Feb. 13, 2025
In today’s healthcare landscape, reliable power is non-negotiable. Hospitals depend on consistent and immediate energy sources to safeguard patient care, power life-saving equipment, and maintain critical operations during unexpected and extended outages. However, aging healthcare infrastructure often falls short of meeting these power demands, making reliable backup power solutions a top priority for hospitals nationwide.
This guide explores the importance of compliant backup power, regulatory requirements, and tailored solutions hospitals must consider—particularly those with aging systems or rural accessibility challenges.
The Critical Role of Backup Power in Hospitals
Hospitals are mission-critical facilities that cannot afford downtime. Backup power systems bridge the gap during outages, enabling life-saving interventions and supporting critical equipment. Unlike basic generators, hospital backup power must comply with stringent regulatory requirements to ensure patient safety, avoid system failures, and maintain uninterrupted care.
A single power outage could compromise patient care, interrupt surgeries or disable critical systems. Many hospitals have an aging electrical infrastructure, so assessing whether their backup power systems meet modern standards is essential. Facilities relying on older generators or insufficient fuel reserves risk delays in restoring power, which could potentially endanger lives.
Understanding The Risk
A risk assessment such as the EPSS All-hazards Risk Assessment provides a systematic approach to identifying, assessing and mitigating potential risks to a hospital’s power systems. By evaluating both natural and human-made disasters, regular assessments can help hospitals identify vulnerabilities in backup power infrastructure, develop contingency plans, ensure compliance and prioritize upgrades needed to protect patient safety.
"Whether you're new or seasoned in the healthcare environment, one of the first things you want to ensure is that you're looking at your life safety systems, and that's generally all tied around your electrical distribution. In healthcare, the most important thing is reliability and power to your facilities. Without power, nothing else in healthcare happens." - Rod Allen, System Director of Plant Operations for Lee Memorial Health System
The Requirements of Backup Power Generators for Hospitals
Numerous compliance regulations ensure reliability and safe hospital backup power. These requirements mandate backup systems to provide effective and immediate energy to critical areas while adhering to legal and operational standards. Key regulatory bodies include:
Hospitals must test their backup power systems monthly to meet accreditation requirements. These tests ensure generators can operate effectively under emergency conditions and provide an opportunity to identify potential issues before they escalate.
DNV is an accrediting organization that offers an alternative pathway to hospital accreditation while focusing on continuous quality improvement through risk-based assessments. It aligns with ISO 9001 standards and emphasizes operational resilience, including backup power systems.
DNV requires healthcare facilities to assess potential risks to their power systems and ensure compliance with NFPA codes. This includes testing, maintenance, and operational planning for emergencies and backup power systems.
- Hospitals must document contingency plans for power outages and validate their effectiveness through routine drills.
- DNV encourages hospitals to integrate risk management, such as EPSS All-Hazards Risk Assessments, into their emergency preparedness programs to identify vulnerabilities and improve resilience.
Accreditation through DNV ensures that hospitals go beyond compliance, adopting a proactive approach to risk mitigation and emergency planning for backup power.
3. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Regulations
The NFPA sets the backup power reliability, safety, and performance standards. Hospitals must comply with the following NFPA codes:
- NFPA 70: National Electric Code (NEC) The NEC outlines best practices for installing, operating, and maintaining electrical systems. It requires power restoration within strict time limits:
- Level 1 systems for life support and critical loads: Power restoration must occur within 10 seconds.
- Level 2 systems: Power restoration must occur within 60 seconds.
- NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code NFPA 99 classifies backup power systems based on risk levels. For hospitals, backup power typically falls under Category 1, which addresses situations where power failure could result in serious injury or death.
- NFPA 101: Life Safety Code NFPA 101 ensures emergency power is available for life support systems and specifies maintenance, fuel capacity, testing, and documentation requirements to ensure long-term reliability.
- NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems NFPA 110 outlines installation, maintenance, and performance criteria for emergency power systems. Risk is categorized into:
- Level 1: Backup power failures pose a serious risk to life safety.
