Planning for the inevitable power outage can be thought of as a continuum from no backup power to complete coverage of all circuits in all locations. There is no single point on that continuum that is right for every business. For some businesses, locking the doors and waiting for power to return might be a viable alternative. For others, full operation for the duration of the outage is the only option. For most companies with branch operations, the best solution is often a strategic mixture of coverage based on the critical nature of products or services, location, population density or any number of other factors.

No Backup

Lock up, go home and wait for power to return. There are no customers and there is no revenue until power is restored.

Orderly Shutdown

Safely shut down computers and registers. Key customer/business data is protected, but customers will have to go elsewhere until utility power returns.

Limited Operation

With backup power for essential circuits, you can stay open for business, but not at full productivity. Losses are reduced and you can continue to provide some level of service to your customers.

Full Operation

Operations continue as if there were no outage. Revenues increase and new customers are gained while competitors are closed or operate at reduced capacity

When Will it Happen to You?

It will happen. The only questions are, “When?” and “How much will it cost?” Every year, more than 2 million U.S. businesses experience a power outage lasting eight hours or more. The cost of these outages is astronomical in terms of lost revenue alone.

Causes of Power Outages

• 38% Weather: lightning, wind, rain, snow, heat, cold and ice
• 26% Utility equipment problems and grid overload
• 12% Fallen trees or tree growth
• 10% Animal contact
• 8% Human error: Underground digging, cranes, traffic, vandalism, etc.
• 6% Miscellaneous: Mechanical damage, construction error, fire, etc.

Lost revenue is only part of the story. When you consider some of the other direct costs and intangible losses, it’s easy to see why an extended outage can be devastating.

• Data can be lost
• Employees are idled
• Manufacturing processes are disrupted
• Refrigerated goods spoil
• Security systems may be disabled
• Customers are inconvenienced and buy from your competitors

Causes of Power Outages

Power outages are not confined to the coasts and “Tornado Alley”. In fact, more than 60% of all power outages are not weather related at all. The need for electricity is increasing at a phenomenal rate and utility companies are finding it difficult to keep pace with the growing demand. As a result, the overloading of our aging power grid has become an ever-increasing cause of extended outages nationwide.

For more information on back up power for contingency plans, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

Source: generac.com

A spectacular light show caused by an electrical emergency in Queens created moments of panic for some at LaGuardia Airport Thursday night.

Airline passengers were left in the dark inside the transit hub’s terminals, but why? Runways were also temporarily shuttered following the Con Edison voltage monitor malfunction which illuminated the New York skyline with an eerie blue-green hue.

The 13 minute power outage delayed some 15 flights from taking off for up to an hour and rerouted nine planes to other airports.

It left many wondering how an airport the size of LaGuardia, in a city the size of New York, shut down from a mere power outage. Shouldn’t there be an uninterrupted source of power on backup to keep the airport running right away?

“A power outage of this nature could happen at any airport,” LaGuardia General Manager Lysa Scully said.

But thousands of people were taken off guard over the holiday.

Nearby, Rikers Island prison reported no sustained power outage thanks to its backup system.

“LaGuardia has backup power, but it’s basically emergency backup power and not really a backup system that would allow the LaGuardia Airport to operate safely,” Cuomo said.

The runways were closed for 13 minutes as a precaution to make sure everything was safe.

“It’s very concerning,” she admitted regarding the temporary terminal outages. “We don’t want people in the dark.”

LaGuardia went through a rebuilding, but no backup power system was installed. So what’s the plan going forward to prevent what happened last week from happening again?

“Having LaGuardia backup generators that allowed LaGuardia to function is something that we’re going to further explore,” the governor said.

For more information on backup power, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

Source: CBS New York

With the unquenchable thirst for more power, we are finding more data centers are considering medium voltage solutions that use a medium voltage alternator and ANSI C37.20.2 gear. At the same time, many staff members and contractors are hesitant to work with medium voltage systems. The solution — Generac, MPS.

By paralleling on the low voltage side and feeding one or multiple transformers, many system advantages can be realized:

• Facility staff are typically more comfortable interacting with low voltage generators.
• Low voltage equipment is much easier and quicker to source.
• Low voltage rental equipment can be used when needed.
• No medium voltage paralleling switchgear sections are required, resulting in a smaller footprint and significant cost savings

For more information on low voltage generators, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

Our warmest Holiday wishes from the entire team here at South Shore Generator. Calendar year 2018 was, and continues to be, a truly remarkable year and we take this moment to recognize the joy that each and every one of you has brought to our personal and professional lives. We exist because of your faith and trust in us.

