backup power solutions
Standby generators, UPS systems and temporary power for commercial buildings across the South East
We design and install backup power systems for commercial buildings, including standby generators, UPS systems, transfer switching and temporary supplies during electrical work.
The system is designed around the equipment and circuits that need to remain operational, the available electrical supply and the length of time backup power may be required. We can manage the electrical work from the initial assessment and design through to installation, testing, certification and handover.
NICEIC approved contractor. SafeContractor accredited. DBS-checked engineers. Trading since 2008.
Backup power and standby generator installation
A backup power system needs to be designed around what must continue operating if the mains supply fails. This may include servers, communications equipment, access control, refrigeration, production equipment, laboratory equipment or other essential services.
We assess the electrical load, identify the essential circuits and establish how quickly backup power needs to become available. Depending on the building and its use, the installation may require a UPS, a standby generator or a combination of the two.
Where a generator forms part of the installation, we can include the associated transfer switching, cabling and essential circuit distribution within the electrical scope. The completed system is then commissioned and tested so that its operation is established before it is needed.
What this covers
How we manage your backup power project
We begin with a site visit to inspect the existing electrical installation, the incoming supply and the equipment or circuits that need to remain operational.
The electrical load is assessed so that the generator or UPS can be selected according to what the building actually uses. We also consider the required runtime, how quickly the backup supply must become available and whether any additional equipment is likely to be installed in future.
If the essential circuits need to be separated before the backup system can work effectively, this will be included within the proposed scope.
You will receive a quotation setting out the electrical work included in the project. Items outside our direct electrical scope, such as fuel storage, ventilation, exhaust routes, bases, enclosures or alterations to the building, will be identified separately.
Where associated building work is required, we can manage suitable subcontractors while retaining responsibility for the electrical design, installation and connections.
The installation programme will be planned around the way the building is used. This can include evening or weekend work, school holidays, phased working and temporary supplies where parts of the site must remain operational.
Once the installation is complete, we test the system, commission the transfer arrangement and provide the relevant electrical certification and documentation.
The sectors we work in
Experience with Operational Buildings
Lake Electrical is an NICEIC Approved Contractor and SafeContractor accredited, and our engineers are DBS checked for work on schools, universities and other sites where controlled access is required.
We have been carrying out commercial electrical work since 2008, including main intake panels, LV switchgear, power distribution and electrical changeovers in occupied and operational buildings.
Backup power forms part of this wider electrical work, allowing us to consider how the generator, UPS, transfer switching and essential circuit distribution will operate as one system.
Recent work
Why Choose Lake Electrical for Backup Power?
We are a family-run, owner-led business, with the directors remaining involved in projects from the initial survey and design through to the installation and changeover.
We assess what the building needs rather than selecting equipment from a basic schedule or relying on assumptions about the electrical load. This includes identifying the essential circuits, establishing the required runtime and checking how the backup system will connect to the existing distribution.
We also plan shutdowns, temporary supplies and changeovers around the operation of the building, particularly where laboratories, production equipment, IT systems or other important services need to remain in use.
At handover, the installation is tested, certified and documented so that the facilities team has a clear record of the equipment and the electrical work completed.
Backup Power FAQs
How do I know what size generator or UPS I need?
The equipment should be selected after the electrical load and required runtime have been assessed.
We look at the equipment and circuits that need to remain powered, how much electricity they use and how long the backup supply may be required. We also consider any planned changes to the building that could increase the load in future.
A generator or UPS that is too small may not support the required equipment, while unnecessary oversizing can increase the purchase and operating costs.
Will the building have to shut down during the installation?
This will depend on the existing installation and the work required, but a complete shutdown may not always be necessary.
We can plan the work in stages, arrange temporary supplies and carry out changeovers outside normal operating hours where appropriate. Any part of the work that requires the supply to be disconnected will be identified during the planning stage.
We already have a generator. Can you check whether it works?
We can assess the generator, the associated transfer switching and the circuits it is intended to supply.
Testing can establish whether the equipment starts, transfers the load and supports the intended circuits. We can also review whether changes to the building or its electrical demand have affected the suitability of the existing system.
If any work is required, we will explain the findings and set out the recommended changes.
Can you connect a generator that has already been purchased?
We can assess the generator and the existing installation before agreeing to connect or commission it.
This allows us to check whether the equipment is suitable for the electrical load, the proposed location and the intended method of connection. We will also identify any additional cabling, switching, distribution or associated work required.
Do you provide electrical certification?
Yes. We inspect, test and certify the electrical installation and provide the relevant documentation at handover.
Where a generator or transfer system forms part of the project, we also commission the changeover arrangement and record the work completed.
Request a Quote for Backup Power
If you are considering a standby generator, UPS system, essential circuit work or temporary power during an electrical upgrade, we can begin with a site visit to assess the existing installation and what needs to remain operational.
Contact Lake Electrical or call 01732 758 985 to discuss the building and the work required.
We carry out commercial backup power installations across Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and the wider South East.