ELECTRICAL RESILIENCE
Proper maintenance key to effective UPS operation
Looking at the impact that the coronavirus has had on the healthcare estate landscape, Power Control Sales director, Graeme Tucker, gives his standpoint on how the healthcare sector can address recent power protection design challenges and mitigate risk more effectively.
The state of healthcare infrastructures is no secret. Last year it was a key talking point which placed mounting pressures on estate mangers to review their facilities. Following the immense strain placed on the NHS due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, addressing ageing infrastructures will feature even higher on agendas. While there have been positive signals that the UK is on the road to recovery, it would be foolish not to be prepared for any similar future scenario. Healthcare facilities have many layers to consider – from the core aesthetics, pharmaceuticals, IT, telecoms, and medical equipment, through to managing ‘hard’ facilities such as lighting, lifts, fire safety, and the overall electrical infrastructure. It is the latter that is often wrongly neglected. The electrical infrastructure of any healthcare estate – be it a hospital, GP’s surgery, or auxiliary care facility, requires a resilient power supply. With such a broad spectrum of electrical applications to protect, establishing this can be an extremely complex process.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Power Control has provided emergency support for sites where the existing back- up power strategies have failed, and has also been a key partner in delivering several upgrades and new-builds. This has highlighted two key things – firstly that serious reviews need to be had at long established facilities, and, secondly, that the industry is future-proofing. Immediate focus needs always be given to ensuring business continuity, and this needs to start with uninterrupted power availability to ensure a safe and stable environment. As healthcare estates are heavily reliant on equipment, minimising risk from loss of power is paramount.
Power availability linked to key equipment
In many instances, constant power availability is directly linked to key patient care equipment, such as life support, thermal imaging, surgical lighting, and cardiac machines. It is also important to factor in other essential groundwork
The Borri Spa B9600FXS resilient transformer-based UPS system; 40-800 kVA.
elements that rely on a continuous power supply, such as lifts, emergency lighting, and door access systems. Establishing power protection strategies has become more complex over the years, due to significant industry advancements, and the changes in available back-up power technology. Added to this, the various modifications made to industry standards such as HTM 06-01, mean that, although design consultants have greater autonomy, they are now faced with more challenges than ever before. HTM 06-01 identifies a set of defined clinical and business risk grades. These address things such as patient safety, impact on clinical treatment, general
patient care, and life support consequence. The guidance set out in HTM 06-01 should be followed, as it forms the basis towards adhering to common law legislation, and manufacturers such as Borri Spa have worked tirelessly to ensure that they are able to provide the most appropriate solutions.
Tertiary power supplies When it comes to power supplies, a tertiary power solution such as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) system must be installed to be compliant within HTM 06-01. The Memorandum also looks at the internal structure, components, configuration, and the environment in
October 2020 Health Estate Journal 69
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