47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

covering the fill cap and all vent openings. They could not usethis tank, fearing that contaminated fuel would damage thepower generators.The capability to switch power to different locations at differentpoints in time is one of the most important features ofemergency power supply systems. However, most of the wiringsystems in facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina were not setup with this capability. Emergency power in most cases was notavailable to run the air-conditioning systems. Redundancy in theemergency power systems that would have allowed maintenanceand repair without disruption was lacking in most cases.Portable generators, where they existed, were invaluable. Theycould be moved around as needed, but the problem of outsideventilation was difficult to overcome when the power wasrequired away from vent openings. Use of generators indoorsis extremely dangerous and should not be attempted in anycircumstances.More and more hospitals are dependent on computerized systemsfor patient medical records, transmission of X-ray film and otherimages, reporting laboratory results, patient physiological monitors,and a myriad of other uses. Once the power is lost, thesesystems are shut down unless they are on emergency power.Piped oxygen and nitrous oxide supplies are essential for manypatients. With electrical systems out, pumping of medical gaswas not possible. Most of the hospitals maintained tanks of oxygenthat could be brought to the bedside (Figure 4-13), butonce the emergency supplies of medical gas ran out, the patientsat serious risk had to be evacuated.The experience of hospitals during Katrina indicates that therequirements for emergency power should have high priority.Generators should be located above the base flood elevation, beprotected from flying debris, and have appropriate exhaust ventsystems installed. Fuel storage tanks should be located abovethe flood elevation, or adequately anchored to ensure that thetank will not float off its foundation under pressure from risingfloodwaters. Hospitals in hurricane-prone regions should storesufficient fuel to support running generators at full load for at4-20 OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CRITICAL FACILITIES