As calendar year 2019 approaches, we reflect upon the foundational recognition that your success is our success. Our New Year’s wish for 2019 is to nurture our positive and ever strengthening partnership and to deliver ever increasing value to you and your business through the entirety of 2019.

Throughout this Holiday season may you be blessed with health and surrounded by friends and family. All the best! Cheers!

Not long ago, hospitality needs were simpler: nice room, clean sheets, more towels. Today expectations are much different, and they’re driving a huge need for next-generation backup power.

Whether traveling for business or leisure, hospitality guests expect fast, reliable Wi-Fi, digital reservation systems, mobile check-in, mobile concierge services and more. Add the emergence of new all-in-one entertainment complexes, and hospitality has become a whole new world.

Assessing Facility Needs

South Shore Generator provides the reliable backup systems you need to ensure unforgettable experiences—and earn the positive reviews your business depends on. We assess key needs including:

• Safety
• Continued operations
• Emissions
• Noise containment

Power Considerations

Every hospitality facility needs to be ready to run without utility power in the case of severe weather, weakness in the grid or even construction accidents.

All-in-One Entertainment

With stadiums or theme parks at the center, many new entertainment complexes are offering guests everything they need in one location. They can catch a game, relax at a spa, enjoy a high-end meal and rest in their hotel room—all on the same property or complex. This approach raises the stakes for backup power.

High-Tech Hotels

Rising affluence has led to more travelers from around the world. Whether they’re traveling for business or leisure, these guests expect fast, reliable Wi-Fi, digital reservation systems, mobile check-in, mobile concierge services and more. Those attending business meetings also expect hotels and conference centers to have high-quality tech equipment.

A New Type of Casino

To attract new customers, casinos are developing different types of games including fantasy sports, eSports and online wagering. These new games all require a significant amount of data and constant connectivity. And whether they’re playing these new games or the classics, guests expect their financial information to be secure.

We know there's a lot to consider. That’s why we make it easy. Contact us today and we'll take care of you every step of the way.

Source: Kohlerpower.com

Health care facilities managers must consider a number of factors when it comes to installing and using emergency power generators. When hospitals cannot maintain power, they place the lives of patients, employees and visitors at risk. Loss of communication is another concern, as is loss of key data. In addition, the impact of major weather events has shined a spotlight on a complex situation.

Moreover, as the health care industry moves to a hub-and-spoke model to provide more localized care, there is an increasing need for backup power at off-site facilities, thus ensuring that critical procedures are not interrupted in the event of a utility outage.

Government regulations are in place to make sure that off-site facilities have emergency power-generation equipment available, be it on a smaller scale. Ambulatory surgery centers are required by local and state codes to have emergency power. The same National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 110 standards apply to these locations as for a Level I trauma center. Emergency power must be available within 10 seconds to Life Safety and Critical Branch loads if a utility failure occurs. These same standards apply to some limited care and long-term care facilities.

Location, location, location

Generators, switchgear and fuel systems should only be installed in hospital locations where they are protected from inclement weather, floods, earthquakes and fire, according to Chisholm. This requirement rules out most basement and rooftop placements. Also, administrators must decide what services they are required to provide per agreements with other hospitals, state and local municipalities and for how long, in the case of an extended utility outage.

This could dictate the type of fueling system options (natural gas, diesel or a combination of both) and tight compliance with EPA Tier 4 regulations on the latest diesel engine designs. Contrary to popular belief, the newer natural gas- and propane-powered sets can be used on selected projects in several states.

Hospitals typically require multiple generators because of their size and the importance of power to overall operations. As a result, paralleling switchgear is important to meet their sequence of operation. Switchgear — tailored to specific needs — provides hospitals with the ability to control power for their existing load while ensuring that they’re covered for unforeseen events.

A key paragraph in NFPA 110 requires that hospitals restore power to essential life safety loads in 10 seconds or less.

Most technological advances in generator engine and alternator design during the past 10 years involve controls. The monitoring and controlling features of generators have allowed operators to understand and do much more with their units. The controllers also have increased the capability of onboard paralleling features to reduce the need for expensive switchgear.

The latest generator-set controllers from Kohler Power Systems are robust, intuitive and easy to use. They offer generator-set controllers to parallel and load manage different types of fuel systems. For example, paralleling a 500-kilowatt (kW) diesel generator with a 200-kW natural gas generator is a relatively simple process. Customers also have the ability to add different size generator sets to expand their system as their facilities grow.