- Level 2: Backup power failures are unlikely to result in injury.
Hospitals must prioritize Level 1 systems to remain compliant and safeguard patient well-being. Failure to comply with these standards could lead to fines, loss of accreditation, or compromised patient safety.
Hospitals must still comply with NFPA standards, CMS regulations, and the requirements of deemed status organizations like the TJC and the DNV to maintain accreditation and federal funding.
"The codes are minimums. Depending on where you're at, you have to look at the environment around you." - Rod Allen, System Director of Plant Operations for Lee Memorial Health System
Backup Power Challenges for Rural Hospitals
Rural hospitals face unique challenges in maintaining compliant backup power systems. Many rely on aging infrastructure and are often geographically isolated, making accessibility, fuel transportation, and timely generator repairs difficult. To address these challenges, rural hospitals must:
- Regularly test systems to comply with NFPA and TJC regulations.
- Ensure sufficient on-site fuel reserves to account for supply chain delays.
- Partner with providers who offer resilient, compliant backup solutions tailored to the facility's unique needs.
Generators and Fuel Sources for Hospital Backup Power
Backup generators for hospitals vary depending on size, energy demands, and risk levels. Solutions typically include:
Generator Types
Diesel Generators
Reliable and widely used for hospital backup power, diesel generators offer high energy output and quick startup times. However, they differ in emission standards:
- Tier 2 Diesel Generators: These generators meet earlier emissions standards, offering reliable performance but producing higher nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). They are often found in aging infrastructure and may require upgrades to meet modern sustainability goals.
- Tier 4 Final Diesel Generators: These generators meet the strictest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, significantly reducing NOx and PM emissions. Equipped with advanced filtration and exhaust systems, Tier 4 generators provide cleaner power and allow facilities to participate in utility incentive programs to reduce energy cost overall.
Hospitals can further reduce their environmental impact by using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a diesel alternative. HVO is a renewable, low-carbon fuel that improves emissions performance without compromising generator reliability.
Natural Gas Generators
An efficient option for hospitals with existing gas infrastructure. These generators provide cleaner energy but depend on a consistent gas supply, which may be vulnerable during natural disasters or infrastructure disruptions.
Advanced Microgrids
Custom-built solutions combining multiple energy sources (diesel, natural gas, and renewable energy). Advanced microgrids offer flexibility, enhanced reliability, and compliance with sustainability goals.
How Many Generators Does a Hospital Need?
The number of backup generators required depends on a hospital’s size, layout, and energy needs. Critical areas such as ICUs, operating rooms, and life support systems must be prioritized to ensure uninterrupted power.
“A single generator represents a single point of failure.” - George Baker Retired Sr. System Engineer, Wellspan - Healthcare Webcast: Aging Infrastructure
Hospitals should work with experienced providers to assess their energy demands and design systems that meet regulatory and operational requirements. Planning should also account for future expansion, ensuring the system remains scalable and adaptable.
PowerSecure: Ensuring Compliance and Reliability
PowerSecure specializes in providing compliant, resilient backup power solutions for hospitals, including advanced microgrids and custom-built generator systems. With a track record of supporting healthcare facilities across the country, PowerSecure ensures hospitals maintain resilient and compliant energy sources.
Case Studies
- WellSpan York Hospital Microgrid: An advanced microgrid system that enhances reliability while reducing energy costs. This system demonstrates how integrated solutions can address both operational and financial challenges.
- Mount Sinai Hospital: A comprehensive backup power solution ensuring uninterrupted energy during outages. This project highlights the importance of tailored designs to meet specific hospital requirements.
Take the Next Step in Power Reliability for Hospitals
Aging infrastructure and growing energy demands make compliant backup power essential for hospitals. PowerSecure offers customized solutions to prepare healthcare facilities for emergencies and comply with industry regulations. By investing in robust backup power systems, hospitals can protect patient care, reduce operational risks and align with sustainability goals.
Contact us today to learn more about PowerSecure’s hospital backup power solutions.