePESDs® Test Points on Line and Load

GracePESDs®, including ChekVolt® and Safe-Test Point™, offer high-impedance, touch-safe test points that can be installed externally through the enclosure door. When installed on both line and load sides of equipment such as isolator switches or MCC buckets, they allow a qualified person to:

• Verify their meter on the line side as a known voltage source
• Test for absence of voltage on the load side
• Re-check on the line side to complete the NFPA 70E-required sequence
• Do all this without opening the panel

It’s safer, faster, and reduces the risk of skipped steps.

Real-World Results: $19,500 in Savings Per Panel

A leading global e-commerce and logistics company adopted this exact configuration across its fulfillment centers. By using ChekVolt test points on both sides of isolator switches:

• LOTO procedures were shortened by up to 45 minutes per event
• A task previously requiring two electricians could be performed by one
• Voltage verification became repeatable and standardized across sites
• Annual savings: ~$19,500 per panel (based on one daily procedure, 260 days/year, $100/hr labor)

Compliance with NFPA 70E wasn’t the side benefit—it was the driving force. Speed and labor savings followed naturally.

Why It Matters

• Compliance: Supports NFPA 70E 120.6(7) and 120.6(4) requirements
• Safety: Reduces arc flash risk by avoiding enclosure entry
• Efficiency: Eliminates need for extra PPE and standby personnel
• Consistency: Promotes standardized testing practices across teams
• Savings: Time is money—up to 45 minutes and one worker per procedure saved

Final Thoughts

Performing LOTO without PESDs is like using a flashlight instead of floodlights—you’re still doing the job, but it’s slower, harder, and riskier. Installing high-impedance test points on both the line and load side lights the way toward better safety and easier compliance. Every panel is a new opportunity to make the safe choice the easiest one. 

On-Demand Webinar: Learn More

Ready to take your panel safety to the next level? Watch our on-demand webinar, Designing Safer Panels with Purpose, featuring former UL Principal Engineer John Kovacik. You’ll learn how to integrate UL-listed components and PESDs to simplify LOTO, reduce risk, and design with safety and compliance in mind—from UL 508A to NFPA 70E. Whether you’re building new panels or improving existing ones, this session is packed with practical insights from one of the experts who helped shape the standards.

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