Most businesses and operations depend on a reliable power supply to reduce the risk of data loss, equipment damage and keep the operations running. Mission-critical facilities require a reliable power supply. That means there should be measures in place to ensure there is no significant loss of power that can halt operations for an extended period. Even a one-minute power disruption in a mission-critical facility can lead to a huge loss of revenue or even jeopardize the safety of workers, patients and customers. Follow this guide on how to choose the best uninterruptible power supply and generator service provider.
Assess Your Power Infrastructure
Your power infrastructure will be one of the determinants when selecting a UPS provider. Take the time to understand your current power distribution. Some of the questions that can help you get a clear understanding include:
- How often do you get power outages, spikes or sags?
- Is your utility provider stable?
- Is there a neighboring business that could disrupt the power in your facility?
- Historically, has the building experienced constant power issues, and have they ever been addressed?
Answering these questions gives you a clear picture of the kind of uninterruptible power supply system you need for your facility.
Care and Maintenance
A UPS system needs maintenance to function properly. You can spend a lot of money on a UPS system, but if you do not maintain it, it will fail when you need it the most. It is estimated that what you spend on a UPS system is only 50% of what maintaining it will cost you. The system will require batteries, fan replacement, capacitors and general maintenance. For instance, a UPS may require three batteries during its life cycle. Check the types of battery needed, the expected life, warranties, etc. If you can, get an extended warranty. It will help reduce some of these maintenance bills.
Choosing the Best UPS and Generator Service Provider
Choosing a mission-critical facility power provider is also an important step in helping reduce power complications that can interfere with operations. Some of the things you might want to look at include:
- Services offered: Identify which services you will need and ensure that you work with a provider that offers them.
- Years of experience: Years of experience result in knowledge of how to handle various situations. Plus, such a provider can help you navigate complex situations.
- Ease of contact: Ideally, you need to work with a provider that is available when needed. This will help streamline processes and avoid confusion.
Determine Your Uptime Requirements
In most mission-critical facilities, lost time equates to lost revenue. However, each company has its own uptime requirements. For instance, in one company, a two-minute power outage may simply be a nuisance. For another, it can have a huge impact that affects product delivery and the reputation of the company. Before spending money on a UPS solution, determine the downtime that would cost your company. You can increase reliability by choosing a piece of equipment with a high Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF).
With these tips, you are now ready to choose a mission-critical power specialist for your company. Ham’s Electric, Inc. is a power specialist that has provided services to computer facilities, hospital systems and more. We also provide 24-hour emergency service. Call us today for any installation, service and maintenance of uninterruptible power supply systems.