In today’s world, an uninterrupted power supply is no longer just a luxury—it’s a necessity. For owners of many commercial buildings and businesses, a power outage can lead to significant losses, safety risks, and operational disruptions. Properly sized and maintained generators ensure that your business remains operational during power failures. This generator guide will walk you through the essentials of generator backup sizing and preparedness.
The Importance of Commercial Generators for Your Business
From casinos to surgical centers and apartment buildings to office buildings, a wide range of businesses rely on uninterrupted power to keep people safe and businesses running. For the sake of covering a range of considerations, we will examine how backup power affects apartment building owners, hospitals, and data centers, where power reliability is essential.
In apartment buildings, a power outage can cause widespread inconvenience for residents, including loss of lighting, heating and cooling, and access to elevators. This can lead to tenant dissatisfaction and potential liability for property managers. If power outages become frequent or prolonged, tenants may even seek alternative housing, leading to loss of revenue and higher vacancy rates.
In hospitals, the stakes are even higher. A power outage could compromise critical medical equipment, endangering patient lives. Life-support systems, surgical operations, and essential data systems all rely on continuous power. Without a reliable backup generator, the safety and well-being of patients can be put at serious risk, making a dependable power solution not just a convenience but a legal and ethical obligation for hospital administrators.
Data centers, which are the backbone of the digital economy, face significant financial and operational risks if power is lost. In a data-driven world, even a brief interruption can lead to data loss, operational downtime, and significant financial consequences. Since these facilities host critical information and applications for businesses, having a robust and reliable backup power solution is essential for maintaining uptime and data integrity. A properly sized generator system is the cornerstone of ensuring that your data center stays online, even when the grid goes down.
Generator Sizing Guide: Getting the Right Size
Properly sizing your commercial generator helps ensure that it performs as needed in an emergency. If your generator is too small, it may fail to power all essential systems, leaving key functions inoperable. On the other hand, an oversized generator can lead to unnecessary costs and inefficiencies, including higher fuel consumption and maintenance expenses.
To determine the appropriate size, start by assessing your power needs. Begin by identifying and listing all critical systems that must remain operational during an outage. For an apartment building, this may include lighting, HVAC systems, elevators, and security systems. In a hospital, the list would be more extensive, covering medical devices, life-support systems, lighting, and essential IT infrastructure. In data centers, you’ll need to account for server loads, cooling systems, and backup storage devices.
Once you have a clear understanding of which systems need backup power, you must calculate the total wattage required during peak usage. It’s important to account for the starting wattage of systems that require an extra surge when they first power on, such as HVAC systems and elevators. This calculation provides a baseline for determining the generator’s capacity, helping you avoid the risks of undersizing or oversizing your equipment.
Choosing the right generator also involves selecting the appropriate type. Standby generators are permanently installed and automatically kick in during a power outage. They are ideal for critical facilities like hospitals and data centers, where any delay in power restoration is unacceptable. Portable generators, which are mobile and can be moved as needed, are generally better suited for less critical applications or temporary power needs, but they are not recommended for large facilities that require consistent, long-term backup power.
Selecting the Right Fuel Type
The fuel type you choose for your commercial generator depends on your facility’s needs, availability of fuel, and environmental considerations. Diesel generators are commonly used in large installations because of their reliability and efficiency. Diesel fuel is readily available, and diesel engines are designed to handle heavy loads and long runtimes, making them ideal for hospitals and data centers.
Natural gas generators are another popular choice, especially in locations where a consistent natural gas supply is available. Natural gas generators are often connected directly to the utility’s gas lines, which eliminates the need for on-site fuel storage. This can be a significant advantage in urban areas with limited space. California residents, however, must keep in mind that their natural gas supply will most likely be lost in the event of an earthquake.
Propane generators are typically used in situations where other fuel options are unavailable or where environmental concerns dictate the use of cleaner fuel. Propane has a longer shelf life than diesel, which makes it an attractive option for facilities that want to ensure their fuel remains viable for extended periods.
Ensuring Generator Preparedness
Owning a commercial generator is only part of the solution. Ensuring that it is ready to operate at any moment requires a proactive approach to maintenance, fuel management, and staff training.
Regular maintenance is essential to keeping your generator in optimal condition. This includes scheduling routine inspections to check for any signs of wear, ensuring that all components are functioning correctly, and conducting load tests to confirm that the generator can handle the required power load during an outage. Preventative maintenance should also include replacing worn parts before they fail, which reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns during an emergency.
Fuel management is another critical aspect of generator preparedness. For diesel generators, maintaining a sufficient and high-quality fuel supply is vital. Diesel fuel can degrade over time, leading to potential engine issues or even failure when the generator is needed most. To address this, facilities often implement fuel polishing and filtering systems, which help maintain fuel quality by removing contaminants and preventing fuel degradation.
“We recommend annual diesel fuel lab analysis for the extra assurance that your generator’s fuel isn’t compromised in any way,” says Randy Gross, Duthie Power Services’ Director of Operations. “Regularly monitoring fuel levels and scheduling timely refills also ensures that the generator is always ready for extended use.”
Training and safety protocols are equally important. Facility staff should be trained to operate the generator and handle basic troubleshooting tasks. In a hospital or data center, where uptime is critical, staff should be prepared to switch to backup power and resolve any issues that arise quickly. Safety protocols should be established and followed rigorously to prevent accidents and ensure that the generator is operated according to best practices.
Lastly, it’s important to stay compliant with local regulations. Different regions have codes that govern generator installation, fuel storage, emissions, and noise levels. Ensuring your generator setup adheres to these regulations will not only keep you within the law but also reduce the risk of fines or operational restrictions.
Conclusion
For owners of any commercial generator – whether in apartment buildings, hospitals, or data centers – investing in the right generator and maintaining a high level of preparedness is crucial. A properly sized and maintained generator will ensure that your operations remain uninterrupted during power outages, protecting your investment and providing peace of mind to your residents, patients, or clients.
Understanding your power needs, selecting the appropriate generator type, and committing to regular maintenance and staff training are essential steps in safeguarding your business against the uncertainty of power outages. In a world where power reliability is critical, preparedness is the key to resilience.
Duthie Power Services is proud to help with all your commercial generator needs. Give us a call today at 1-800-899-3931 if you have more questions about this generator guide or would like more information, you can request a quote through our website.
