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Is your current backup power system still right for the way your site runs? This question doesn’t always have an easy answer.
Today, many healthcare sites are situated in older buildings with limited space. There are often strict access needs and essential services that can’t simply stop while work takes place. When you add patient safety, compliance and net zero targets into the mix, it’s easy to see why power planning is more important – but also more complex – than ever.
In this blog, we’ll look at how healthcare estates can review power systems and prepare for the future.
According to Health Facilities Management, healthcare sites use up to three times as much power as average commercial buildings. And much like many other sectors, they’re using power in more ways than ever.
Today, more clinical equipment is digital. Systems are increasingly connected and power-hungry. More services are being electrified as estates work towards sustainability goals.
These changes can bring many benefits, but they also put extra strain on the network and require more standby power. Systems that were suitable years ago may still work. However, if demand has grown, it might be time to review your backup systems.
A healthcare backup power plan varies based on each unique site. However, all should be built around the services that need power first, such as:
Safety systems
Clinical areas
Communications
Lighting
Ventilation
Heating.
For estates teams, the aim is to make sure the system fits the site, supports patient safety and works in an emergency. Healthcare guidance, including HTM electrical guidance, should also be considered whenever you’re reviewing systems.
For healthcare sites, generators and UPS systems usually support different parts of the overall strategy:
A UPS gives immediate support when power is interrupted. This can protect sensitive equipment and critical loads while the generator starts.
The generator then provides longer-term standby power. On healthcare estates, this involves more than one generator working together to support essential services.
The generator, UPS, controls and wider electrical network all need to work as one system. If they don’t, there is a higher risk of delays or equipment not receiving power in the right order.
However, planning these critical power systems isn’t always straightforward. Healthcare estates often have practical limits and considerations that other sites do not.
First, equipment placement. For instance, generators may need to be installed close to wards or public areas. If so, noise control should be part of the design. This can include measures like housing systems within sound-proofed enclosures.
Space can also be tight on healthcare sites. Older plant rooms, narrow access routes and live clinical environments can all affect how equipment is installed and maintained. In many cases, equipment might only be fully assembled once inside tighter areas.
Testing can also be tricky. Estates teams often need to schedule work around busy clinical periods. This makes planning and communication just as important as the equipment itself.
Finally, fuel is another area that requires careful planning. Stored fuel needs to stay in good condition so it’s ready when needed. This is especially true where a generator may sit idle for long periods but still needs to start when called upon.
While getting the right systems in place is often the top concern, there are also environmental considerations. Modern healthcare estates must work towards net zero targets – and backup power plays a major role.
HVO fuel can be an option for some generator systems. It offers a lower-carbon alternative to mineral diesel, but it needs proper checks before use. Generator compatibility, fuel system condition, storage, supply and cost all need to be reviewed first.
BESS can also support a wider energy plan. If your site has solar PV, battery storage can store excess energy and release it later when demand rises. This can help the estate use more of its own renewable power.
For healthcare sites, BESS is usually best considered as part of a wider structure. It can support energy flexibility and resilience, but it needs to be planned alongside all your other systems.
So, how can you begin to know if your system is future-ready? Before changing or upgrading anything, it helps to build a picture of your site. The following questions are a starting point:
What needs power first during an outage?
Can the system support current and future demand?
Are the right systems protected immediately?
Is stored fuel ready for use?
Could equipment affect wards or patient areas?
Can engineers safely service and test the system?
Has the system been tested under realistic conditions?
Could HVO, BESS or renewables support the estate?
A review like this can help you spot gaps early. It also gives you a clearer route for longer-term planning.
At Dale Power Solutions, we’re a proud member of the Institute of Healthcare, Engineering and Estates Management (IHEEM). We also regularly meet with healthcare estates teams and hear about the challenges of planning and maintaining critical power systems.
If you’re reviewing your site, our team can help you understand where improvements might be needed. With 85+ service engineers across the UK, we support both planned maintenance and remedial work throughout the lifecycle of critical equipment. This can help you build a power strategy that meets the varied demands of modern healthcare.
Contact our team to see how we can help.
