How can I avoid blackout and brownout damage?

Blackouts and brownouts do occur once in a while, especially when energy prices and supplies are fluctuating and with stress put on old infrastructure. The Hartford Stream Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. provided us with tips to avoid damage to your business and equipment in the event of a blackout or a brownout.

• Pull the plugs: The easiest way to avoid damage to your equipment is to simply turn them off. During a blackout or a brownout, turn off the circuit breakers. When the full power is back on, plug one equipment at a time and turn on the circuit breakers. Keep in mind that you should do so one piece of equipment at a time in order to limit potential damage.

• Install surge protection: Installing surge protection devices are great ways to limit damage to your equipment. Keep in mind that power lines aren't the only potential paths for voltage surges - computer lines, modems, fax machines and telephone lines are all conduits for electrical surges. Make sure that on all of these potential paths, you install surge protection.

• (UPS) Uninterruptible power supply: In order to ride through short-term outages, your computers or communications systems use an UPS. Make sure that you have a procedure for an orderly shutdown. Power will only be provided for 15 minutes to an hour by most UPS systems.

• Keep written procedures on what to do in a power emergency: This is crucial in the event of a blackout or a brownout. Make sure that you keep emergency contacts like the Power Company and electrical contractors. Review this procedure with your employer on a regular basis. 

• Make sure that you have emergency generators: If you don't have them, try renting one from a local vendor.

• Know the risks: Know all of the risks that might occur if you aren't careful and responsible and prepared during a blackout. By knowing the risks, you will be able to prevent them.

• Protect important equipment that might be a victim of electrical surges: These equipments might include computers, cable or satellite systems, local area networks and others. Make sure that you check your security systems as well as the critical equipment that might be in danger.

The key to avoiding damage is to be ready to whatever the road throws at you. Make sure that you are prepared for a blackout, and have emergency plans that you should rehearse on a regular basis with your employers. In fact, you should rehearse these kinds of "emergency plans' for earthquakes, floods, blackouts, etc...