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• Immense growth calls for expansion of technical services department

  Due to an increase in prestigious turnkey projects after a successful rebrand in January 2015, leading Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) specialist, Power Control Ltd (PCL) is expanding its technical services division and projects management.

  Following a record start to the first quarter of 2015, PCL is enhancing its resources in its technical services department; Christian de Knock has been welcomed to the team to inject added experience and expertise.

  Christian de Knock is now providing sales support for PCL’s expanding technical services department.                 Mr de Knock has complementary skills in technical services and carries four years experience after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering and Cybernetics. Mr de Knock’s expertise in implementing inspection and audit procedures will ensure that PCL’s consistently high standards are continually met.  His role within the company will to support the technical service sales department, which will open new doors for PCL in the form of bespoke projects.

  Commenting on his recent appointment, Mr de Knock said: “PCL is an innovative, fast growing power protection specialist company with great aspirations for continual growth and expansion. I am very eager to demonstrate my skills and experience and help drive the technical services department”.

  Adding to an already experienced and highly skilled project management team, PCL has also appointed a new project manager Richard Cameron. Mr Cameron brings with him over 15 years experience working in fast paced project management roles in the electrical and building sector and has been exposed to a wide variety of works , which have given him vital experience in a number of different areas.

  Mr Cameron is responsible for ensuring every project is completed successfully with full project management, from initial review through to UPS commissioning, deployment and installation. Mr Cameron uses his technical abilities to liaise with customers, onsite engineers and help within the PCL team.

  The technical services department is one of the four core departments PCL is expanding. Rebranding the company has created opportunities in not only the single phase and three phase products PCL can offer but service and maintenance contracts.

  Formerly Borri Ltd, PCL rebranded in January 2015 to allow the company to showcase and develop its portfolio including its wider pool of equipment, technical services and project solutions. This scope also further emphasises PCL’s commitment to delivering tailored power protection solutions for the UK and overseas markets.

  PCL continues to be committed to Borri three phase UPS products and technologies and remains an official UK distributor for the Italian manufacturer. PCL continues to receive direct manufacturing and technical support from Borri Spa whilst maintaining its high level of engineering involvement, which is supported by its all encompassing service and maintenance programmes and high UPS and product spares stock levels.

  For further company information please email [email protected] or call +44 (0)1246 431431

  Immense growth calls for expansion of technical services department

• Manufacturing a circular economy - the hot topic of 2019

  How and Why the Industry is Shifting toward a Circular Economy

  Circular economy is one of the hottest global topics of 2019. Having evolved from the world’s focus on improving efficiencies to meet the demands of an ever environmentally conscious population, the ethos behind a circular economy extends far beyond standard efficiency practices. It addresses the lifecycle of resources and looks to extend these as far as possible through recycling, reusing and redeploying.

  This philosophy, to some is an idealistic fantasy that delivers impractical obligations and potentially financially crippling outcomes. To others it is a critical step towards achieving a sustainable ‘green’ future. The real questions though, are how financially viable is a circular economy and can this truly be adopted across all industries?

  For years living in a disposable economy has been acceptable, where organisations collect raw materials, manufacture them into products that are used and then disposed of as waste once the maximum value has been extracted. This ‘take-make-dispose’ industrial process, known as a linear economy is created by selling as many products as possible.

  Environmental activists have consistently highlighted the impact that a linear economy has on the supply of already dwindling natural resources. Further negative ramifications are evident in the ‘cradle to grave’ business model, with vast amounts of unwanted landfill waste being pumped into rivers and canals and ultimately ending up in the world’s oceans.

  Whilst the environmental impacts of a linear economy are clear, there are a number of economic disadvantages that will be felt by companies who do not move away from this model. The continued uncertainties around Brexit have raised fears over the raw material prices and the growing reliance on interdependence could jeopardise the supply of materials.

  Some believe that the pressures to embrace a circular economy are impractical as the fundamental principles do not support aggressive sales cycles. The fashion sector has been one of the most impacted. An industry which has become synonymous for its frivolous use of materials. ‘Throwaway fashion’ has received its fair share of negative press, where entire supply chains coming under scrutiny not just from the media but also the government and its legislative fair practice regulations. Ironically though, being ‘green’ has become a fashion a statement and the industry is stoically embracing the challenge.

  The less cynical, and arguably the more progressive demographic, appreciate that the adoption of a circular economy mitigates the economic risks and offers a considerably more sustainable structure for generations to come, both economically and environmentally. The forward thinking understand that a circular economy influences a shift to the ‘cradle to cradle’ approach by keeping resources in use for longer and at the end of the products useful life, recovers and reuses those resources. This therefore aims to minimise resource inputs and the creation of waste, which will ultimately lessen the pressure on the country’s natural resources.

  Of particular interest to organisations that have committed their operations to more efficient processes, recyclable materials, reusable materials and all other manner of operation towards achieving a greater sustainable future, is the industry 4.0 concept.

