Gas generator size for healthcare project

[anbm]

Does anyone know which code to address limited gas generator size for healthcare building? I thought I saw it somewhere but couldn't find it. Thanks!

 

[ed downey]

If you are talking about Natural gas or Propane generators be careful with the start-up time for these units. I have been told that gas units cannot be guaranteed to start within the 10 Seconds start time required by Article 700 & 701.

If anyone has any literature on this I would like to see some documentation.

-Ed

 

[steve66]

Smaller units (say 100KVA or less) shouldn't have any problems, as long as they are kept warm enough.

If you get much larger than that, natural gas units become very expensive compared to diesel. So I'm not sure what their starting times would be. I've never seen a natural gas generator larger than about 150KVA.

 

[ed downey]

I have installed a 500kW Natural gas unit but they where using it for optional standby loads.