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Properly specifying how to conduct an intentional power outage and recovery reduces risks and increases the likelihood this critical test is performed.
There's nothing as frustrating, dangerous, or litigious as a building failing to properly handle a loss of power. People can get stuck in elevators. Healthcare workers may have to rush patients to other facilities. Expensive equipment might get damaged.
To ensure that emergency systems for buildings will function properly when called upon, they have to be tested. In order to test the systems, power to the entire building has to be shut down and then restarted. Every piece of equipment that is electrically powered is involved in a whole-building shutdown test, whether it is on standby power or not. Because HVAC, refrigeration, controls, plumbing, fire alarm and protection, security, telecom, paging, electrical outlets, lighting, vertical transport, and process systems are involved, no other functional test exercises as many different types and pieces of equipment and requires the coordination of more disciplines than dropping the power to an entire building.
Experience has shown that the designer, contractor, and operations staffs often have very different understanding of what should actually happen during a power outage. These expectation differences occur primarily because the construction documents are not clear. Confirming these expectations through a formal test is critical to ensure that life safety, product and equipment protection, comfort, and O&M staff convenience are not compromised during a power outage.
Whole-building shutdown tests
The whole-building shutdown test is not intended to confirm the standby generator functions. That test is completed sometime prior to the shutdown test. During the whole-building shutdown test the electrical power to the entire building is shut off to imitate a "street power" outage. The standby electrical generator is allowed to start normally, and later normal (street) power is restored. During the loss and restoration of power, equipment reaction is observed and documented against the specifications and event matrix. An event matrix is a table that lists each piece of equipment and how it responds to power loss and restoration. The matrix should be provided by the designer, but often isn't generated until mid-construction by the commissioning provider.
The following questions and more need to be verified for each piece of equipment during the test.