  Industry 4.0, a concept whereby factories use production lines and processes that are augmented with wireless connectivity and sensors is making the shift to a circular economy seamless. With an integration of industry 4.0 and the circular economy paradigm, it is believed that sustainable solutions will be achieved and reduce the emission and resource from the industrial system to meet future carbon neutral targets.

  The industry 4.0 model ties in naturally with the UK’s target is to reduce carbon emissions by 100% of 1990 levels, the deadline of which is to be 2050. This figure not only requires individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions.

  After energy production and agriculture, the industrial sector is the third largest producer of carbon dioxide, producing as much as 21%¹. This is mainly due to manufacturing processes which use and combust fossil fuels in various steps of the manufacturing and industry process and any waste goes to landfill.

  In a shift to a circular economy manufacturing companies would increase the reuse of resources and decrease waste by treating an end of life product as a new resource. This follows the three R’s model, reduce, reuse and recycle.

  This process does not need to be a closed loop within each organisation. As a supplier of uninterruptible power supplies, Power Control Ltd understand that a key aspect of a circular economy is that it requires collaboration and moves beyond working in silos. Which is why Power Control only partner with UPS manufacturers who share the same environmental values working in industrial symbiosis.

  Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) have a clearly defined life expectancy which is largely dictated by the internal batteries and components. One of the main challenges is to create value from the UPS system once it has reached the end of its useful life.

  As outlined in Power Control’s Corporate Social Responsibility document, when replacing a UPS that is considered at the end of its usable life, it is stripped unit for all its recyclable material. For example, once the batteries in a UPS reach their end of life, rather than disposing of them in landfill, Power Control comply with WEEE regulation and promote recycling. This minimises waste and stimulates the development of more environmentally friendly products for the future.

  Reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability, Power Control closely monitors the impacts that both on and offsite activities has on the environment and include returning onsite waste generated by Power Control back to the head office to be collected by an approved waste carrier to be recycled appropriately.

  Another angle of a circular economy is by using the waste produced by one manufacturer for the raw materials of another, therefore alleviating the reliance on sourcing raw materials for one manufacturer and reducing the amount of waste entering landfill from the other.

  For more information please visit www.powercontrol.co.uk, email [email protected] or call the office on 01246 431431

  Alternatively please visit https://powercontrol.co.uk/product-category/ups-systems/ for specific product information or email Power Control’s solutions director direct [email protected]

  Manufacturing a circular economy - the hot topic of 2019

• Blackouts and fuel rationing to start in December, is your business prepared?

  On the 29^th of May 2022, the government released a stark outlook for the winter after officials drew up a ‘reasonable’ worst-case scenario following the knock-on effects as the energy crisis continues in the UK. riven by geopolitical tensions and the ‘perfect storm’ of market forces, this statement has exposed the fragility of the current state of fuel supplies and the significant impacts it will have on businesses across all sectors.

  The ‘worst-case’ scenario outlines what will happen if Norwegian imports of gas are limited to more than half and if there is no support from interconnectors such as Belgium and the Netherlands as they face their own supply crisis and if Russia cuts off gas entirely to the EU.

  ‘Businesses and residential properties could all see energy blackouts starting from December and lasting for three months with blackouts both on weekdays and weekends.’¹ The government would be forced to in effect ration electricity, suggesting it would be turned off on weekdays at peak times in the morning between 7 am and 10 am, and in the evenings between 4 pm and 9 pm.   

  To add to the already dismal outlook, at the time of writing this blog post, the wholesale price of natural gas is escalating drastically. It stands between 400% - 800% higher than this time last year and places an additional strain on businesses across the country. Sectors such as data centres, manufacturing and facilities are already feeling the pinch with reports that the NHS could see their energy bills soaring past £1 billion in the next ERIC reports.

  With industries facing a double whammy, prices going up and instability of energy supplies, businesses are being urged to scrutinise their existing critical power infrastructure and bolster their backup power strategy for what is likely to be increasingly turbulent times in the very near future.

   

  Preparing your infrastructure for energy supply blackouts

  For businesses with mission critical equipment, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) solution is a vital asset. These systems provide instantaneous power in the event of a mains failure and will keep equipment running either until the mains power is resumed, a generator kicks in or until a safe shutdown procedure has been performed.

   Depending on the industry, many facilities and premises will likely already have a critical power infrastructure in place with some level of power resilience either through an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), central power supply (CPSS), diesel generator or a combination of the three. Whilst this may tick a box, it is important to ensure they are still in good working order and will support the electrical load during a mains blackout. The following things should be considered:

   

  1. How old are the existing UPS?

  The first thing to check is the age of the existing UPS and whether the backup power system/s has had regular maintenance intervals over its life. A UPS has a typical lifespan of 10-14 years, after which the internal parts may start to degrade rendering the UPS unfit for purpose. Those without a full-service history may incur problems and be unreliable earlier in their lifespan. If a UPS older than this is installed, it may be time to request a site survey and look at a new UPS solution.

