When designing backup, standby and emergency power systems for mission critical facilities, there are several considerations beyond NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems and other building code requirements that must be addressed. Electrical engineers must understand the owner’s project requirements for the building’s power systems. Mission critical facilities can include data centers, hospitals, laboratories, semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical and other facilities where interruption of power would have a severe impact on operations and business.

Engineers also need to be mindful of the overall new construction or existing building retrofit process and ensure equipment replacement is coordinated, temporary power strategies are identified and phasing concepts are developed.