I think most businesses are familiar with “backup power” sources, from battery packs on exit signs and egress lighting to UPSs on servers for their IT needs. But for facilities that store, handle, and process hazardous materials AND with safety systems associated with the storage, handling, and processing of those HAZMATs, there are some additional requirements for Emergency and standby power systems.
This topic should most definitely be discussed in Process Hazard Analyzes. Far too often, we find critical safety systems that are part of the protection and mitigation layers with no backup power. Hence a simple power outage could initiate an event and all the “safety systems” intended to protect and mitigate that event would NOT function. And the “process” does not have to be a PSM/RMP-covered process for this to be a problem! That’s why I love to apply the structure of the IFC and IMC to my designs and hazard analyses for all HAZMAT storage, handling, and processing.
There are sixteen specific situations where your local Fire Code may require emergency and standby power systems. Here are 10 of the requirements around HAZMATs and Group H occupancies:
(some may come as a surprise)