   

  2. Is the UPS still sized correctly?

  what happens if the business has expanded since installing a UPS causing the new load to exceed the capacity of the UPS? If this happens, the UPS will flag up a warning that it is overloaded.

  How the UPS reacts to the overload depends on how much it is overloaded by. Many UPS can operate at up to 125% overload for 10minutes, 125%-150% for 30 seconds and around 150% for 100 milliseconds. Over these overload figures, the UPS is likely to go to static bypass (so the load still will not be dropped), meaning the UPS will be supported by raw mains until the load drops to within the capacity of the UPS. If the overload condition continues, some UPS models automatically shut down. 

  An efficiency audit will asses whether the existing UPS is sized to correctly support the current infrastructure and take into account any future plans of expansion.

   

  3. Has the environment around the UPS changed?

  Like other electrical equipment, the UPS and batteries must be installed and kept in an environment that is conducive to the manufacturer's guidelines. Typically, this should be in a climate controlled room with the temperature kept between 0 – 25C, no moisture and free from dust or abrasive materials. Failure to do so is likely to affect the internal components of the UPS and impact the battery performance.

   

  4. Prevention is better than cure (preventative maintenance)

  With businesses becoming more reliant on their power supplies, a power failure is an unmitigated disaster. A preventative UPS maintenance programme ensures maintenance is carried out at regular intervals and will include a full inspection of UPS components, identifying risks before they affect the health of a UPS.

  It is recommended that all consumable parts such as capacitors, fans, batteries, etc are replaced once during the life span of the UPS.

  All of these considerations are key to ensuring the UPS and backup power infrastructure is working at its optimum and will support the critical architecture during a mains failure. The energy crisis is one that remains at the top of the government's agenda and with no end in sight for the near future, it is important to have peace of mind that the backup power infrastructure will work when needed.

  Power Control has nearly three decades of experience in the critical power industry and operates across a plethora of sectors. Our UPS manufacturing partners provide up to the minute training on their UPS systems and our engineers are trained across multivendor systems.

  For more information please visit www.powercontrol.co.uk, email [email protected] or call the office on 01246 431431

  Alternatively please visit https://powercontrol.co.uk/product-category/ups-systems/ for specific product information or email Power Control’s solutions director direct [email protected]

  1. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/millions-warned-of-power-cuts-this-winter-b7gl2ckx9 

  Blackouts and fuel rationing to start in December, is your business prepared?

• What protects your fire suppression systems?

  Fire and methods of fire protection have been a hot topic uttered by many FM’s, data centres, business owners and landlords following the tragic Grenfell tower incident. Fire suppression systems in particular have been a key focus when discussing businesses fire protection strategies as being one of the most vital forms of fire safety. Not to be confused with sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems can use a number of different extinguishing agents, and although parts of their systems may look similar, the way in which they extinguish or control fires and their applications are very different.

  Most commonly found in server rooms, datacentres and areas containing electrical or flammable equipment, a fire suppression system is the only viable option for fire protection actuating early in the event of a fire to protect the data and IT equipment. Water sprinkler systems would cause irreparable damage to the property it is intended to protect.

  Moreover, when using fire suppression in a care home or residential environment, protecting the lives of those who live and work there is the highest priority. Primarily, fire suppression systems allow residents a delayed evacuation process, providing them with valuable extra minutes to exit the building before the blaze takes hold. As it is likely residents in a care home have limited or no mobility, this extra time is crucial. The likely hood of a power outage during a fire is high, making a form of backup power a vital piece of equipment for the care home.

  Despite their differences, both fire sprinkler and fire suppression systems require mains power to interface with the fire alarm system. A power supply is vital for providing electricity to enable the releasing panel to interact with the fire alarm detection system, open pre-action valves, sound pre-discharge alarms, shut down ventilation and numerous other actions. Without a reliable power supply, the suppression system would not function if a fire broke out.

  As stated within the BS EN 50171, central power supply systems are intended to energise electrical circuits of automatic fire extinguishing installations, such as fire suppression systems, in the event of a mains power supply failure. A UPS system is commonly used as a method of backup power, where this system is used to feed essential safety systems, it must comply with EN 50091-1 and its relevant parts. This is in addition to the requirements set out in EN 50171.

  Specialising in power protection for over 80 years, Italian UPS manufacturer Borri Spa has recently introduced their range of ECS (Emergency Central System) uninterruptible power supply units. Encompassing their proven industry leading UPS technology with a slightly modified twist for supporting emergency and life safety systems, Borri’s ECS range of units meet both the Product Standard IEC/EN 62040 and the EN 50171 Standard. This provides versatility to use the UPS as a CPSS (Central Power Supply System) greatly reducing maintenance costs.

