FMJ.CO.UK
MONTH IN FM
CONTINUITY OF SERVICE
IN UNCERTAIN TIMES The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many
challenges for the facilities management sector.
Not only have managers been required to
continuously adapt their working practices, but
the past year has also seen the role change to
become more prominent and even shi„ from an
operational to a strategic level.
Pandemic or no pandemic, it is up to the managers
and their teams to keep operations running
smoothly, even when no one is permitted in the
building – this includes specifying uninterruptible
power protection.
FEBRUARY 2021 49
When it comes to emergency-power systems,
interruptions in power supply have the potential
to cause operational chaos. To ensure this doesn’t
occur, specifying a UPS is essential.
For a UPS to work properly and o er protection for
a facility's critical equipment from power outages
and related problems, managers need to implement
a two-pronged protection plan: proper UPS selection
and system design depending on the power
requirements, combined with a comprehensive
maintenance programme.
Properly planned and implemented, preventative
maintenance strategies can minimise the likelihood
of unscheduled breakdowns and outages, e ectively
negating the potential risk of costly commercial,
reputational and legal issues.
Now is a time when managers will be analysing the
impact of the pandemic, the latest national lockdown
measures and planning for post-lockdown. It is more
important than ever for managers to be identifying
and working with suppliers that can o er a flexible
and pragmatic approach. Kohler Uninterruptible
Power (KUP) has been working with its customers
throughout the pandemic on a fully flexible basis,
rescheduling installations and visits in accordance
with the changing Government rules, and o ering
24/7 engineer support.
Testing and Maintenance
Frequent testing of a UPS system helps to identify
problems and minimise potentially devastating
power interruptions, as we have mentioned above.
During the pandemic, it is more critical than ever to
keep a UPS system in the very best condition.
Several KUP UPS systems are modular, which
allows engineers to test or replace certain
components of the unit while the UPS is still in
place and actively providing full back-up for the
desired load.
During a crisis, when businesses are required to
operate on skeleton sta , having the confidence
that back-up power will work if required is even
more important. Whilst some maintenance and
inspection will undoubtedly be on hold for the
time being, KUP expects to see an upsurge in
testing post-pandemic and anticipates that regular
preventive maintenance will become increasingly
prevalent in the future. Facilities managers may opt
to take advantage of the reduced footfall on site to
carry out remedial work as there will be very little
disruption.
KUP has developed a strategy to help
organisations achieve continuity, covering
both maintenance and project services. It’s
remote monitoring services – PowerNSURE for
batteries, PowerREPORTER for UPSs, and Remote
Generator Monitoring System have formed part of
maintenance packages for customers.
KUP prides itself on delivering industry-leading
power protection solutions combined with service
excellence to ensure UPS power supplies are
‘Always On’. Taking a ‘business as usual approach’,
KUP has the flexibility to work with facilities
managers to meet the requirements of the client
both now, and post-COVID.
www.kohler-ups.co.uk 01256 386700
/www.kohler-ups.co.uk
