Business continuity is a main priority for all organizations, and part of this effort includes being ready for anything. Surge suppression solutions are necessary for maintaining operations, but they’re often overlooked by company leaders in their strategies. Let’s take a look at the biggest things you should know about surge suppression.
1. It protects against equipment damage
In your facility, there are likely a few big pieces of machinery, such as an elevator, HVAC unit and printers. These units kick on and off suddenly, sending a power spike through the building. This means that any hardware plugged into the wall is subject to the impact of a jolt that might last less than a thousandth of a second, according to Security Sales & Integration. Although equipment isn’t exposed to the surge for long, the spike will still damage it and lead to premature degradation.
There’s also the potential that a more powerful surge strikes as a result of sudden electrical current changes, lightning strikes or faulty wiring, causing more significant damage to critical assets. Rather than take chances, simply installing a quality surge suppression solution will protect all hardware, ensuring operations continue without interruption.
“Look at your critical assets to address the biggest potential spikes.“
2. Peak surge current determines the impact it can take
Every surge suppression offering is different, and some might not be able to provide as much protection as other options. It’s important to look at your critical assets and monitoring power within your facility to address the biggest potential spikes. One of the important specifications to consider is the peak surge current of the device. This is most often shown as a per phase number ranging from between 20,000 and 200,000 amps or more of peak surge current handling capability. When applying surge protection to the service entrance it is important to consider the lightning potential environment of the area. If it is high, then it is critical to have a higher number. A qualified surge system designer will be able to provide accurate recommendations.
3. You’ll yield great ROI
When looking at surge suppression, it’s important that you’ll not only improve your continuity efforts, but also reap ROI based on avoiding critical power events. Campus Safety Magazine contributor Michael Molinari noted that the loss of surveillance, security, life safety systems and other valuable assets can be extremely costly. With surge suppression, you can prevent the destruction of essential equipment and interrupted operations. As the expenses associated with downtime and hardware repairs continue to rise, avoiding this situation entirely will save you a lot of time and money.
Surges happen every day within your facility, expediting damage to your electronic hardware. Installing quality performing surge suppression is a simple and cost-effective way to protect your most valuable assets and contribute to business continuity efforts. For more information on how surge suppression systems can protect your organization, contact ECS today.