  As the exclusive UK representative for Borri Spa, Power Control provides turnkey backup power solutions for emergency and life safety applications. Due to the high inrush currents required to start a pump, there are many pitfalls to be avoided in providing UPS solutions to support fire suppression systems. Many other UPS providers will either fail to take these start-up currents into consideration leading to an unreliable solution or an oversized UPS unit. Specialising in all aspects of power quality and reliability, Power Control can provide a VSD (variable speed drive) alongside the ECS UPS. This means the start-up current is limited to 1x the running load preventing the need to oversize the UPS. Combining this technology with Borri’s excellence in manufacturing, Power Control is able to offer the full package.

  Power Control exclusively supplies, installs, commissions and maintains an extensive range of Borri UPS units within the UK market. These include 3 phase systems from 10kVA to 6.4MVA. For more information please visit www.powercontrol.co.uk, email [email protected] or call the office on 01246 431431

  What protects your fire suppression systems?

• The 4 Major Benefits of UPS Rental

  The national economy has not declined as much as it was originally feared and it looks as though the UK might narrowly avoid a double dip recession. Whilst many are optimistic, there is still a desperate need to be frugal and with that comes mounting concerns that too many negligent decisions are being made.

  Power Control wants to remind businesses that power protection is not an area to skimp on. Emergency power provisions are in place to safeguard facilities from any power supply anomalies or losses, which could result in devastating financial consequences. It is absolutely essential that any UPS (uninterruptible power supply) solution remains 100% fit for purpose. This may mean that it needs replacing, upgrading or routine maintenance carried out, all of which cannot be avoided or postponed.

  In situations where a new UPS system is required Power Control is urging companies to consider UPS rental options for four main reasons:

  1. Reduce CapEx

  If the immediate budget doesn’t allow for purchasing a critical power solution, renting a UPS allows the company to lower the outflow of cash whilst still maintaining power reliability and business continuity.

  2. Minimise equipment liability

  When owning a UPS system, expenditure doesn’t end immediately after the unit is installed. Ongoing costs such as servicing, maintenance and system updates must also be considered. However, renting a UPS ensures that a pre-commissioned and well-maintained UPS is readily available to be connected. An ongoing maintenance schedule is also included with 24/7 technical support.

  3. Deliver immediate cost savings

  Businesses that function on limited budgets and cannot afford to purchase a UPS run the risk of losing important data and incurring costly downtime. For these businesses, renting a UPS makes more financial sense. They get the required equipment without incurring the huge costs of owning a UPS supply and can keep the cash in the business to be invested elsewhere.

  4. Will allow for future scalability

  As a business grows so does the size of the infrastructure and the load requirement. With a rental UPS solution, the smaller units can simply be swapped out for larger ones when required. This flexibility is appealing for small and medium businesses that expect imminent growth but requires backup power throughout.

  In today’s economic climate there are a lot of uncertainties, which are forcing organisations to reconsider their long term strategies. These often impact infrastructural developments where short term solutions are being sought by those that are remaining cautious. UPS rental offers a flexible approach, allowing businesses to cater for their present day power requirements without having to invest in a hypothetical solution for the future. This gives the option to easily scale up or down with no obligation to commit to an end solution.

  Rental UPS solutions are also widely used in emergency situations to provide temporary backup power and are frequently called upon to support construction works and renovation projects.

  Supporting all business types and sizes, from distribution centres, retail outlets and sporting venues to temporary hospitals and hospital extensions, Power Control’s rental UPS services include pre-commissioning before deployment, saving time and giving peace of mind that the UPS system has been configured correctly. As part of longer term lease agreements, Power Control not only includes emergency service cover and routine UPS service visits but also ensures that all environmental considerations are taken into account throughout the term.

  The company offers short, medium and long-term hire options of its UPS systems starting from 10kVA. These can be installed internally or provided as part of a containerised solution for temporary positioning outdoors. With over £2.5million in stock, its own test facility and specialist engineers located across the country, Power Control is able to despatch hire UPS solutions within 48hours.

  Renting a UPS offers a very cost effective, flexible solution to ensuring a business remains operational in the event of a power failure. For more information about rental backup power solutions from Power Control please visit www.powercontrol.co.uk, email [email protected] or call the office direct to speak to one of our UPS hire team on 01246 431431

  The 4 Major Benefits of UPS Rental

• What data centre tier ratings mean for UPS?

  Established by the Uptime Institute (TUI) in the 1990s, the data centre Tier classification system is used to organise specific types of data centre infrastructure in a consistent way. Based on a set of operating criteria, the system comprises 4 progressive classifications starting at Tier 1 and ramping up to Tier 4. The Tiers typically take Roman Numeral form on the certification.
  The Uptime Institute have left some ambiguity around how the Tiers are defined, however, they have made the most important metrics common knowledge. These metrics include, power availability, uptime guarantee, cooling capacity and concurrent maintainability, to name a few.

  The classifications help data centres and customers alike to identify the level of redundancy and complexity that a data centre infrastructure provides and assists in ensuring that the correct size UPS is installed.

