20 Aug Things to Consider When Choosing a Generator for your Commercial Property

Whether you’re attempting to secure your buildings power in adverse conditions or simply conforming to code requirements, many commercial buildings are fitted with backup generators.

Today, you’ll find that generators are often fitted at the construction stage of a new building, but that hasn’t always been true, and those with older premises are now looking to invest in generators to keep their commercial properties operational around the clock, no-matter the conditions.

Nevertheless, there are some significant differences between the kind of generator you might keep in your garage and the ones you’d trust to power your business.

So, what do you need to consider when buying a generator for your commercial property?

What You’ll Use It For

Generators can be used to power almost anything in your property, but for many businesses, the purpose of a generator isn’t to keep everything in the building running. Often, they’re used to keep vital functions like elevators, emergency lighting, fire safety systems, sump pumps and other vital services active

By knowing what you’re going to be using your generator for, you can begin to understand…

The Potential Load

By far the most important feature of any generator is the amount of energy it can produce. Generators are manufactured in a startling array of sizes and power outputs, so do your research and find the model which can power your property.

For the systems listed above (like elevators, emergency lighting, fire safety systems, sump pumps, et cetera) it’s recommended that you use at least a 100kw generator. However, larger or smaller properties will have different requirements – there are no hard and fast rules regarding generators for these properties.

Fuel Type

In general, you’ll find that generators come in two fuel types – petrol or diesel, just like your car. Picking between the two can be tough though, especially now that diesel pricing is roughly on par with that of petrol.

Nevertheless, diesel generators use less fuel than their petrol counterparts and don’t rely on a spark-based ignition system, which have been known to fail. Petrol generators, on the other hand, come in a wider variety of models and can often be found at a lower price.