EMP Emergency Response & Preparedness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which NFPA standard specifically addresses emergency power supply systems (EPSS) for life safety?
- NFPA 70
- NFPA 110 (Correct answer)
- NFPA 72
- NFPA 101
Correct answer: NFPA 110
NFPA 110 covers emergency and standby power systems, including installation, testing, and maintenance requirements for EPSS.
Question 2: During a grid outage, a facility's backup generator fails to start. What is the FIRST corrective action an energy manager should take?
- Call the utility provider
- Check fuel level and battery charge on the generator (Correct answer)
- Switch to manual load shedding
- Activate the UPS system indefinitely
Correct answer: Check fuel level and battery charge on the generator
Fuel depletion and a discharged starting battery are the most common causes of generator failure to start and should be checked immediately.
Question 3: An Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is set to a 10-second transfer delay. What is the PRIMARY reason for this delay?
- To allow the utility to restore power first
- To let the generator reach stable voltage and frequency before connecting loads (Correct answer)
- To comply with OSHA lockout/tagout requirements
- To prevent demand charges from the utility
Correct answer: To let the generator reach stable voltage and frequency before connecting loads
The transfer delay ensures the generator reaches rated speed, voltage, and frequency before loads are switched to prevent equipment damage.
Question 4: What does the term 'islanding' refer to in the context of distributed energy resources during emergencies?
- Isolating a facility from the grid while continuing to generate power locally (Correct answer)
- Shutting down all on-site generation during a grid fault
- Transferring power from one building to another
- Storing excess solar energy in battery banks
Correct answer: Isolating a facility from the grid while continuing to generate power locally
Islanding occurs when a distributed generator continues to power a local grid section while disconnected from the main utility grid.
Question 5: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, which document must a facility maintain to ensure employees know emergency procedures?
- Energy Audit Report
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP) (Correct answer)
- Demand Response Agreement
- Preventive Maintenance Log
Correct answer: Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 requires employers to have a written Emergency Action Plan detailing evacuation, shelter-in-place, and response procedures.
Question 6: A hospital energy manager is designing backup power tiers. Which load classification requires the shortest restoration time per NFPA 99?
- Equipment system
- Life safety branch (Correct answer)
- Critical branch
- Non-essential loads
Correct answer: Life safety branch
NFPA 99 requires the life safety branch to restore power within 10 seconds as it covers lighting and alarms essential to safe evacuation.
Question 7: Which metric best measures a facility's ability to sustain operations during an extended utility outage using on-site fuel storage?
- Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
- Generator fuel endurance (hours at rated load) (Correct answer)
- Energy Star score
- Peak demand factor
Correct answer: Generator fuel endurance (hours at rated load)
Generator fuel endurance at rated load directly indicates how many hours a facility can operate independently from the utility grid.
EMP Emergency Response & Preparedness 2
Which NFPA standard specifically addresses emergency power supply systems (EPSS) for life safety?