  Looking further into the power aspects of the tiering system, having a redundant electrical path for power is crucial for achieving the higher Tier status. A data centre must satisfy the requirements of the previous Tier before moving upward to the next one

  What is a Tier 4 (Tire IV) Data Centre?
  To achieve Tier 4 certification, a data centre must meet all criteria set out in Tier 3 + Tier 2 + Tier 1 + additional criteria to provide customers with the highest levels of availability and 99.995% uptime per annum.

  There must be zero single points of failure in a Tier 4 data centre with redundancies for every process, including the UPS (uninterruptible power supply). This is achieved by implementing a critical infrastructure with a minimum redundancy configuration of N+N (distributed redundant) or better still 2N+1, whereby there is two times the amount of power required, plus a backup supply.

  Each UPS can carry the entire critical load and supports its own independent distribution system with no power connections between each one. Multiple power distribution units (PDUs) are used for distributing the electrical power between the critical load and independent UPS units. All downstream loads can be switched to one of the UPS units allowing the others to be taken offline for maintenance or load reconfiguration.

  This is the most expensive option for customers to buy into and is also the most expensive data centre to design. For this reason, it is typically used by large, global businesses or public sector organisations. Customers requiring this level of facility will have the budget to sustain residence and will typically be hosting mission-critical servers.

  What is a Tier 3 (Tier III) Data Centre?
  With a minimum uptime requirement of 99.982% and no more than 1.6 hours of downtime per annum, a tier 3 data centre is the facility of choice for most small/medium sized businesses. It comprises all the credentials of a Tier 2 + Tier 1 + the requirement of having dual powered equipment and multiple uplinks. The critical infrastructure should be configured in a N+1 arrangement meaning it can undergo routine maintenance without affecting operations.

  What is a Tier 2 (Tier II) Data Centre?
  To be defined as Tier 2, a data centre must have redundancy on the most critical aspects of its mechanical structure; power and cooling distribution. This means that during planned maintenance outages, the level of uptime won’t be affected. To be certified to this level, a data centre must achieve 99.741% uptime per annum.

  Tier 2 data centres are typically targeted to SMEs. They offer significantly higher levels of efficiency than Tier 1 without the expense of a Tier 3 site.

  What is a Tier 1 (Tier I) Data Centre?
  Considered the least reliable of data centre architecture, a Tier 1 data centre does not include any redundant on any part of its operations. These facilities allow the highest amounts of downtime, requiring only 99.671% of uptime per annum.

  If a Tier 1 data centre experiences a power outage, it is likely that customers of the facility will incur downtime due to the lack of backup systems in place. Customers will also find themselves out of action at every maintenance interval as data centres under this certification are not required to have an additional power supply while the facility undergoes maintenance.

  Choosing the Right Data Centre Tier
  As the Uptime Institute are somewhat discrete about their ranking criteria, earning an official rank is difficult and there are no guarantees that investing in additional infrastructure will warrant a specific classification. The higher up the levels a data centre climbs, the more difficult it is to achieve the next level.

  Having a UPS supplier that is knowledgeable in the classifications will make the process of designing or upgrading the data centre to the desired Tier rating smoother. It is also important to remember that It’s not just a case of installing the critical infrastructure, to ensure consistent reliability from the UPS, a maintenance schedule from a reputable UPS maintenance provider is essential.

  Our modular UPS manufacturing partner, Huawei, show their continued commitment to the data centre industry by being apart of the TIER-Ready programme. Power Control is a long standing partner of Huawei, supplying, installing and maintaining their centralised modular UPS solutions. Available up to 21MW, their UPS systems are ideal for higher Tier data centres to ensure reliable redundancy.

  Power Control has also partnered with modular UPS manufacturer Legrand, and stand alone UPS manufacturer, Borri SPA. To find out which topology is most suitable for your data centre’s needs, contact us 01246 431431 or email [email protected].

  What data centre tier ratings mean for UPS?

• Why install a UPS on a pharmacy refrigerator?

  With three Covid-19 vaccinations currently approved in the UK and another two on their way to being signed off as safe to use, attention is once again being centred around the sustainability of the vaccination cold chain.

  Why is a UPS required for a pharmacy refrigerator?

  UPS (uninterruptible power supply) availability extends beyond the typical applications commonly associated with requiring backup power. Unlike applications where a sudden power failure causes data loss or other operational issues, power loss to pharmacy refrigerators or laboratory freezers prevents medical personnel from being able to open the fridge and retrieve vaccinations. Provided the door is unopened, in the event of power loss, a typical medicine fridge will maintain the internal temperature for up to 4 hours.

  The recent news of a Coronavirus vaccine breakthrough has brought pharmaceutical refrigerators into the public eye. Mainly highlighting the fact that vaccines, diluents, immunoglobulins and other medicines have precise temperature requirements, most of which must be kept between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (35.6F to 46.4F). If the temperature rises above 8 degrees Celsius then according to the NHS Green Book, the ‘cold chain’ has been broken and the contents of the fridge must be rendered as damaged and destroyed.

