Why do we use facilities with EPO's?

Fri Jul 27 16:21:51 UTC 2007

On Jul 26, 2007, at 6:59 PM, Randy Epstein wrote:
>
> I guess my point was that it's safer to power off a UPS system as  
> best you
> can before you shoot water at it.  :)  Most likely you are doing  
> this at
> somewhat close proximity, with step-down transformers nearby, etc.

Somewhat true.

> An EPO not only shuts down the power feed to the UPS, but the UPS  
> as well.
> Which is a good thing.

The batteries still make pretty colors when you hit them and start  
bridging things that shouldn't be bridged.  But if it's not on fire,  
it is usually avoided by the fire department.
>
I'm posting on this as a 17 year volunteer fire department member as  
well as a professional (albeit part-time, with the rest of my time  
spent in network ops) fire marshal for a town in PA.

EPOs are great, and as a fire marshal I like them (preventative) but  
they really don't figure in to the picture when I've got my  
firefighter hat (ok, helmet) on - because we just cut mains to  
everything, and generally know what we're looking at and how to  
handle it.  Any building in any reasonably juristiction that has any  
"real" sized UPS most likely has not only a pre-plan so the FD knows  
what is where, but also at least annual inspections.  Chances are  
good the facility also has to hold a permit for the number/capacity  
of the batteries in the unit (per IFC 105.7.2) and most likely the  
fuel storage for the generators  (IFC 105.6.16).  Even in your  
jurisdiction doesn't use that code, IFC and/or it's ancestors provide  
the model code that most of the US operates on, so chances are high  
there are similar restrictions/procedures/permitting requirements.

Daryl