Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Introduction to the Hospital Emergency Power Supply System (EPSS) Jason D'Antona, PE, LEED AP Senior Electrical Engineer Utilities & Engineering Department Partners HealthCare System, Inc.

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS Topics Definition Components Sub-systems Performance Testing & Maintenance EPSS at MGH Normal Power System Redundancy

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS – Why is it important?

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS – Why is it important? Effective clinical care cannot be provided without power

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS – Because it’s important Regulatory Drivers: NFPA 70 – The National Electrical Code NFPA 99 – Health Care Facilities NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code NFPA 110 – Emergency & Standby Power Systems AIA Guidelines for Health Care Facilities 527 CMR 12 – The Massachusetts Electrical Code Note: The Joint Commission Enforces the above regulatory standards

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS - What is it? “A complete functioning source of electric power of the required capacity and quality coupled to a system of conductors disconnecting means and over-current protective devices transfer switches, and all control, supervisory, and support devices up to and including the load terminals of transfer equipment needed for the system to operate as a safe and reliable source of electrical power.” – NFPA 110

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Simplified EPSS Gen off

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Simplified EPSS Gen on

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS - Components “A complete functioning source of electric power of the required capacity and quality coupled to a system of conductors, disconnecting means and over-current protective devices, transfer switches, and all control, supervisory, and support devices up to and including the load terminals of transfer equipment needed for the system to operate as a safe and reliable source of electrical power.”

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Generator Switchboard Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) EPSS - Components

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Generator Usually fueled by diesel Usually reciprocating engine type Single or multiple (paralleled) generators Requires centralized fuel storage for extended operation EPSS - Components

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Switchboard (distribution) Used for switching and protection of circuits Is the point at which most EPSS branches are separated at Required by Code to be “coordinated” to prevent large outages. EPSS - Components

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Automatic transfer Switch (ATS) Senses loss of or improper voltage Activates generator Automatically transfers back to normal source EPSS - Components

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Codes subdivide EPSS into various sub-systems Emergency system (Article 700) Legally required stand-by (Article 701) Optional stand-by (Article 702) Essential System Life Safety Branch Critical Branch Equipment System (Branch) EPSS – Sub-systems

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Multiple Codes subdivide EPSS into various sub-systems, with multiple definitions and overlap

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Codes subdivide EPSS into various sub-systems Emergency system (Article 700) Legally required stand-by (Article 701) Optional stand-by (Article 702) Essential System Life Safety Branch Critical Branch Equipment System (Branch) EPSS – Sub-systems

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Life Safety Branch – Not specific to Hospitals – Egress Lighting & Doors – Fire Detection & Alarm – Special Communication Systems – Code is not “flexible” for other loads

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Critical Branch – Specific to Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities – Task Lighting in Critical & Patient Care Areas – Selected Receptacles in Critical & Patient Care Areas – Nurse Call Systems – Power Circuits for Selected Hardwired Medical Equipment – Code is “flexible” for other Loads Required for Essential Operations – Small rotational machinery allowed

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Equipment System (Branch) – Generally, Larger Poly-Phase rotational equipment – Central Suction (Medical Vacuum) – Medical Air Compressors – Selected Air Handling Systems – Smoke Control Systems – Selected Elevators – Heating Systems for Selected Areas – Code is “flexible” for Other Loads Required for Essential Operations

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Essential Electrical System Normal Power Source Emergency Power Supply Emergency System Non-essential Electrical System Equipment System Life Safety Branch Critical Branch ATS(s) EPSS – Sub-systems

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS performance – Life Safety and Critical Loads must be re-powered within 10 seconds after normal power loss. – Equipment System – No time limit (usually <90 Seconds) – Equipment System – time delay to allow gens to be “step” loaded. – Equipment System – Lowest priority, can be load shed from EPSS – Life Safety and Critical – Cannot be load shed

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS Testing & Maintenance: Monthly Generator Test – Required – Generators: “Cold Start” via ATS start signal * – Minimum 30 minutes at least 30% nameplate load – Requires 4 consecutive “good” readings – Building load preferred, not required – Purpose: Stress EPSS to find failures – Indirect purpose: Staff training (* Selected “start” ATS rotates)

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS Testing & Maintenance: Tri-Annual Generator Test – Required (new requirement) – Generators: “Cold Start” via ATS start signal – 4 hours at least 30% nameplate load – Building preferred, not required – Purpose: Stress EPSS to for extended period find failures – Indirect purpose: Staff training (better simulation of actual outage)

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS Testing & Maintenance: Monthly ATS Testing – All ATSs must be operated 12 times a year – Not 40 days – Complete transfer to Emergency the Back to Normal – Usually performed in conjunction with generator test – ATS not transferred if it will interfere with clinical ops – If ATS not transferred must be retested

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS Testing & Maintenance: Other Testing – Circuit breaker testing – Generator PM – Infrared scanning – Fuel oil testing – Wet cell starter battery testing & maintenance – And more…

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS at MGH Main Campus: 12 Reciprocating Generators – 11 Diesel – 1 Natural Gas – 9 Healthcare Generators – 2 Non Healthcare – 1 Optional Standby (Nat gas co-gen) – ~8,000,000 Watts Generation Capacity

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston MGH EPSS Generator Summary Colors indicate test week.

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston MGH EPSS Generator Summary Bartlett Extension Blake Ellison Bulfinch Cox Gray Jackson Thier Wang White Yawkey / NPTC

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston EPSS at MGH Main Campus: – ~ 150 Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) – 24,000 Gallons of Stored Diesel Fuel Oil (No.2) – B3C +6,000,000 Watts of Generation – B3C +15,000 Gal diesel – B3C +23 ATSs

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Normal Power Systems Redundancy Gen on

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Normal Power Systems at MGH Main Campus: Multiple Services

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Normal Power Systems Redundancy: Multiple Services

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Normal Power Systems Redundancy: Multiple Services to Clinical Care Buildings

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Normal Power Systems Redundancy: – 6 Dedicated NSTAR lines total – Blake Building – 4 Lines – Cox Building – 2 Lines – Ellison Building – 4 Lines – Gray Building – 3 Lines – Jackson Building – 3 Lines – Wang Building – 2 Lines – White Building – 3 Lines

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Summary: – EPSS Defined by Codes, Enforced by JC – Made up of: Generators, ATSs & Distribution – Hospital sub-systems: LS, CB & EB – Performance: LS & CB -10 Seconds, EB later – Monthly testing of EPSS required, also 3 year – MGH: 12 Gens, 6MW, 150 ATSs, 24,000 gal fuel – MGH: 6 Utility lines, redundant NP to clinical bldgs – NP & EP systems together provide reliable power

Utilities & Engineering Department16 Blossom St., Boston Questions?