  Medicines and vaccinations stored in laboratory freezers have a lower tolerance to temperature fluctuation and depending on the vaccine should be kept between –15 and –50 degrees Celsius (5 to –58F). Unlike other frozen vaccines, the first Covid-19 vaccine must be kept at -70 degrees Celsius (-94F), must not be removed from that temperature more than four times and once thawed will only last five days before it deteriorates and denatures.

  To maintain the proper temperature ranges, the freezer and refrigerator units must be in good working condition and they must have power at all times.

  Aside from the Covid-19 vaccinations, which are upwards of £800 million with the two front runners, the cost of routine vaccinations administered by local GPs is in the hundreds of £millions a year.

  “After receiving a delivery, we usually have up to £50,000 worth of vaccines being stored in our medical fridge. The worry of anything happening to these vaccines and potentially having to destroy them all often gives our staff sleepless nights.” – this was said by a practice manager during a preliminary site visit.

  Having vaccinations destroyed due to a power outage is costly and those who need urgent access to a vaccine may have to wait longer.

  What does the UPS backup?

  There are strict guidelines surrounding the storage of vaccinations which means a medical fridge outage may not only be a costly inconvenience, but it could also breach regulations. The CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) further highlights the minimum requirement for providing adequate refrigerator conditions:

  “Steps have been taken to reduce the probability of accidental interruption of the electricity supply”

  Switchless sockets and clear labelling are methods typically adopted to achieve the above statement. Whilst this will reduce the probability of human error, if there is a sudden loss of power due to a mains power failure, a switchless socket will not provide an additional source of power to the fridge.

  With a UPS system (uninterruptible powers supply) installed, during a mains power failure, the UPS will switch the load over to its batteries keeping a continuous supply of power to the refrigerator and will also protect the equipment from power surges and spikes which could cause thousands of pounds in damage.

  Additionally, most laboratory or pharmacy refrigerators and freezers have alarm contacts alerting to the fact that the power has failed, ironically a power failure alarm requires power and will have to be operated on a secondary supply, such as a UPS, due to the mains system being rendered inactive during the outage.

  Which UPS most suitable for a pharmacy refrigerator?

  Whilst the words ‘UPS system’ often evokes thoughts of large multi megawatt power systems with strings of batteries, they are also available as compact and self-contained single phase units, and power availability depends on what is trying to be achieved and the available budget:

  1. Backing up the contact alarm and acting as an alert to the practice owner

  The most budget friendly option, a small UPS will provide enough autonomy to power the alarm contact on the pharmacy refrigerator. This gives the practice owner time to implement a contingency plan and ensures the staff know to keep the door closed until mains power is restored. Additionally, the UPS’ own monitoring software provides a mobile alert when the mains power fails ensuring the situation is not missed outside of opening hours.

  2. Backing up the pharmacy fridge, providing 8-10+ hours of autonomy

  Although a more expensive option, backing up the pharmacy fridge with a UPS means vaccines can still be accessed throughout the power cut, which could last hours. It gives peace of mind that if the failure extends beyond the length of time that a fridge can stay cold for without power, the vaccines will not need to be destroyed, saving the practice thousands.

  Although the above are the two most common solutions, there are a number of different solutions available to suit all sizes and environments. These compact UPS systems start at 800VA and are available with additional battery boxes. For larger sites with multiple medical applications, three phase UPS systems can be installed alongside single phase units.

  Recommended UPS Sytems

  Power Control offers a range of single phase uninterruptible power supplies suitable for all types and sizes of pharmacy refrigerators. The most common of which are the C60 or C200 for alarm contacts, and C400 or C550 for medical fridges. For more information, please visit www.powercontrol.co.uk, email  [email protected] or call the office on 01246 431431

  Why install a UPS on a pharmacy refrigerator?

• 5 reasons why UPS maintenance is important

  A UPS, like all electronic and electrical equipment, needs sufficient maintenance in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure optimal reliability. However, a UPS located in harsh environmental conditions can fail even if it is well-maintained.

  With businesses becoming ever more reliant on their power supplies, a power failure is an unmitigated disaster, not only because of the inconvenience but also the potentially great loss of time and money. A UPS maintenance programme provides greater peace of mind that a UPS will protect the equipment that it is required for.

  1 Preventing Failure-Induced Downtime

  Whether a bank of computers in an office or machinery in a production line, a loss of power to a business’ critical infrastructure can result in thousands of pounds worth of downtime. If the UPS systems go offline or fail to switch over, they could compromise the equipment they have been installed to protect. Maintaining the UPS will help to alleviate the risk of this happening.

  2 Preventing A Loss of Data

  Extremely sensitive loads such as personal and confidential data held at data centres and records bureaus are subject to damaging lags or sags in a power supply. Regular maintenance will help to ensure that the UPS continues to provide instant power and that an instantaneous switchover from mains to UPS is achieved.

