Critical Operations Power Systems-A measured approach
Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS) – NEC Article 708 was introduced in the 2008 edition,
at the insistence of Homeland Security in 2005.
Critical Operations are electrical distribution systems classified by governmental agencies at
local, state or federal, levels that have the authority, to establishing such requirements. This
covers the installation, operations, monitoring, control and maintenance to a building, or
portion, of which has been identified as a designated critical operations area (DCOA). For
further information on Governmental and Business continuity during disasters see NFPA 1600.
With the potential for damage to critical infrastructure due to acts of terrorism, geotechnical or
weather events, an article to support hardened facilities for continuity of governance was
considered.
Adoption of this article in practice has historically been measured, often due to project cost
considerations. Implementing all facets of COPS, has been a show stopper for budget
conscience facilities owners.
The parallels between requirements for Emergency System in NEC Article 700, and Critical
Operations Power Systems in NEC Article 708 are considerable. However, unlike the limited
operational frame of the Article 700 system, the Article 708 system is supposed to provide
continuous operation during a national or regional emergency.
Below are some of the similar NEC Articles based on vocabulary, and minimal conjecture.
**“III. Sources of Power
700.12 General Requirements
(B) Generator Set.
(1) Prime Mover-Driven. ….., means shall be provided for automatically starting the prime mover on
failure of the normal service ….. A time-delay feature permitting a 15-minute setting shall be provided to
avoidretransfer in case of short-time reestablishment of the normal source.”
**“III. Power Sources and Connection
708.20 Sources of Power.
(F) Generator Set.
(1) Prime Mover-Driven…. means for automatically starting the prime mover on failure of the normal
service. A time-delay feature permitting a minimum 15-minute setting shall be provided to avoid
retransfer in case of short-time reestablishment of the normal source.”
**”III. Sources of Power
“700.12 General Requirements
(B) Generator Set.
(2) ….. Where power is needed for the operation of the fuel transfer pumps to deliver fuel to a generator
set day tank, this pump shall be connected to the emergency power system.”
**”III. Power Sources and Connection
708.20 Sources of Power.
(F) Generator Set.
(2) ….. Where power is needed for the operation of the fuel transfer pumps to deliver fuel to a generator
set day tank, this pump shall be connected to the COPS.”
**”III. Sources of Power
700.12 General Requirements
(B) Generator Set.
(3) Dual Supplies. Prime movers shall not be solely dependent on a public utility gas system for their fuel
supply or municipal water supply for their cooling systems. Means shall be provided for automatically
transferring from one fuel supply to another where dual fuel supplies are used.”
**”III. Power Sources and Connection
708.20 Sources of Power.
(F) Generator Set.
(3) Dual Supplies. Prime movers shall not be solely dependent on a public utility gas system for their fuel
supply or municipal water supply for their cooling systems. Means shall be provided for automatically
transferring from one fuel supply to another where dual fuel supplies are used.”
**”III. Sources of Power
700.12 General Requirements.
(B) Generator Set.
(4) Battery Power and Dampers. Where a storage battery is used for control or signal power or as the
means of starting the prime mover, it shall be suitable for the purpose and shall be equipped with an
automatic charging means independent of the generator set. Where the battery charger
is required for the operation of the generator set, it shall be connected to the emergency system. Where
power is required for the operation of dampers used to ventilate the generator set, the dampers shall be
connected to the emergency system.”
**”III. Power Sources and Connection
708.20 Sources of Power.
(F) Generator Set.
(4) Battery Power and Dampers. Where a storage battery is used for control or signal power or as the
means of starting the prime mover, it shall be suitable for the purpose and shall be equipped with an
automatic charging means independent of the generator set. Where the battery charger is required for
the operation of the generator set, it shall be connected to the COPS. Where power is required for the
operation of dampers used to ventilate the generator set, the dampers shall be connected to the COPS.”
**”III. Power Sources and Connection
708.22 Capacity of Power Sources.
(A) Capacity and Rating. A COPS shall have capacity and rating for all loads to be operated
simultaneously for continuous operation …..”
**” 700.4 Capacity.
(A) Capacity and Rating. An emergency system shall have adequate capacity and rating for all loads
to be operated simultaneously…...”
**”III. Power Sources and Connection
708.22 Capacity of Power Sources
(B) Selective Load Pickup, Load Shedding, and Peak Load Shaving. The alternate power source shall be
permitted to supply COPS emergency, legally required standby, and optional loads where the source has
adequate capacity or where automatic selective load pickup and load shedding is provided as needed to
ensure adequate power to (1) the COPS and emergency circuits, (2) the legally required standby circuits,
and (3) the optional standby circuits, in that order of priority. The alternate power source shall be
permitted to be used for peak load shaving, provided these conditions are met. Peak load-shaving
operation shall be permitted for satisfying the test requirement of 708.6(B), provided all other conditions
of 708.6 are met.”
**”700.4 Capacity.
(B) Selective Load Pickup, Load Shedding, and Peak Load Shaving. The alternate power source shall be
permitted to supply emergency, legally required standby, and optional standby system loads where the
source has adequate capacity or where automatic selective load pickup and load shedding is provided as
needed to ensure adequate power to (1) the emergency circuits, (2) the legally required standby circuits,
and (3) the optional standby circuits, in that order of priority. The alternate power source shall be
permitted to be used for peak load shaving, provided these conditions are met. Peak load shaving
operation shall be permitted for satisfying the test requirement of 700.3(B), provided all other conditions
of 700.3 are met…...”
**”708.24 Transfer Equipment.
(A) General. Transfer equipment, including automatic transfer switches, shall be automatic and identified
for emergency use. Transfer equipment shall be designed and installed to prevent the inadvertent
interconnection of normal and critical operations sources of supply in any operation of the transfer
equipment. Transfer equipment and electric power production systems installed to permit operation in
parallel with the normal source shall meet the requirements of Article 705.
(B) Bypass Isolation Switches. Means shall be permitted to bypass and isolate the transfer equipment.
Where bypass isolation switches are used, inadvertent parallel operation shall be avoided.”
**”700.5 Transfer Equipment.
(A) General. Transfer equipment, including automatic transfer switches, shall be automatic, identified for
emergency use…... Transfer equipment shall be designed and installed to prevent the inadvertent
interconnection of normal and emergency sources of supply in any operation of the transfer equipment.
Transfer equipment and electric power production systems installed to permit operation in parallel with
the normal source shall meet the requirements of Article 705.
(B) Bypass Isolation Switches. Means shall be permitted to bypass and isolate the transfer equipment.
Where bypass isolation switches are used, inadvertent parallel operation shall be avoided.”
**”708.24 Transfer Equipment.
(D) Use. Transfer equipment shall supply only COPS loads.”
**”700.5 Transfer Equipment.
(D) Use. Transfer equipment shall supply only emergency loads.”
With the increase in natural disaster conditions in the US South East, due to hurricane activity
and subsequent damage to property, a full implementation of Article 708 COPS would provide
stable places of coordination and refuge.
This would require local authorities to mandate all NEC Article 708 recommendations to the
complete structure regardless of the “risk analysis”.
Citations:
** National Fire Protection Association 2013, National Electrical Code, Mark W. Earley
Author Information: Travis Hannah BSc CET(AB) Email: [email protected]
