Using load banks to meet emergency power generating system codes and standards

In most cases, emergency power generating systems must comply with a number of different code requirements. Periodic load bank testing can help meet the Joint Commission, NFPA, NEC, and ISO standards that address emergency power generation and load testing. These codes are further described as follows:

The Joint Commission

The joint commission is a United States based non-profit organization that accredits more than 21,000 US healthcare organizations and programs. Their standards for emergency power testing are summarized below:

Standard Description Interval
EC 02.05.07 EP 6
Transfer switches 12 x year (not 40 days apart).
Monthly
EC 02.05.07 EP 7
Test generator for 4 continuous hours every 36 months.
36 Months
EC 02.05.07 EP 8
36 month tests performed with a dynamic or static load of at least 30% of nameplate rating or the exhaust gas temperature during test meets manufacture's recommendations.
36 Months
EC 02.05.07 EP 9
If a required emergency power system test failed, measures are implemented to protect patients, visitors and staff until repair or correction are completed.
As applicable
EC 02.05.07 EP 10
If a required emergency power system test failed, retest is performed after repairs are made.
As applicable
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 
 
The NFPA is a United States trade association, albeit with some international members, that creates and maintains private, copyrighted standards and codes for usage and adoption by local governments. 
 
NFPA 99 – Healthcare Facilities Code – Healthcare facilities must exercise Emergency and Standby Power Systems under load and operating temperature conditions for at least 30 minutes at intervals of not more than 30 days. 
 
NFPA 110 – Standard for Emergency Generator Systems – This standard sets safety standards to protect commercial building occupants by making sure generator-powered backup lighting will operate as expected. Monthly testing is performed on generators whose failure could result in injury or death. If a generator fails a monthly test, it should be tested annually for two continuous hours using a load bank. Under the continuous test, the generator should be operated at 25 percent of the nameplate kilowatt rating for 30 minutes, at 50 percent of the kilowatt rating for 30 minutes and at 75 percent of the kilowatt rating for 60 minutes. 
 
The National Electrical Code (NEC) 
 
The NEC is a regionally adoptable standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States. It is part of the National Fire Codes series published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a private trade association. 
 
NEC Article 700 – Emergency Systems – Emergency systems are required to receive an operating permit as determined by the local code enforcement authority. This requirement is a lifeline for occupants, ensuring that lighting and life safety loads take priority over other building loads. Should the main electrical power supply fail, backup emergency power for life safety systems must be available within 10 seconds. 
 
NEC Article 701 – Legally Required Standby Systems – Requires standby power to be available to legally required systems within 60 seconds of power loss. While NEC 700 is designed to ensure that people can exit a building, NEC 701 responds to the needs of firefighters and other personnel responding to an emergency. 
 
NEC Article 702 – Optional Standby Systems – Applies to situations where standby generators are optional. In these cases, the systems may be put in place to protect against economic loss or business interruptions. For instance, data centers may elect to install backup power because an outage could result in large revenue losses. 
 
NEC Article 708 – Critical Operations Power Systems – This article was developed following the 9/11 World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Rita disasters in the United States. It requires a commissioning plan for on-site backup generation, baseline testing, and periodic witness testing, as well as a documented preventive maintenance program, written test records, and a method for testing all critical power systems for maximum anticipated load conditions. 
 
ISO8528 
 
In international markets, ISO 8528 (BS7698) Part 6 is the standard for testing engine-driven generating sets. It details general test requirements and defines functional and acceptance load bank testing. Functional tests must always be performed, and usually occur at the manufacturer’s test cell. 
 
ISO 8528 (BS7698) Part 6 defines three performance classes – G1, G2, and G3. An additional class, G4, is reserved for performance criteria which are agreed upon between the supplier and the buyer. Each performance class has different criteria depending on the characteristics of the generator set: 
 
G1 is the least stringent and generally applies to small, simple generating sets intended to supply unsophisticated loads. 
 
G2 is broadly equivalent to commercially available power. 
 
G3 is intended for gen-sets that power strategically critical loads or those which particularly require a stable and accurate power supply such as hospitals, data centers and financial institutes.
Performance Class G1 G2 G3
Steady-State Frequency Band
2.5%
1.5%
0.5%
Maximum Frequency Dip
-15%
-10%
-7%
Maximum Frequency Rise
+18 %
+12 %
+10 %
Frequency Recovery Time
10 Sec
5 Sec
3 Sec
Steady-State Voltage Deviation
5%
2.5%
1%
Maximum Voltage Dip
-25%
-20%
-15%
Maximum Voltage Rise
+35%
+25%
+20%
Voltage Recovery Time
10 Sec
6 Sec
4 Sec

Advanced Sigma load bank control software can test to ISO 8528 G3 criteria automatically and produce a detailed report with a pass or fail result and supporting data. The operator is provided with a clear indication on whether the gen-set is fit for purpose and is compliant with applicable standards. If gen-sets do not meet the applicable standards, a strategy can be established to evaluate and remedy the cause.

Related Articles

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive our latest educational insights and industry perspectives. 

I’d like to receive news and commercial info from Avtron Power Solutions via electronic communication means such as email, and I agree to the collection of information on the opening and clicks on these emails (using invisible pixels in the images), to measure performance of our communications and improve them. For more details, please read our Privacy Policy.
Skip to content