How Your Business Can Prepare For An Electrical Outage

June 21, 2022

By admin

Thanks to Singapore’s prime location, our sunny island is shielded from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons. As a result, companies rarely experience power outages typically found in disaster-prone countries like the Philippines.

However, this does not mean business owners can let their guards down. The recent power outage incident at Golden Mile Complex has demonstrated that such lapses can threaten a business’s productivity and profits. Therefore, in addition to hiring an electrical consultant to conduct regular inspections of your building’s electrical installations, you need to ensure you have a business continuity plan in the event of a power blackout.

If you are unsure of the best way to plan for an electrical outage, fret not! Let us share what you can do to minimise disruptions to your business and ensure your company can continue operating during such emergencies.

Tip #1: Keep crucial devices fully charged

Naturally, the first thing you should do during a power blackout is to contact a licensed electrical engineer to resolve the issue. While the engineer is looking into the problem, you need to make sure your company can continue its operations. After all, business never sleeps.

Since most electrical outages are generally short-lived, you just have to ensure your employees have access to crucial battery-powered devices like their smartphones or laptops. Keep these devices charged at all times to prolong the amount of time you can use them when the power goes out.

Tip #2: Ensure you have a backup generator in place

Companies in the manufacturing industry are heavily reliant on their industrial generator to power the equipment in their factories. So what happens when an electrical outage occurs to the main generator? Unlike most office devices, these pieces of machinery are not battery-operated.

If the issue can be resolved immediately, you may not experience a significant setback. However, if your licensed electrical worker notifies you that they require more time to look into the problem, you might have a conundrum. Therefore, it is wise to have a backup generator in place to safeguard your business against such incidents.

Tip #3: Formulate an electrical outage plan

Preparation is essential in the event of a power blackout. When there is a clear plan, you can reduce panic from spreading in the workplace. Your electrical outage plan should include crucial information like the emergency numbers to call, whom to notify when a power blackout occurs, and which tasks to prioritise if your employees cannot access the tools they require for their jobs.

Tip #4: Ensure everyone knows what to do

A foolproof electrical outage plan is redundant if your employees do not know what to do during a power blackout. In addition to circulating the policy to everyone, you should conduct practice drill sessions to ensure your workers are familiar with their roles and responsibilities. These sessions are an excellent way to assess the readiness of your facility and employees and an opportunity for you to fine-tune your procedures in preparation for an actual emergency.

Tip #5: Consider redundant power supplies

There may be times when you require your equipment to maintain its power at all times, such as a cloud server. In such cases, you may want to consider using a redundant power supply. If you are wondering what a redundant power supply is, let us provide a concise explanation.

Equipment with a redundant power supply operates using two or more physical power supplies. Each reserve has the capacity to run the device individually, which allows your equipment to remain functional even when one power supply fails. There are several choices available on the market, so if you are unsure of the ideal option, you should seek the advice of an electrical consultant.

Given the numerous tasks you must oversee in your company, making preparations for an electrical outage might be low on your priority list. However, we recommend setting aside a portion of your time to consider the readiness of your organisation in the event of a power blackout. This way, you can ensure your business remains operational even in the dark.

At Tan T P Consultants, we are one of the leading electrical consultants in Singapore. We provide a host of electrical engineering services tailored to your business needs. And with over 20 years of experience in the industry, you can expect quality work from our licensed electrical engineers. Do not hesitate to contact us today to find out how we can help you.