There is more demand from hospitals for integrated emergency power systems from a single supplier — everything from the generator set to the paralleling switchgear/controls/automatic transfer switch to the uninterruptible power supply. There is also more interest in natural gas solutions for load management and cogeneration, which leverages waste heat from the generator-set package for facility heating or the production of chilled water.

More dual-fuel generator units, which run on diesel fuel and natural gas, are being used in hospitals. The big attraction of this technology is extended run times. The health care facility is able to enjoy the benefits that an endless fuel supply of natural gas brings without exposure to disruption that a utility connection brings. This approach also gives facilities managers the ability to maintain a smaller amount of on-site diesel fuel.

Dual-fuel sets actually can double the time a hospital stays on emergency power, experts agree. Also, if a natural gas connection is shut off, the generator can still run on full diesel, which makes for a win-win situation.

For more information, contact South Shore Generator.

Source: hfmmagazine.com

Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities Need Low Maintenance Units

Diesel generators require constant care. With engine requirements for low-sulfur diesel fuel, the fuel now needs to be re-conditioned every 12-16 months to ensure stability and ease of flow. This fuel requirement, along with the maintenance of the exhaust after treatment system, requires an experienced facility manager to handle this process. If you do not have this person on staff, you would need to turn to a third-party provider for the service, which will add cost. It will also require the rental of a backup generator during servicing when not using a MPS solution.

To reduce the maintenance burden, many short and long-term care facilities are turning to natural gas generators, as they need little maintenance. They are also eco-friendly with fewer emissions and a smaller carbon foot print.

For more information on industrial generators, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

Source: generac.com

Everyone knows that when hospitals are not functioning due to an outage, they place the lives of patients, staff members, and visitors at risk. What administrators and facility managers often do not realize is that during a time of crisis, a lit hospital is like a beacon to residents. Many visitors won’t leave and many community members flood in, looking for shelter, assistance, food, and water.

If your hospital backup generators are only sized to supply your most critical functions, you will likely have issues handling this crowd of people. Elevators may not be operating, hallways may not be lit, and your cafeteria may not be able to serve food. Your generators need to be able to provide the power to support all of your community, not just your patients and staff.

In addition, recent trends also show the health care industry is moving to a hub-and-spoke model to provide more localized care. This means ambulatory surgery centers, long-term care facilities, and hospice centers may require healthcare backup power to ensure critical procedures are not interrupted in the event of a utility outage, as well as maintain patient safety and comfort.

While healthcare facilities do not need to be Tier 4 compliant for engines, many utilities require compliance to obtain access to their generation. The issue for hospitals is the extra maintenance requirements that are associated with Tier 4 engines, including the emissions systems.

Healthcare Requirements Go Beyond NEC and NFPA

It is well known that hospitals and many other healthcare facilities must adhere to National Electric Code (NEC) 700 and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 110 standards, meaning emergency power must be available within 10 seconds to life safety and critical branch loads if a utility failure occurs.

What is not as well known is that over time, healthcare facilities often open new wings or add new state-of-the-art equipment to better serve patients. It becomes unclear what systems are linked to the generators, and performing routine load bank exercises do not provide this vital information. While it may seem unsettling, the best test is to kill power to the building and determine which loads are actually connected to the backup system. It is better to do this before an actual emergency occurs, so staff members have time to react and correct any issues or add generators, if needed.

In addition, administrators, facility managers, and specifiers may need to meet state and municipal codes for the location of generators and minimum generator runtime standards. For example, emergency generators need to be protected from floods, earthquakes, and fire, so those requirements typically rule out most basement and rooftop placements.

While diesel has been the traditional fuel choice, many healthcare facilities are now using natural gas or bi-fuel generators, upon approval of the AHJ, to meet runtime requirements during times of crisis.

Two Natural Solutions

Bi-Fuel is a great option for healthcare facilities because it provides the best of both worlds. You meet the on-site fuel requirements of NEC 700 and NFPA 110 because you have a diesel storage tank, but obtain the benefits of longer runtimes as the generator transitions to natural gas under load. South Shore Generator offers fully integrated solutions that are the only EPA-compliant generators straight from the factory in both the 500 kW and 600 kW nodes. These units can also be paralleled to create even larger kW requirements.

