| Guaranteeing uninterrupted power has never been | | | | future cooling and power requirements. The |
| more important for facilities managers. Site | | | | significance of the trade-off between |
| survey, early in the specification process, is vital | | | | uninterruptible power supply footprints (UPS and |
| for a successful UPS installation and future | | | | batteries) and revenue-earning hardware should |
| business continuity. | | | | not be ignored. Should server space be given |
| Above 5kVA, a reputable UPS supplier will usually | | | | over to UPS and batteries or should they be |
| recommend a site survey. For such installations, | | | | housed elsewhere? |
| the site generally requires a little more thought | | | | When specifying UPS for uninterrupted power, |
| about health and safety risk assessments, | | | | everyone wants to avoid the risks of over- or |
| method statements, logistics and floor loadings, | | | | under-specification. A site survey, enabling |
| electrical installation, remote monitoring, | | | | exploration of power protection needs, can help |
| environment and aftercare. Below 5kVA, surveys | | | | avoid this. An optimally specified uninterruptible |
| are less usual unless there are specific installation | | | | power supply solution can only be procured from |
| issues, such as those associated with long runtime | | | | a supplier that truly understands the subject, an |
| battery packs. | | | | organisation's vulnerabilities, complexities and |
| Site survey is integral to successful UPS selection | | | | business continuity objectives - hard to achieve |
| For facilities teams, intent on optimum business | | | | without visits and site surveys. |
| continuity, site surveys should be an integral part | | | | In many ways, the science of uninterrupted |
| of the pre-sale process. They offer the perfect | | | | power is less about electrical engineering than the |
| opportunity to discuss the uninterruptible power | | | | dynamics of departmental interaction. Not least, |
| supply installation with the manufacturer's technical | | | | it's about the increased susceptibility to power |
| energy consultant (TEC). Trust and communication | | | | issues of remote loads at the edge of the grid. |
| established at this stage often sets the pattern | | | | Not only are power cuts more frequent here, but |
| for a successful relationship. | | | | problems such as sags and surges too. A |
| A key part of UPS specification involves | | | | thorough site survey, allied to proven UPS |
| identifying both critical, essential and non-essential | | | | technology, is essential. It also provides the |
| loads. It's an inherently complex task that | | | | structure for good documentation going forward, |
| inevitably draws on site observations as well as | | | | which in today's dynamic and fast-moving |
| theoretical data. Significantly, there's a distinct | | | | business environments is a must. |
| difference between the power ratings on rear | | | | Last but not least are the challenges of location, |
| panel labels and those in operating manuals; that's | | | | architecture and site availability. As well as creating |
| why ascertaining actual load ratings involves | | | | site-specific needs, failure to properly understand |
| measuring the values drawn from the local | | | | the implications of these could jeopardise |
| distribution panel. This type of assessment is hard | | | | installation, UPS operation, maintenance of |
| to achieve without specialist uninterrupted power | | | | uninterrupted power and business continuity. |
| knowledge and a site visit. | | | | Physical location of a UPS, the means of accessing |
| Similarly, Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications | | | | its location, load-bearing capabilities and working |
| often require upgraded capacity. With the | | | | regimes during and after installation are all better |
| criticality of certain applications dictating the | | | | understood from on-site. |
| degree of protection required, network managers | | | | Designing, installing and operating UPS for |
| need a sound overview of applications and | | | | uninterrupted power may seem complicated. It |
| equipment. During the site survey, a | | | | needn't be, with support from a suitably |
| comprehensive network overview can establish | | | | experienced vendor and proper preparation. For a |
| this alongside highlighting how it is | | | | start, there's The Power Protection Guide, written |
| departmentalised. For example, if one component | | | | by power continuity experts Robin Koffler and |
| is shut down, how many other departments will | | | | Jason Yates of Riello UPS and published by |
| continue to enjoy uninterrupted power? | | | | entiveon, with its detailed information on designing |
| With every square metre having to earn its keep, | | | | and implementing secure power continuity. The |
| space planning is vital. This requires comprehensive | | | | next step is to enter into a consultative |
| understanding of current and planned loads and | | | | partnership with a reputable manufacturer and get |
| their role in business continuity. It is particularly | | | | them to site to fully understand the business |
| important for a high-density datacenter and | | | | continuity challenges. |
| requires careful consideration of existing and | | | | |