Advertising Feature Making Sure The Equipment Fits


Here’s where a 2D plan can fall down. It’s easy to design how a UPS will fit into a room on a blank piece of paper. Onsite it can be a different story and a visit is always needed to measure up and verify where the incoming supply cables are, where the outgoing distribution is and the location of all other services.


Some of the installation for the other elements of the room may have already gone ahead, perhaps items such as the containment and switch gear are not where they were expected to be? There are always differences between what’s on paper and real-life.


The map is often not the territory, and it is normal for things to change as a project evolves. Walls have been known to be moved, containment or ducting appears where it wasn’t supposed to be and suddenly the space allocated for the UPS has shrunk! As a result, we may need to ‘re-claim’ the space for the UPS and agree this with the client and confirm with further drawings. To ensure the installation is as smooth as possible on-site visits and ongoing communication with clients and Consultants is critical.


Getting the Installation Right


The installation can be impacted by other trades ‘working on top of each other’. Timing is the all-important element here. Over the course of a project, timelines will inevitably shift, and they are always on the tight side! Therefore, keeping in constant communication with others involved in the project can help. Failure to do so, can potentially double the time it takes to deliver and commission equipment and generally there is a cost implication to this.


Protection Of Equipment


Once the UPS has been installed it is important it stays safe while the rest of the build is completed. We have discovered that battery racks have been used as ladders, heard of people standing on top of 600v of batteries and even seen dents appear on the top of a UPS. Damage to delicate equipment in this way could jeopardise the optimal working of the system. We try and mitigate the risk by protecting the UPS and the batteries, putting up barriers and if possible and making the room secure.


The commissioning and testing


Commissioning And Testing aspect


of a UPS build is


extremely important as this is where the parameters of the UPS are set, and the system needs to demonstrate it can perform in line with the customer’s requirements. Generally, the process of commissioning a UPS should be straight


forward when


conducted by a manufacturer trained engineer, and once other elements of the build have been completed. However, challenges can occur when the site is not ready, for example, power may not be available or other works may have been delayed.


Education


There is always a temptation for buyers to purchase another UPS like the one they’ve used before. However, technology has moved on. The most modern UPS are more available, reliable, flexible, and efficient and can dramatically reduce the total cost of ownership compared with legacy technology, which is usually huge, hard to access, maintain and cable in.


A UPS is a valuable asset and can become a costly one if you get it wrong. As I have described, there is far more to ensuring the UPS you are purchasing is able to perform as expected and the equipment will continue to remain reliable for the future.


Selecting the most optimum solution means working in close partnership with manufacturers, contractors and consultants to meet the requirements for critical power protection and to help overcome the inevitable challenges experienced on any project. At CENTIEL we are trusted to deliver to expectation every time and to support our clients and their equipment now and in the future.


For further information about CENTIEL UK please see: www.centiel.co.uk


fmuk 31


There are various levels of testing available to prove the performance of a UPS system, which can vary dependant on the client and the site. This can range from a load bank test, to prove the battery autonomy to an onsite integrated systems test necessary to demonstrate that the UPS operates correctly within the infrastructure before the system is handed over.


Maintenance


Once handed over, our priority is to ensure the reliability and availability of the UPS for our clients. As manufacturers we have a duty of care and our relationship with the UPS doesn’t end once commissioning is complete.


It is essential that trained


engineers undertake regular maintenance visits to ensure component health is monitored and corrective actions are taken to prevent potential failures. The information gained during these visits offers a comprehensive overview of a system’s health. Understanding when remedial actions may be required will allow for budget discussions and planning to take place. Again, we are focused on expecting the unexpected, always aiming to remove risk and maximise overall system availability as far as possible.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44