Two years ago, 50 million people in the Northeast spent the night in one of the largest blackouts in recent memory. Last year, the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina included a loss of power that left many residents of condominium complexes in darkened rooms without electricity for critical essentials like food, light and medication.
In any power outage, whether caused by nature or power grid failure, residents turn from annoyed to frustrated and finally to scared, while management struggles to continue operations in the midst of confusion. Even condominiums with seamless, well-thought-out emergency plans can be ill prepared for the real thing.
The weakened power grid
The power grid has been a large concern over the years since demand has placed much stress on the system. An increase in the number of users and aging transmission lines has caused frequent brownouts in areas throughout North America. Weather-related outages can strike anywhere and at any time. From sizzling temperatures in the summer to hurricanes that pummel coastal resorts and icy conditions in the winter, weather can cripple the power grid in every geographic location.
Condominium complexes should plan accordingly and include a backup power resource in their budget planning. Now that so much of a building’s infrastructure is tied to a main computer system, it is even more important to ensure a constant flow of power throughout the facility, no matter how long the grid is down. This strategy will help residents remain safe throughout the duration of the outage and ensure a consistent and satisfactory living experience.
Safety first
Condominium safety provisions aim to ensure that emergency systems such as elevators, fire detection and control, and egress lighting for stairs, hallways and exit signs operate long enough to prevent panic and facilitate a safe exit. The general standard is that emergency power should be supplied for a minimum of two hours. Nonfunctioning emergency systems were a major problem during the 2003 blackout and recent hurricanes.
Loss of power to elevators doesn’t normally cause an emergency situation, though there is the potential for such problems. For example, residents in wheelchairs may lose their access to upper-floor rooms. Water supply is another issue during any power outage. In addition to the loss of hot water, it is possible to lose running water altogether. At the very least, residents are inconvenienced by cold showers, rationed water for drinking and toilets that must be manually flushed. At worst, loss of water causes a sanitation issue. During the August 2003 blackout, some locations completely lost access to a potable water supply, including running water for sanitary facilities.
All of these scenarios speak to the importance of dependable backup power resources that can supply a complex for an extended period of time.
More than just backup energy
As condominium complex power requirements have grown over the years, so have the capabilities of today’s backup power generators. Where generators were once used primarily to support emergency systems, today’s systems can power everything from water-treatment facilities to food and beverage operations, security measures and high-speed Internet systems.
Facility managers should understand that a successful backup power system is more than just a generator itself. A high quality transfer switch and enough sufficient fuel to run the generator are just as critical. Transfer switches are the components that transfer the distribution of power from the traditional source to the generator when the power is interrupted or knocked out entirely. Since today’s condominiums have operations that depend on large computer systems, having a reliable transfer switch that immediately links over to the backup generator is one of the most critical elements to the entire system.
In every part of North America, condominiums now face the frequent possibility of power loss. Although the first priority will always be to provide safety to residents, those facilities that can provide continuous high quality service will get the highest resident satisfaction marks. For this reason alone, condominium boards and managers should consider an uninterruptible power system centered on a backup power generator that can provide an adequate level of power for extended operating hours.
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Author : Eric Johnston
Company : Americas Generators
Eric Johnston is vice president of Americas Generators.
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