Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Backup Power Is Critical

  • By Bill Allen
  • 09/01/16

Power protection is a sometimes forgotten aspect of keeping a campus safe during a power outage caused by either a man-made or natural disaster. When a student, faculty member or administrator enters a campus facility, there is a presumption that all systems designed for keeping everyone safe are working, even during a power outage.

Network servers and workstations are the first things that typically come to mind for most administrators when it comes to backup power, but other critical systems cannot be overlooked.

When a power outage occurs, a campus security system is perhaps the most important system to have protected by a battery backup, or uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Security cameras, video recorders, access control systems, fire alarm systems and emergency communications are absolutely critical for ensuring campus safety. If these systems do not have appropriate power backup, security vulnerabilities are huge and liabilities are magnified. The good news is that most of this security hardware can have appropriate battery backup at a cost-effective price.

One of the most important questions to consider in security system power protection is how long should all aspects of the security system stay up and running? Is one hour sufficient? Are four or more hours enough? The length of backup battery time required by a campus can be debated and may vary from campus to campus, but the importance of ensuring safety is undeniable.

Many different types of power protection solutions are available, including systems that allow the addition of external battery packs to extend power backup from minutes to hours. Campuses invest large amounts of money in security systems, but if a proper power backup system is not included, the investment will be of little value during a power outage. Hot tip: Ask whoever is in charge of security if your campus is appropriately covered with backup power.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Bill Allen is the director of Marketing with Minuteman Power Technologies. He can be reached at 800-238-7272.

Featured

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • UT System Board of Regents Approves $108M Housing Complex

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced the approval of a new, $108-million housing complex at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will stand four stories and have a total of 456 new beds for freshmen students.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.