Can a Business Use a Portable Generator In an Emergency?

11/12/2020 (Permalink)

A portable or standby generator could be the right emergency equipment for a business during a power outage

Find Out Which Equipment Will Meet The Needs Of A Business

Frequent or prolonged power outages can damage critical systems at a commercial building in Commerce City, CO. A business owner or facility manage can invest in an emergency backup power source. Commercial standby generators are costly, which might make a portable generator seem like a better solution for the occasional power outage. 

Emergency Power Backup Requirements
Choosing the right emergency power backup calls for calculating total kilo-volt-ampere and kilowatt requirements. The following guidelines are helpful for calculating general power usage:

• 50 kW plus 10 watts per square foot for retail space
  
• 30 kW plus 5 watts per square foot for general commercial space
  
• An additional kW allowance based on usage
  
  

The most wattage is necessary to produce a surge during startup. A generator should then provide sufficient power during a power outage.

Portable Generator Functions and Features
Most portable generators produce less power than commercial standby generators and are not designed to function continuously. Portable models can be relocated to where power is needed most in the event of storm damage during an outage.
Portable generators should always be run in open, well-ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Most portable generators are gasoline powered, which is easy to acquire, but needs to be stored in large quantities and may require the addition of stabilizer.

The Benefits of Commercial Standby Generators
A commercial standby generator is a more reliable and permanent power backup. A standby generator starts automatically as soon as the power goes out and most commercial models supply more power than portable generators. Standby generators also offer business owners a choice of fuel sources.
A portable or standby generator could be the right emergency equipment for a business during a power outage in Commerce City, CO. Business owners should factor in power needs and plan for likely outage durations.