Most accreditations and local building code require that Care Facilities perform an annual mission critical (ASTM D975) fuel test as well as a generator draw down test. This means running the generator long enough to simulate a true emergency demand and fuel draw down (usually 3 hours).
In addition, most nursing homes must comply with CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Emergency Preparedness Rule 483.73
As part of emergency preparedness rule; “(2) Emergency generator inspection and testing. The LTC facility must implement the emergency power system inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements found in the Health Care Facilities Code, NFPA 110, and Life Safety Code.”
If you are not currently doing this, stop reading and give us a call ASAP to help maintain compliance: 800-546-4451.
#1
The number one reason fuel fails is “water.” When water is present, microbial activity thrives and produces environmental changes that impact the quality of fuel. When the fuel is compromised the infrastructure supporting the storage and delivery also become compromised. Biofuels are naturally hygroscopic, therefore adding culpability of contamination.
#2
System failure. Fuel leaving the refinery is certified to meet fuel standards and for the most part considered clean. Once fuel leaves the refinery the opportunity for contamination increases significantly as it changes hands during distribution and storage.
Distribution and storage infrastructures across the country are at various stages of life. New and old fuel storage infrastructures are corroding faster than ever, contributing to fuel failure. When the environment where fuel is stored or transferred is compromised, the fuel is vulnerable due to the change of conditions and a downward spiral of system failure and increasing fuel contamination becomes the costly result.
Fuel systems, infrastructures and the dispensing equipment were not designed to operate with compromised fuel. The result is shortened/accelerated life expectancies of the system and fuel. The EPA reported that infrastructures across America are in serious trouble, and testing is now mandated for that reason. FOI is seeing a consistent 30% failure rate in fuel and fuel systems. More so, a recent Fuels Institute report warns of a 40% failure rate in fuel.
#3
Chaos is costly… When changes in programs, transient staff, managers, ownership, and data occur, critical decision paths and information streams are compromised. Tribal knowledge is lost. It’s very costly and time consuming to assess and reconstruct the information. Testing and maintenance schedules become compromised, opening the door for system and fuel failure – compromising the life of the fuel and infrastructure.
#4
Human error is a very real, consistent, and costly failure point in fuel and fueling systems. Cross drops, maintenance errors, lack of training, inconsistent decision making, education, inexperience, and even negligence or failure to report incidents.
#5
Mother Nature. Natural disasters and environmental changes leave systems and fuel compromised. Many of these systems never get the necessary evaluations they need after an event and the fuel is put back into the market compromised.
Our recommended solution, along with the EPA, ASTM, Fuels Institute and many other accreditations is a Global Fuel Program, which allows for the testing, tracking, mapping and trending of present and historical fuel and testing data, site details, maintenance check lists – allowing pictures and additional documentation to be stored in one place on the cloud.
Having a Fuel Quality Program will address many of the issues that lead to “Black Hole” losses or even worse…the loss of a life.
FOI will work with your groups or individuals to create and maintain an economical fuel quality testing program that meets compliance, scheduling, trending, mapping, data storage and site details all accessible in real time on the cloud.
For more information and for a custom quote for testing, Please call our fuel experts at 800-546-4451.