Planning for emergencies in your commercial building is simply an essential part of good management. One of the most common emergencies you should be prepared for as an owner is a power outage because well, businesses run on electricity. These interruptions could significantly disrupt your operations, especially if the power outage is long-term. Luckily, there are some preventative measures you can take now to limit disruptions and keep your tenants safe until the electricity is restored.
In this blog post, we will share five steps that all owners can follow to prepare their commercial property for an unplanned power outage.
Inspect Emergency Equipment Thoroughly
While numerous events can trigger a power outage, if you have emergency equipment ready to handle that outage, you are off to a great start. Having emergency equipment inspected on a regular basis is of extreme importance and that is because equipment, especially worn and aged machinery, may at times fail. However, if you stay on top of this – meaning you have inspections performed on a regular and necessary basis – this can be completely avoided. And that’s because you did your homework. If any repairs or replacements are needed, those were taken care of as soon as they were detected, which makes a power outage seem a lot less stressful.
Inspect All Exit and Emergency Lighting
Similar to our first point, your building should have emergency lighting that automatically turns on when power to the structure is lost – always. These lights should be enough to illuminate evacuation routes and other important areas of the building properly in order to keep your tenants safe until the electricity is restored. In fact, for most commercial buildings, emergency and exit lighting must undergo a functional test at least every month. These tests are designed to check for physical damage to the exterior of the lights and to help verify that the lights are functional at the time of the test. Additionally, commercial buildings may also be required to ensure that lights function using only battery power for an extended period of time.
Inspect and Repair Backup Generator(s)
Most commercial buildings have an emergency backup generator onsite. This is because, without a functional generator in place, the operation of lights, equipment and computers is simply impossible. Though these rarely require a lot of maintenance, performing timely oil and filter changes in addition to repairs when needed can increase the generator’s lifespan and improve its functionality. Because the generator is such a vital part of emergency operations (and not to mention, is oftentimes the sole provider of electrical power to critical areas during a power outage), maintaining it properly is of extreme importance. In fact, a backup generator can provide enough power to keep activities going in your building even if there is no power available from the local utility – yes, you heard that right.
Establish a Contingency Plan with Emergency Procedures
Establishing a proper emergency plan with specifically laid out safety procedures can go a long way during an unplanned crisis because let’s be honest, in the event of an unplanned emergency, it can be extremely difficult to think clearly and remember each and everything that must be taken care of. This is why having a proper plan in place with detailed emergency procedures is so essential to have on hand at all times. With a solid plan and safety checklist in place before a power outage, you can ensure all occupants of the building remain safe and the facility’s equipment isn’t damaged.
We will discuss key components of emergency and evacuation plans in a later blog post, so stay tuned.
Maintain Emergency Supplies
Keeping stock of emergency supplies such as food, water, batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, and other essential tools is well… essential. The life span of a power outage can range from a very short period of time to an extended period of time – it really depends on the specific circumstance. While it may come as a surprise, there are cases where an outage can be accompanied by circumstances that make it necessary for your tenants to remain in the building for an extended period. An example: a chemical spill. If this were the case, it would be necessary for most people to stay indoors until the spill was cleaned up and a chemical spill is no easy feat. So, be sure to have vital supplies such as these available to all occupants of the building in case of a power outage or other unplanned crisis arises.
Conclusion
Although many variables can cause unexpected power outages, proper preparation will save the day. Following these five steps will limit disruptions to your building and its operations, while keeping your tenants safe until the electricity is restored.
