Energy savings, reliability, 24/7 operation, flexibility, new code demands, and upgraded technology-these are only a few of the factors that enter into planning and designing for power systems in today's healthcare facilities. In this installment of Healthcare Building Ideas' new department, Build It Right, devoted to multiple perspectives on successfully integrating today's building systems, Editor Richard L. Peck and Contributing Editor Shannon Powers-Jones present the views of four interested parties: the architect, the owner, the maintenance person, and the engineer.

Yes, it is. MEP can be the biggest cost on the project and have the greatest impact. These days we have BIM software that actually allows us to model heat load issues for window glass systems and other materials, which allows a holistic approach to design of these systems that integrates design and engineering together, that provides both energy and building enhancement.

What is the best way to plan for power systems, including optimal configuration for the facility?

There are several considerations to research before making a final decision on power systems. Working with the facilities planner to develop a master plan would be the first step, as consideration for expandability for future growth is necessary. Of course, determining location within the site would be a prerequisite. If flooding is a concern then that would have to be addressed as well. Flexibility in design to allow for future, unknown power distribution would have to be allowed for as well. Additional factors to consider include access for replacement of failed components and adjacent space utilization. We have found that conditioned space to house our power systems is mandatory for efficiency and the life-cycle cost of the system. Redundancy, if required, must be identified early in the process, as well as any other special requirements (e.g., emergency generation, etc.)

What are the possibilities of cogeneration (on-site power generation by facility and/or utility, by arrangement)?

In today's economy, cogeneration of power has to be a driver of design and location. In some states, the KW cost is so low that cogeneration is not a viable option. However, as fuel costs rise, which I feel they inevitably will, then cogeneration is more attractive. Not discounting the reliability of the utility providing the electricity, cogeneration may offer higher efficiency, and lower KW cost may allow for campus-wide service in huge, facility-intensive sites. Cogeneration is also a tremendous back-up power system when nature wreaks havoc on utility grids.

Are there sustainability considerations?

Of course with today's emphasis on going “green,” sustainability should be a priority. It starts with design, carries through the entire construction experience, and should continue during the life of the facility. It affords opportunities to ensure that systems are performing as designed, and that they will be reliable from the inception and occupancy of the facility.

Can you elaborate on the importance of commissioning when dealing with power systems?

Since electricity is one of the largest expenses of operations, any effort to reduce waste and increase efficiency will be rewarded in savings over the life of the system. If it is designed properly, installed properly, and commissioned properly, a well-designed system will prove to be a tremendous asset over the life of the facility.

How do you budget for power systems installations and maintenance? Is cost an issue?

“Maintenance” Rich Johenning IT Chief Facilities Engineer - Doral Data Center, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida

What are some reliability considerations when assessing power systems (including equipment and vendors)?

It is always incumbent upon us as operators and owners to consider the robustness of the equipment and systems. Also, the availability of parts and supplies for preventative maintenance during the lifespan of the equipment is essential, because as the equipment ages, parts for emergency repairs are very important. Through the life of the equipment, vendor support becomes an increasingly high priority as most equipment comes with some version of a microprocessor, and revisions and upgrades have to be available.

What are the space planning considerations for power systems?

Space is always at a premium in power systems design. Engineering or operational space is typically not revenue producing, so there is always pressure to keep the square footage for the equipment at a minimum. Not only is the space for the equipment to operate important, but adequate space around and above it also becomes equally important for maintenance and repair. The amount of space available sometimes dictates what equipment can be selected for the project. There have been times in the development of the power coordination study that a particular vendor's equipment cannot be used due to having to upsize the gear in order to coordinate well.

Can you discuss the importance of commissioning when dealing with power systems?

“Engineer" John W. Zabilowicz, PE, LEED AP Principal, Z&F Consulting, Wayne, Pennsylvania

How does system reliability manifest itself as a consideration in planning for the healthcare setting?

The hot issue right now is selective coordination, which essentially means designing the electrical distribution system so that a short circuit doesn't last long enough to cause major damage but persists sufficiently to allow the right breaker to function, and that protective devices are properly coordinated to work at the proper time. Code section 517 for hospital electrical design reliability and safety now requires this. The hard part was that many vendors didn't have data on their circuit protective devices [circuit breakers] in the short circuit zone of the operation when this code provision took effect. So, in practice, the entire field of equipment manufacturers was playing catch-up. It also means that staff working on emergency power systems design must design for this early in the design process. In the past, we wanted to clear short circuits as quickly as possible for safety. This change in code is counter-intuitive, in that we must allow for a short circuit to persist a little longer. I've seen thousands of dollars spent in changes because the distribution system wasn't designed to accommodate this.

What about the impact of UPS?

It is imperative that engineering staff explain to medical personnel the importance and proper installation of UPS. It is an expensive item that medical administration may want to eliminate from planning for budgetary reasons-in the “old days” the lights could go down for 10 seconds without major concern. But many of today's surgical procedures, both invasive and noninvasive, are so critical that UPS has become a must for surgical suites and procedure rooms. When medical personnel have questioned the need for this I've said, “If you don't mind waiting for maintenance to show up, fine, but you've told me otherwise.” When the monitors go down and the scopes go down, there is trouble. The key is to have the proper installation designed to meet the medical personnel's requirements to safely terminate and/or complete a procedure. This absolutely requires the medical staff to have an operational understanding of the electrical design.

How good an alternative is cogeneration these days?

It's a no-brainer. With the open market deregulating, power suppliers will start paying the higher rates consumers are already paying as they come out from under various caps. Hospitals will be able to cogenerate their own power at lower rates, how low, depending on whether they are heating or cooling-or both-with steam. Some cogeneration processes are more efficient that others, and heating is the most efficient. It's gotten so, particularly in areas served by nuclear power, that hospitals can shut down their generators and purchase relatively cheap energy at overnight rates. This has really changed things: whereas the payback of cogeneration was usually said to be 8 to 10 years, now it's 2.5 to 4 years, and hospitals are jumping at that. You can even sell excess power to the utility during high-use periods, like hot August days. That figures into the payback.

Is commissioning of power systems worth the investment?

I'll answer this with an anecdote. We had installed three 1.5 megawatt generators that were only 30% loaded on day one but which could anticipate much higher use as the campus built out. Looking at that, I said let's do a drop load test-starting a generator and dropping a full 1.5 megawatt load on it in one step and making sure it can recover without stalling. The factory rep said they couldn't do that because he couldn't throw all 14 breakers on the load bank at once. I said let's get five more guys and throw all the breakers at once to see what happens. The generator failed-something that wouldn't have been discovered until perhaps five years down the road, possibly with a patient on the table. The problem was the generators had been factory tested with a huge exhaust system capable of handling anything. In the field, the generator had been installed with an eight-inch exhaust pipe rather than a 10-inch-something that couldn't be determined with the human eye because of the pipe's corrugation, and which has to be measured by calipers. The factor rep measured the pipe after the failed test and said, “Oh!” We avoided a possible patient care disaster five years down the road-that's what commissioning does.

There are two problems here that commissioning addresses: a hospital power system is rarely a packaged system, it is a collection of parts from various sources, because every project is unique. But who certifies the assembly? Second, when you're pushing equipment to its limit, as will happen with campus build-outs and the like, it doesn't always function as advertised. Commissioning is the only way to get at both these problems. HBI