Annual Load Bank Testing
Test Generator Performance
Load tests verify that your generator operates properly at full power.
Improve Generator Operation
Load tests remove fuel deposits that degrade performance over time.
Avoid Fires
Fuel deposits also create a serious fire hazard—don’t risk it.
A load bank test is the process of running a generator engine under a full load for an extended period of time, typically two to four hours. The purpose of this test is to verify that the generator can operate properly at full power, as well as to burn off carbon build-up in the engine.
When a diesel engine operates without a sufficient load for extended periods of time, it does not operate at its optimum temperature. This allows unburned fuel to accumulate in the exhaust system, a process known as “wet stacking.” Wet stacking reduces engine performance and can create a significant fire hazard.
Providing sufficient load to conduct the test from the building is usually not practical, since doing so can risk disrupting critical computer and life safety equipment. We provide a supplemental load for this test, usually a portable unit designed to be rolled up to the generator.
This test takes two to four hours, excluding connection and disconnection time. Occasionally, more time must be added if this test has not been performed for many years and the wet stacking is severe. This is the only way to TEST ALL components of a generator in a controlled environment, without impacting the building power.
The National Fire Protection Association 110 standards require a two-hour load bank test every year and a four-hour test every 3 years for emergency power systems.
