Whole Assisted Living Facility Generator and ATS

[tiger4life]

Hello, EDIT: This is a Health & Rehab facility
I am getting conflicting information from different engineers in reference to assisted living generator backup and transfer switches. We have done quite a few of these for a few engineers, whole facility backup we are installing one generator and one transfer switch, this equipment meets NFPA110 and starts and transfers in under 10 seconds. But recently we have been asked to work with this other engineer that is adamant in stating job will require an ATS for Non-essential loads, an ATS for critical loads, and a ATS for Equipment. This one facility has a peak demand of 152kW and we are planning on using a 1200A SER ATS and a 300kW generator to backup entire facility, he disagrees and references Art. 517 and and 517.42(b). My understanding is the 150kVA is speaking of essential loads only which in this case are under the 150kVA.
If our system of generator and ATS will start and transfer under 10 seconds, are we good as other engineers have said?

 

[hillbilly1]

Hello, EDIT: This is a Health & Rehab facility
I am getting conflicting information from different engineers in reference to assisted living generator backup and transfer switches. We have done quite a few of these for a few engineers, whole facility backup we are installing one generator and one transfer switch, this equipment meets NFPA110 and starts and transfers in under 10 seconds. But recently we have been asked to work with this other engineer that is adamant in stating job will require an ATS for Non-essential loads, an ATS for critical loads, and a ATS for Equipment. This one facility has a peak demand of 152kW and we are planning on using a 1200A SER ATS and a 300kW generator to backup entire facility, he disagrees and references Art. 517 and and 517.42(b). My understanding is the 150kVA is speaking of essential loads only which in this case are under the 150kVA.
If our system of generator and ATS will start and transfer under 10 seconds, are we good as other engineers have said?

Is there a generator for life safety already present? Or battery backup? If so, the 10 second rule doesn’t matter, this would be an optional standby system, as long as the existing system is maintained. If the existing system is to be removed, or not maintained, then yes you will need the separate switches.

 

[charlie b]

I am not certain that a "health and rehab" facility would require "emergency power," per 700, or "life safety power," per 517. It's essentially an office, not a hospital.

Thoughts?

 

[tiger4life]

Is there a generator for life safety already present? Or battery backup? If so, the 10 second rule doesn’t matter, this would be an optional standby system, as long as the existing system is maintained. If the existing system is to be removed, or not maintained, then yes you will need the separate switches.

There is an existing small 35kW generator suppling back up to a 150A panel that powers Telephones, fire alarms, select lighting and receptacles. They do want to do away with that and go with one 300kW for a whole building solution. There is one 400A panel that feeds the existing 150A panel and since it is below the 150kVA, I think we could get it done with maximum two ATS's.
One question; the 150kVA is referring to the essential power and not the whole complete load, correct? He has stated that since the building is over the 150kVA that is why it requires multiple ATS's.

Update:
I did speak to the plans review manager at Board of Health and he confirmed that the 150kVA refers to total essential power and his assumption in this case it would need only two ATS's, one for essential and one for non-essential, he also mentioned if they leave existing generator and systems in place we could do Whole building ATS and generator.

 

[tiger4life]

I am not certain that a "health and rehab" facility would require "emergency power," per 700, or "life safety power," per 517. It's essentially an office, not a hospital.

Thoughts?

That one thing I am trying to also figure out.