  3 Ensure Optimum UPS Efficiency

  To ensure maximum efficiency of a UPS over its lifespan, the capacitors within the UPS need to be maintained at the manufacturer’s recommended ambient temperature, humidity and cleanliness. Keeping the UPS in a dry, tidy, clean and well-lit area as well as checking that all alarms and indicators are recorded, logged and reported correctly will help to optimise its efficiency.

  A carefully structured maintenance programme would include servicing to all the UPS installation’s major parts; the UPS itself, the battery and generator if present. During a maintenance visit, a full inspection of the UPS’s critical instruments should be carried out and checked for correct operation. Meter readings should also be checked, recorded and verified for accuracy and local and remote monitoring panel, communications channels and indicator lamps should be checked for correct status indication.

  The environment surrounding the UPS should then be evaluated, removing any obstructions or debris from around the UPS, and checking for optimum operating temperature with a good air circulation while changing any air filters as required.

  During a maintenance visit, the degradation of any critical component should be identified, allowing the repair or replacement of broken parts to be carried out before failure occurs.

  4 Optimise Battery Health

  When Valve Regulated Lead Acid batteries (VRLA) are used in a UPS system they operate in ‘float mode’. In float mode, the batteries continuously trickle charge to ensure they maintain full charge. When the UPS requires the battery backup power in either frequent short or infrequent long cycles this results in the discharge of the batteries. Many deep discharges of a battery will shorten their life expectancy. They are designed as a standby battery, cycling them multiple times will weaken them.

  It is recommended that batteries are inspected every 6-12 months to allow accurate prediction of the end of the battery’s working life. The inspection should include impedance and load testing to give a full report on the health of the batteries inside the UPS.

  Battery impedance testing measures the resistance generated by a battery in an electrical circuit and is the most convenient and easy way to test the health of a UPS battery. This prevents any serious complications and ensures faults are rectified before they become a potential danger.

  5 Conduct Emergency Repairs

  No matter how well maintained the UPS equipment is, unforeseen failures may occasionally occur, which is why it is vital that an emergency-call out service is available. There are often different levels of emergency cover available at varying prices to suit all levels of cover and cost. 24/7/365 telephone support is often available, while a guaranteed time within which a service engineer arrives on site following a call-out can be negotiated. Similarly, levels of stock holding can be discussed and negotiated.

  The critical nature of UPS systems means that they need to be serviced regularly to ensure that the internal workings of the units and their batteries are functioning correctly. A carefully structured UPS maintenance programme can safeguard your business against faults and expensive ad hoc repairs, whilst maximising the working life of the UPS.

  For more information on our comprehensive maintenance plans email [email protected] or call 01246 431431. Alternatively, visit our UPS maintenance page

  5 reasons why UPS maintenance is important

• 8 reason why a UPS lease agreement could be the answer

  For many organisations, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) forms an imperative foundation for their critical infrastructure. Providing a backup source of power if the mains were to fail. For some it may be an added level of continuity, supporting IT equipment, special applications or server racks but for others, it’s a compulsory asset necessary to comply with strict industry regulations or to protect sensitive data.

  But as businesses across the country have faced some of the most turbulent times for generations, having been precipitously hurled in and out of lockdowns, so many are being frugal with capital expenditure (CAPEX). And rightly so.

  Purchasing a new UPS installation, while necessary, calls for a large CAPEX. Power Control Ltd has seen an uptick in the number of businesses requesting UPS financing or UPS leasing options. A UPS lease enables businesses to ensure full power protection without tying up cash reserves that are better spent in other business operations.

  There are numerous benefits to financing or leasing equipment, particularly for small and medium size businesses. Those looking for a backup power solution that can be upgraded, extended and updated as the company evolves and grows can do so very simply with a lease agreement in place.

  The Benefits

  1.   Conserves working capital for other purposes – For businesses with budgetary restrictions preventing capital outlay, the small upfront costs and regular monthly payments make high-value purchases such as a UPS more attainable. It also allows businesses to free up cash for other uses. A feature that is especially important through turbulent times.
     
     
  2.   Preserves existing lines of credit and access other lines of credit– One of the often forgotten about but important reasons to finance equipment is access to other lines of credit. Similarly to tax efficiency, the predictable monthly expense of an equipment finance agreement means a business can access another type of business finance alongside it. This is a major benefit as companies can obtain the necessary equipment without affecting other lines of credit whilst also making future borrowing easier.
     
     
  3.   Simplifies your budgeting through regular fixed payments– Financing a UPS with a UPS lease agreement means repayment amounts will be fixed throughout the agreed lease period. This avoids the effects of inflation and in turn, makes forecasting and budgeting simpler.
     
     
  4. Provides controllable, convenient and tax efficient funding – By definition, tax relief is the amount of money that the corporation tax bill can be reduced by. Lease payments on UPS systems can be deducted as a business expense on a tax return, reducing the net cost of the lease. The type and length of the lease will affect the amount of tax relieve received.
     
