In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a booming industry, and with it comes a motive for new facilities. A major aspect of facility design is consideration for power, and, when labs or patients are involved, power quality. With embryos and patient safety at stake, proper backup power systems need to be designed and installed to ensure facilities are resilient enough to cease operations properly during a power outage. Without proper backup systems, both patient safety and embryos are at risk, and the facility is at risk of losing credibility and being liable for lost embryos or injured patients.
There are many complex space types present in these facilities, and the needs of each require careful attention. Standards beyond the National Electrical Code (NEC) come into play with how these systems are designed, so designers need to understand not only the systems required for all buildings but also those required for such complex buildings. Care must be given to the type of backup system selected, the loads placed on that backup system, and how power is distributed on those backup systems.