Natural gas generators are also being specified for many healthcare facilities, as the permitting requirements are easier. In addition, more AHJ’s are now considering the natural gas pipeline network to be an acceptable on-site fuel storage, as this strong underground network is rarely impacted by weather or other crisis events, allowing you to meet code requirements related to having a reliable fuel source.

Another advantage is that there is less maintenance associated with natural gas generators.

Integrated Paralleling Offers Even More Options

Generac’s innovative Modular Power System (MPS) can provide the needed large kWs for hospitals along with the benefits of redundancy, scalability, and safety, through integrated paralleling.

While it rarely happens, should your single large kW backup generator fail in an emergency, lives are at risk. With Generac’s MPS, you have at least one other backup/emergency generator operating to ensure critical operations continue. This means the kW requirements of the smallest genset in the paralleled system is sized appropriately to meet those needs.

You can also combine generators using a variety of fuels such as diesel and natural gas. This not only gives you the benefits of genset redundancy, but now you have fuel redundancy as well.

This approach does not require dedicated switchgear sections. Future expansion generators simply tie directly to the generator bus. Because the paralleling is already built into our generators, the MPS system fundamentally has greater flexibility for growth, requires less electrical room space, and reduces initial capital cost.

Whether it be multiple generators in parallel, or a large single engine generator, We have the product solution to meet your requirements.

For more information on industrial generators, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

generac.com

For more than 50 years, Kohler has provided backup power to every branch of federal, state and local governments. We understand your specialized backup power requirements. That’s why we provide you with dedicated account managers who live and breathe government operations, both CONUS and OCONUS.

Plus, we offer total system integration which means everything works together — generators, transfer switches, switchgear and controls. It’s all engineered and tested to meet the highest government requirements and the following codes and standards:

• EPA emissions certification
• IBC seismic certification
• NFPA 110
• UL 2200
• California OSHPD

Trusted Solutions for Federal, State and Local Government

Most of the time COTS solutions can meet your challenges, but there are situations that call for custom power solutions. That’s where we come in. We’ll help you assess and meet your needs with:

Power Solutions

• Fully customizable offerings
• Complete power systems solutions
• Natural gas/LP-fueled models to 1000 kW
• 3 kW - 4000 kW range of diesel-fueled generators
• Stationary, Mobile, Marine and Portable
• Easy-to-use, highly programmable controls
• State-of-the-art technologies
• Remote and local enterprise monitoring
• Program management, logistics and installations

GSA Advantage

Kohler participates in the purchasing schedules that make procurement of government solutions fast, easy and effective. Plus KOHLER® power systems can be purchased under the GSA Disaster Recovery Purchasing Program. So why wait? Take advantage of the benefits today.

• GSA 56 Contract #GS-07F-019DA
• DUNS: 12-158-7513
• Cage Code: 67271
• Business Code: Large
• NAICS Code: 335312,335313
• FSC Classes: 5920,6110,6115,6125,6130,6135

Proven Collaboration with a Trusted Partner

We support systems integrators with design, installation, start-up, and warranty through a network of Kohler distributors and small business set-aside channel partners. Our products and services support projects including:

• New generator and switchgear installations
• Retrofitting existing facilities
• Custom integration for special program requirements
• Custom COTS - supporting your specific requirements
• Teaming and subcontracting arrangements

For more information on back up power generators, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

kohlerpower.com

Water Treatment is Evolving Quickly. Industrial Generators Help You Stay Ahead.

The demand for safe water is growing rapidly. And as water consumption doubles globally every 20 years, individuals and municipalities are more focused than ever on using this resource wisely and efficiently. That concern and new technologies are driving a rapid evolution in the reclamation and reuse of wastewater.

Computers now control water-processing and delivery systems, and sophisticated digital water meters and data analysis can improve operations and reduce costs. Yet those innovations and increasing regulations have put even more pressure on facilities to have reliable backup power systems.

Assessing Facility Needs

KOHLER provides the custom, scalable solutions you need to keep pumps and other key equipment running – so you can avoid potential consumer safety issues and prevent flooding and discharge of untreated wastewater. We assess key needs including:

• Power usage
• Motor starting
• Codes and standards
• And that’s just the beginning.

Power Considerations

Backup power can keep your facilities running during an outage or offset the power supply needed during peak usage. It must start quickly and reliably, as any interruption in the process can be problematic. That’s why Total System Integration is essential. It means your generators, transfer switches, paralleling switchgear and controllers are all designed to work together.

We know you have a lot to consider. That’s why we make it easy. Contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

KOHLER