Failing to plan is planning to fail.
In a 2017 survey conducted by the Electrical Safety Foundation, electrical designers, planners, and engineers who either designed or renovated healthcare, Industrial, and IT facilities showed a lack or limited understanding of Surge Protection Devices (SPDs).
Fire Sprinkler Services knows the importance of having the right SPDs in place. We can survey your facility to be ensure that you have the appropriate SPDs in place. Having the Surge Protection in place not only can prevent injuries or even death, but can also save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss. Here are a few things to consider about SPDs.
- SPDs are not Accessories
They have actually been required by the National Electrical Code since 2014. 94% of those surveyed found surge protection to be very or extremely important to building owners and tenants. Unfortunately, the general public doesn’t understand the importance of these devices. A recent survey showed that approximately one-third of clients who declined surge protection for their facilities did so due to a lack of concern about surges. When working with valuable equipment or data, it is vital to have it protected by an SPD. This can save you countless headaches and money. - Surges are Fairly Common Just how common are surges? According to surveyed professionals, voltage surges significant enough to cause equipment damage occur with monthly or greater frequency in 69% of healthcare centers, 76% of industrial facilities, and 80% of IT centers. This is especially true in Jacksonville, FL and throughout our entire state. Surges significant enough to cause injury or death seem to be less of an issue, occurring once a year or less in Healthcare, IT centers, and other industrial facilities, but are also a concern.
- SPDs are not Overcurrent Devices Many of the survey respondents were unable to distinguish surge protection devices from overcurrent devices (such as a GFCI breaker). SPDs are designed to handle fast transients or surges, rather than excess voltage or current. While some Type 1 SPDs may be equipped with external overcurrent protection, it’s important to note that this isn’t the case with all variations of SPDs, and that it’s not the preliminary function.
- SPDs are not Lightning Protection Systems (LPS)
According to surveyed professionals, about 21% of surges are caused by lightning strikes, so it’s understandable that surge protection devices might be confused with lightning protection systems. The important difference between the two is that only an LPS can provide protection against a direct lightning strike. And so it’s important to recognize the difference to ensure that you are getting the protection that you want and need. - Point-of-Use Surge Protection versus SPDs
Consumers are generally aware of point-of-use surge protection typically used for computers and printers. This type of surge protection is temporary. Type 1 and Type 2 SPDs provide permanent protection from surges for more sensitive or larger equipment. These devices are either hard-wired to the service equipment, the service transformer, or the service equipment overcurrent protection device. These types of SPDs are typically used in hospitals, factories, and IT Centers.
If you have valuable equipment, are renovating, or considering surge protection, consider Fire Sprinkler Services. We have over 20 years experience and are able to find the surge protection that you need. Call us today for a risk free consultation.