FAQs

Got questions about generators, hire, compliance or servicing? Find quick answers below, organised by topic.

Does iPower provide maintenance contracts for hospital...

Yes. We offer retained service agreements structured to meet the requirements of HTM 06-01. These cover scheduled engine servicing, oil and filter changes, battery condition testing and replacement, AVR and governor checks, ATS functional testing, bypass operation testing and periodic load bank testing. All visits are documented and records kept in a format that satisfies NHS Estates and insurer requirements. We understand that in a healthcare environment, both the quality of the work and the quality of the paperwork matter.

What generator testing is required for hospital...

HTM 06-01 specifies a structured testing and maintenance regime for standby generation plant. This typically includes regular no-load or light-load test runs (weekly is the standard recommendation), periodic testing under load, and annual full load bank testing to prove the generator can sustain its rated output. All test results must be recorded and retained — NHS Estates, fire authorities and insurers will expect to see a complete and up-to-date maintenance record. iPower provides full written documentation for every service visit and load bank test.

What is BS 8519 and how does it relate to hospital...

BS 8519:2010 is the British Standard for the selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications. In a hospital context, it governs the cabling that makes up the life safety distribution path — from the generator and ATS through to the essential services distribution boards and final circuits. Key requirements include: fire-resistant cable throughout the life safety path, physical segregation from non-life-safety cabling, and compliance with defined installation methods. BS 8519 works alongside HTM 06-01 — it does not replace it. HTM 06-01 is the overarching governance document; BS 8519 addresses the cable selection and installation element within it.

What loads are classified as essential services in a...

Essential services under HTM 06-01 are those required to maintain safe clinical operation during a mains failure. Typically these include: operating theatre supplies, critical care and ITU equipment, emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems, nurse call systems, medical gas plant, evacuation lifts, and smoke control HVAC. The exact scope is defined at design stage in accordance with HTM 06-01 and the specific clinical brief for the facility.

What are the essential services supply categories in a...

HTM 06-01 categorises hospital electrical supplies according to their continuity requirements:

No-break supply: Must not be interrupted under any circumstances — supplied by UPS or equivalent. Applies to critical life support equipment, certain theatre lighting and monitoring systems.
Short-break supply: Transfer must occur within approximately 0.5 seconds — typically UPS-bridged until the generator is stable. Applies to equipment that can tolerate only a very brief interruption.
Normal-break supply: Standard automatic transfer, typically within 15 seconds of mains failure. The main generator-backed essential services board feeds these circuits via the ATS.

(Note: verify the precise category definitions and transfer times against the current edition of HTM 06-01 — these should be confirmed with your M&E consultant or NHS Estates contact for any live project.)

What is HTM 06-01 and how does it apply to hospital...

HTM 06-01 is the NHS Health Technical Memorandum covering electrical services supply and distribution in healthcare premises. It is the primary reference document for M&E designers, NHS Estates teams and contractors working on hospital electrical infrastructure in the UK. In the context of standby power, HTM 06-01 defines the categories of essential electrical supply (no-break, short-break and normal-break), specifies the requirements for automatic transfer switching — including bypass arrangements to allow maintenance without supply interruption — and sets out the required testing and maintenance regime for standby generation plant. Generator systems for NHS facilities must be designed and installed in accordance with HTM 06-01.

What makes hospital generator installations different...

The primary difference is that hospital electrical systems are governed by HTM 06-01, not just general wiring regulations. HTM 06-01 defines essential services categories based on continuity requirements, specifies the resilience and redundancy of the standby supply, mandates ATS with bypass capability, and sets out a structured testing and maintenance regime with records that must be maintained for inspection. Alongside HTM 06-01, BS 8519 governs the selection of fire-resistant cabling throughout the life safety distribution path. The result is a significantly more complex and more rigorously documented installation than a standard commercial standby system.

Does iPower supply generators for hospitals

Yes. Healthcare is one of our core sectors. Hospital electrical installations in the UK are governed primarily by HTM 06-01 (Health Technical Memorandum 06-01: Electrical Services Supply and Distribution), which sets out detailed requirements for standby power, essential services distribution, automatic transfer switching and testing. We design, supply and install generator systems that meet HTM 06-01 requirements, and we understand the clinical, operational and compliance pressures that come with working in a live healthcare environment.