     
  5.  Helps to insulate your business from the problems of depreciation and rapidly obsolete technology– As with a majority of tangible assets, UPS systems have a shelf life and will depreciate over the years. Technology is also rapidly evolving, and UPS systems are more efficient now than ever before. Leasing options mean businesses can access upgraded technology and are not left with obsolete units at the end of the agreement.

  6.   Get the equipment you need when you need it– Financing and leasing agreements break down budgetary retractions. Where buying a UPS outright required large CAPEX, purchasing a solution under a lease agreement allows a business to acquire equipment that is out. of reach as a one-off payment.
     
     
  7.   Flexibility – As business operations expand so does the need for additional or upgraded power capacity. As part of a UPS lease, a business can acquire additional systems quickly without a large outlay.
     
     
     
  8. Why settle for second best? – Financing options allow businesses to access better quality equipment, without having to settle for outdated technology or a UPS that is incorrectly sized to save upfront costs. While this may reduce CAPEX, it puts the business under.

  Securing a UPS System Lease

  Once a business has been marked as eligible for a UPS finance lease agreement, a UPS system can be onsite in a matter of days. Preventing businesses from having to wait weeks or months to purchase, replace or repair the critical equipment. UPS systems form a key part of a critical infrastructure and every day without one is an unnecessary risk to business continuity

  Contact us

  Financing or leasing a UPS offers a very cost effective, flexible solution to ensuring a business remains operational in the event of a power failure. For more information about UPS leasing options from Power Control please complete the form below, email [email protected] or call the office directly to speak to one of our UPS finance team on 01246 431 431.

  8 reason why a UPS lease agreement could be the answer

• Vision Express see a clear difference in their power resilience

  The UK’s fastest growing Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) specialist, Power Control, has supplied another high efficiency Borri UPS for one of the country’s top eye care retailers.

  Vision Express Ltd has purchased a high efficiency Borri B9000FXS to support its new distribution centre works in Nottingham. The 300kVA unit is now providing resilient power protection for the company’s new lens crafting department.

  It was imperative that the chosen UPS provided 100% reliable power resilience. Any power fluctuations and breaks in power could damage the company’s hi-tech lens equipment and conveyor belt system and result in £1000s of damage. Having purchased a number of Borri UPS units in the past to support various data centres across the country, Vision Express chose the Borri B9000FXS for its proven performance.

  Renowned for not just its power resilience, the transformer based Borri B9000FXS also comes with best in class efficiency, making its running costs significantly lower than other comparable UPS systems on the market.

  Power Control also supplied an intelligent internal SNMP card for remote monitoring shutdown. For added peace of mind, all of the Borri three phase UPS systems are provided by Power Control with a unique UK three year parts warranty, which can help to dramatically reduce the total cost of ownership when combined with a maintenance contract in the first three years.

  Working closely with one of its preferred electrical contractors, STP Solutions, Power Control supplied, installed and commissioned the Borri B9000FXS within a matter of weeks. With a very short time frame to work within, precision planning was essential and both Power Control and STP Solutions worked tirelessly to ensure the entire project was delivered seamlessly.

  Vision Express’ Senior Systems Engineer, Chris Wardle commented: “The design and manufacturing quality of Borri UPS systems is first class. We have every confidence that our production line equipment will be protected against any spikes or loss in power. We have also been thoroughly impressed with the efficiency of the units and look forward to reaping the rewards of the year on year cost savings.

  “It is not just the quality of UPS that has impressed us but also the quality of service from both Power Control and STP Solutions, which has been impeccable. All the engineers responded quickly and were exceptionally conscientious. I would highly recommend both companies to anyone looking for consistently reliable products and service.”

  As the UK’s fastest growing UPS specialist, Power Control also has an unrivalled maintenance repertoire and is renowned for its flexible contract solutions. Vision Express has been benefiting from Power Control’s expansive maintenance services for a number of years and has taken out a three year, tailored gold maintenance contract for its latest UPS unit.

  Mr Wardle said: “We have been using Power Control for all our UPS requirements for a number of years and renew our contracts annually. We trust the company implicitly to deliver exactly what we need and at a fair cost. The level of service is exceptional and we have excellent relationships with the Power Control team, which is vitally important in any long standing relationship.”

  Formerly Borri Ltd, Power Control rebranded in January 2015 to give the company greater opportunities to offer a wider pool of equipment, technical services and project solutions. This scope also further emphasises Power Control’s commitment to delivering tailored power protection solutions for the UK and overseas markets.

  Power Control continues to be committed to Borri three phase UPS products and technologies and remains an official UK distributor for the Italian UPS manufacturer. Power Control continues to receive direct manufacturing and technical support from Borri Spa whilst maintaining its high level of engineering involvement, which is supported by its all encompassing service and maintenance programmes and high UPS and product spares stock levels.

  For further information please email [email protected] or call +44 (0)1246 43143

  Vision Express see a clear difference in their power resilience