San Diego Emergency Generators

[live2learn]

I am working on a project in San Diego and from other parts of the country. I am wanting to run the building off of the emergency generators while I upgrade the service entrance. I was told that I can't do this because you can only run 20 hours of generator a year. Has anybody else had to deal with this?

 

[RUWired]

You might have to check with department of environmental protection and see if the generator is under a permit and what the rules are for the permit.

Rick

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

I am working on a project in San Diego and from other parts of the country. I am wanting to run the building off of the emergency generators while I upgrade the service entrance. I was told that I can't do this because you can only run 20 hours of generator a year. Has anybody else had to deal with this?

I have heard of this but not dealt with it. It is my understanding that it is basically an environmental impact tax for running your generators.

This site confirms it http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/environment/outdoor/air-pollution.html#Emergency-generators-(diesel-en

 

[Sierrasparky]

this only applies to permanently installed generators. You could rent one

 

[RUWired]

this only applies to permanently installed generators. You could rent one

Some of the facilities i work at require a permit for temporary gen sets as well.

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

Ahh so many many stupid rules to come up with, so few hours in the day.

 

[RUWired]

Ahh so many many stupid rules to come up with, so few hours in the day.

I think the rules are for income $ generators.

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

I think the rules are for income $ generators.

Oh yeah. I think that would account for a large portion of rules out there.

 

[kingpb]

I am working on a project in San Diego and from other parts of the country. I am wanting to run the building off of the emergency generators while I upgrade the service entrance. I was told that I can't do this because you can only run 20 hours of generator a year. Has anybody else had to deal with this?

It is the way the Genset is permitted, i.e. standby/emergency power. You would need to get it changed to permitting for a peaking unit to run more hours, however even to do that there are some new air quality requirements that would require changes to the amount of emissions.

 

[charlie b]

You can have a generator with higher emissions, if you expect it to to run for a limited number of hours. But if the utility transformer were to fail, and if the utility needed a week to replace it, that generator would run for more than the prescribed number of hours. I suggest a conversation with the local authorities, to see what they will allow, and to see if they would require any special measures to reduce the emissions during your installation time.