Resiliency is the power of recovery. It is the ability to mitigate the duration and magnitude of disruptive occurrences caused by natural and manmade events. Resiliency in electrical power systems is the capacity to provide the uninterrupted or rapid restoration of operations that are necessary to support workflow and continuity.
Buildings and facilities are among the most important assets an enterprise can invest in, and ensuring their continued operation — even during severe or catastrophic events — can be paramount to the enterprise’s survival. As the world continues to change in climate and population, the consideration for resiliency in building and facility electrical power systems must also evolve. Climate change is delivering a variety of new challenges, from rising sea levels and intensified hurricanes affecting substantial populations along the world’s coastlines, to severe weather events such as droughts, blizzards, heat waves and tornadoes, with the climate becoming more unpredictable over time — and it all can affect the reliability of electrical power systems.
Hanson recently conducted a generator power distribution study for the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, following a power outage during Hurricane Irma. The study analyzed the museum’s backup power capacity and developed seven options to increase the resiliency of the generator power system while expanding backup power capabilities to mitigate potential damage to the museum’s artifacts and artwork during power outages caused by severe weather. Today, Hanson is preparing to implement the client’s selected backup power solution to meet the resiliency needs of the museum.
Hanson is focused on resiliency and uses innovative approaches to resiliency application, design and integration in new and existing facilities. Because resiliency is the adaptive vehicle to maintaining functionality in the face of changing conditions, determining the principles of resiliency to meet a client’s needs is a critical step in the solution process. Hanson determines the measures of resiliency by identifying the hazards and vulnerabilities, analyzing impact scenarios and establishing resiliency criteria. Hanson then develops resilient electrical power system solutions that are robust, reliable and cost-effective.
For more information about Hanson’s services for resilient electrical power systems, contact Danny Haughn, EMP, CxA, CBCP, GGP, GPCP, CCP, LEED AP® BD+C, at dhaughn@hanson-inc.com.