In critical power environments, the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is the last line of defense. It’s there to ensure continuity during outages and protect sensitive equipment from voltage fluctuations. But what happens when the UPS itself fails? The answer is costly downtime, damaged reputations, and in some cases, even compromised safety.
Here are three (anonymous) real-world case studies of UPS failures—and the lessons that can help you avoid the same fate.
Case #1: The Neglected Battery Bank
Industry: Data Center
Issue: No regular battery testing or replacements.
Outcome: During a routine power outage, the UPS failed to hold the load. Several virtual machines crashed, causing data loss and six hours of downtime.
Lesson: Even the most robust UPS is only as reliable as its batteries. Routine maintenance, impedance testing, and scheduled replacements are essential. Batteries age out—ignoring them doesn’t make the risk disappear.
Case #2: The Overloaded System
Industry: Hospital
Issue: Facility expanded power usage over time but never resized or upgraded their UPS.
Outcome: During a grid failure, the UPS ran at 125% load and shut down. Critical imaging equipment and monitors went dark. While no patient was harmed, it was a close call.
Lesson: As your facility grows, your UPS must scale with it. Periodic load assessments should be conducted anytime major equipment is added.
Case #3: The Rental That Arrived Too Late
Industry: Government Emergency Operations Center
Issue: No pre-arranged contingency plan for UPS failure.
Outcome: Their permanent UPS failed during a storm. They attempted to secure a rental, but it took 36 hours to arrive. Critical systems were down for the duration.
Lesson: Having a rental provider is not enough—build a contingency plan with pre-approved specs, delivery routes, and service contacts. If your UPS goes down, you can’t afford to “start the conversation” then. UPS Rental offers Retainer Agreements to ensure you will always have the equipment you need, when you need it.
How to Prevent These Pitfalls
1. Schedule regular UPS and battery maintenance.
2. Perform load testing annually—or after adding equipment.
3. Create a contingency plan for UPS replacement or rental.
4. Invest in remote monitoring tools to detect early signs of failure.
UPS failures are avoidable. Our team has helped dozens of organizations assess, upgrade, and maintain their UPS infrastructure before it becomes a liability. If your power continuity plan hasn’t been reviewed in over a year, now is the time.
