Installing an Emergency Generator? When to Call in the Pros

Since the tragic deaths that occurred at a Florida nursing home due to a power blackout, commercial buildings, especially nursing homes and other care facilities, people are realizing just how important it is to have an emergency generator. Installing an emergency generator is no easy task, however. It’s much more involved than it may seem at first. There are many details to consider, and there’s little room for error. Here are just a few of the things you will need to deal with when installing an emergency generator and why it’s so important to consult with professionals.

Before you can even think about installing an emergency generator, you need to identify your needs. How much power does your building draw? How does it fluctuate throughout the day? In the event of an emergency what would you need to keep powered and what could be shut off? Do you plan on expanding your building anytime soon? These are just a few of the questions you will have to answer. Figuring out how much power you use and how it fluctuates can get quite complicated, and it’s a task best suited to a professional electrical contractor. Preferably one with experience installing generators.

Now that you know what your power needs are it’s time to consider what kind of generator will meet these needs. This is where you must consider things such as size, fuel requirements, and energy efficiency. Not all generators are created equally, even ones that provide roughly the same power output can do so with varying efficiency. In some cases, you may even need to design and fabricate a generator specifically for your building, and for that, you will need a knowledgeable contractor on your side. You also have to make sure that your generator meets certain regulatory standards, which we’ll discuss in the next section.

Emergency generators are large and powerful, and in many cases, they can get a bit noisy. There are a number of regulations that govern the installation and operation of an emergency generator including but not limited to:

• National environmental emission standards
• Noise ordinances
• Wind and impact rating of enclosure
• Fuel storage limitations and tank registration with Florida Dept of Environmental Protection
• Zoning ordinances, site set-back requirements, utility easements
• Electrical code requirements
• Flood elevation compliance
• Airflow design and minimum safe distances for building intake air

In reality, that’s only scratching the surface. The rules governing emergency generators go much deeper than that, and understanding them requires expertise and a strong background in generator installation. All the more reason to consult a professional when installing an emergency generator.

You’re finally at the point where you can install the generator, but the work is far from over. In many cases, you will need to make modifications to the area where you’re housing the generator, and you will probably need to do some work on the electrical system to get everything up and running smoothly. Only an electrical contractor with a background in generator design and installation can handle this complicated project.

As you can see it takes a lot of work just to get to the point where you install the generator itself. It’s not as simple as buying a generator and some gas and storing it away until you need it. Emergency generators for commercial facilities are large pieces of machinery and it takes electrical engineering knowledge and time to implement them correctly. It’s just not something you can handle by yourself. Here are a few helpful tips on choosing the right electrical contractor.

You know it’s time to call in the pros when you want the job done right – for the safety and protection of your staff and business assets. And, it’s best to get your project underway before the next storm season.

Eau Gallie Electric can get started right away. We have decades of experience and we’ve installed hundreds of generators for federal, state, and local governments as well as private businesses. Long story short – we have the experience necessary to make installing an emergency generator in your building go as smoothly as possible.

Looking for a professional electrical contractor that can help you design and install an emergency generator for your commercial building? Don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us online. Located in Melbourne, Florida, we have been serving Central Florida homeowners and businesses since 1948.