Gain Control with these 10 Contingency Planning Steps

Summer’s extreme temperatures and unpredictable severe weather can result in equipment or power outages. Being prepared for unexpected building failures can save you valuable time and money during an emergency.

Don’t find yourself searching for a generator as a tropical storm makes its way toward your region. Gain control and peace of mind by following these 10 contingency planning steps.

Financial risk analysis. Review the different functional areas of your facility, their dependence on power, HVAC and compressed air equipment, and the impact a loss could potentially have. By understanding the importance of these items to your operations and quantifying their financial impact, you can determine the areas that need to be considered.

Risk assessment. Identify the potential causes for an interruption and rank them based on cost impact, probability of occurrence and system downtime.

Equipment identification. Document all equipment in your HVAC and power systems, including their operating conditions. This will help uncover system weaknesses that need to be addressed before you implement your plan.

Prioritization. Evaluate your most critical facility loads and process needs for essential operations, including those with the highest financial implications for your business. Consider load prioritization and/or load shedding to reduce the amount of capacity required. For a short period of time, you may be able to operate with higher air temperatures in certain areas and completely shut down others.

System connection. How and where connections are made helps reduce time and money. It is important to choose a location that is easily accessible and requires the least amount of temporary installation material. This will help keep additional costs to a minimum.

Power availability. Document the available voltage(s) and amperage in case a transformer or generator is needed. Even if your power has not been affected, some temporary units may require more power than your existing units.

Electrical connection. Establish the location of the temporary electrical connection(s) and how they will be made.

Temporary equipment location. Equipment location is important for determining how much electrical cable, chilled water hose and/or flex duct will be required.

Plan creation.  Your plan should include recommended temporary equipment solutions, the total investment required, and detailed roles and responsibilities for internal and external resources.

Review. Be sure to review your plan at least once a year, or when facility changes are made.

A Trane account manager is ready to work with you and your facility team to create your building contingency plan.