1. March 2024
Linda Fritzler

Regulations for the maintenance of UPS systems

To ensure that power flows continuously, companies rely on UPS systems that guarantee an uninterrupted flow of energy. These systems are used in locations where a reliable power supply is crucial.

Careful maintenance of these systems is therefore of particular importance, with special attention paid to the battery as a central component. Learn how thoughtful UPS maintenance not only minimizes downtime, but also creates long-term benefits for your business. In this blog post, you will receive detailed information on UPS systems and learn how you can maintain them optimally and efficiently to ensure effective protection for your company.

The role of UPS systems

UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is crucial for protecting electronic devices, stabilizing the power supply and preventing network faults. It also ensures the continuity of IT infrastructures. We offer you the opportunity to purchase a wide range of UPS systems from various manufacturers. Please contact us to request a quote.

In the event of a power failure, the UPS switches over to the battery, which ensures seamless operation and protects against data loss. With one or more battery modules, it provides a stable output voltage and protects against overvoltage and undervoltage. You can find more information about power failure and overvoltage in our blog post "Power failure and overvoltage in IT hardware: What are the consequences for IT security?"

UPS devices are used in critical areas such as hospitals and data centers, but they can also protect your company. Regardless of the size of your company, the UPS plays a key role in IT security. UPS systems are divided into three classes (online UPS, offline UPS, line-interactive UPS) according to the requirements. Find out more in our blog post "Which UPS system is the right one? Considerations for selecting UPS systems" to find out which UPS class is the right one for your requirements.

Why is effective maintenance so important?

To ensure the effectiveness of UPS system maintenance, certain issues should be clarified in advance. These include determining the optimum maintenance time, eliminating previous weak points, the availability of the necessary personnel with switching authorization and the existence of a written maintenance order. Answering these questions serves as sensible preparation for the actual maintenance.

During the maintenance work, the UPS system is partially disconnected in order to achieve the goal of a defect-free handover to the operator. A regular check of the system is just as important to ensure that it can provide the necessary performance. If functional problems are detected, appropriate service work such as cleaning, battery refilling and repairs can be carried out.

In addition, regular replacement of the battery system is essential to prevent unfavorable operating conditions from negatively affecting the expected service life. Reliable UPS systems not only protect against power outages, but timely maintenance also extends the life of the battery and provides information on when replacement is required. The overall aim of maintenance is to ensure that the UPS system continues to function optimally.

Basic regulations for battery maintenance

The UPS battery is the central and most important element of a UPS system and takes over the power supply in the event of mains failures. The battery, also known as a rechargeable battery, stores energy and is converted into alternating current when required. Regular checks are therefore necessary to prevent premature ageing and overheating.

The service life of batteries depends on factors such as room temperature, heat dissipation and air conditioning. The battery therefore has a longer service life if the conditions are optimal.
Important conditions:

  • Ideal operating temperature: 20-25 °C
  • Storage over 6-12 months
  • Avoid frequent discharging and charging

However, UPS maintenance requires system-specific measures, depending on the battery type and installation situation. An inspection, including a check of the battery acid and visual inspection of the battery containers, is carried out before the functional test of the battery. The regular inspection required by law applies to device operators and stationary systems. The battery must also be replaced after a certain period of time.

If defects are discovered during the battery function test, this requires short-term solutions to prevent cell short circuits. To ensure the UPS function, the defective battery block is bypassed, but this requires subsequent testing and repair. Batteries with open cells must be serviced regularly and replaced if their performance deteriorates. In summary, comprehensive monitoring and regular maintenance are crucial to ensure the efficiency and service life of the UPS battery.

Other aspects of maintenance

The maintenance of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems requires a number of additional steps to ensure their effectiveness and reliability. This includes carrying out measurements, visual inspections, mechanical checks and reviewing rules and regulations. Maintenance work, the preparation of reports and consulting are also integral components. These tasks also include tests, inspections and the replacement of defective cells. These steps include:

  • Decisive cleaning against dust and dirt, otherwise the heat sink will be impaired and ageing accelerated. Further information can be found in our blog post "IT cleaning - its time requirements and aspects to consider"
  • Location-dependent ventilation check for UPS system important: Check ventilation improvements and, if necessary, protective measures or modify system
  • Regularly check and fix electrical contacts: Prevents heat loss and insufficient battery charging
  • Mechanical checks: Check screw connections and power cables for safe operation
  • Measurements of AC input and DC output values during maintenance for important performance information
  • Analysis of the connected loads: evaluation of remaining capacities or possible performance limits of the UPS system
  • Visual inspection, fault simulation, commissioning and voltage value adjustment are also part of maintenance
  • Timely replacement of wear-prone components for UPS system functionality
  • Further maintenance steps: fan inspection, capacitor replacement, checking the communication equipment.

All measures carried out and measured values are documented in detail in the maintenance log, including instructions for the next maintenance. Early detection of problems through monitoring systems, fault analyses and the implementation of preventive measures are also included.

Regular inspection and tests

Battery problems are often the cause of frequent UPS system failures. However, these can be detected and rectified in good time through regular inspections. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the service life and reliability of your emergency power supply. This requires trained personnel, as voltages of up to 500V can occur in the system.

The optimum ambient temperature is critical to battery performance, which is monitored through repeated testing to ensure ideal operating conditions. Alternatively, UPS monitoring systems can be used to continuously monitor performance parameters and provide early warning of potential problems. Various contract options are available for annual UPS maintenance, from classic maintenance to comprehensive repair and maintenance of the system. UPS system maintenance is completed when an error-free maintenance report is handed over.

Training and qualification of maintenance personnel

The requirements for the maintenance of a UPS system go beyond mere operation and commissioning. Maintenance of UPS systems requires specialized personnel and in-depth knowledge of the respective system. The operator is responsible for all necessary measures to ensure the fault-free operation of the system. A qualified electrician with the appropriate know-how and equipment is required to carry out maintenance, which also ensures the availability of spare parts for the immediate rectification of faults.

Environmental aspects and safety regulations

The maintenance of UPS systems plays a key role in improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Targeted maintenance measures help to minimize energy loss and reduce your company's environmental footprint.

Environmentally friendly handling of batteries is possible through proper disposal and recycling, which in turn minimizes the impact of hazardous substances on the environment and supports the principles of the circular economy. The reduction of CO2 emissions is a result of the increased energy efficiency of UPS systems, allowing companies to contribute to a more environmentally friendly operation. Choosing UPS components that are made from recyclable or environmentally friendly materials supports companies' sustainability efforts. Learn more about Green IT and its significance in our article: "Green IT: Sustainable Information Technology and Its Importance".

Challenges with UPS maintenance

Structured maintenance planning with regular inspections, testing and training of operating personnel is crucial to prevent lack of maintenance and ensure the reliability of UPS systems. The challenge and proposed solution in this approach include:

  • Battery failures, often caused by ageing, inadequate maintenance or unfavorable environmental conditions | Solution: regular checks, capacity tests and use of a battery management system
  • Overheating due to insufficient cooling or overloading | Solution: Effective cooling, air circulation and ambient temperature monitoring
  • Poor environmental conditions, such as high humidity or dust | Solution: Control with dehumidifiers, cleaning and air filters
  • Software problems, such as outdated firmware or incompatibilities | Solution: regular software updates and monitoring

The consistent implementation of these measures enables companies to effectively overcome the challenges of UPS maintenance, ensures the reliability of their systems and minimizes the risk of failures. Implementing a structured maintenance plan is the solution. This plan should include regular inspections, tests and maintenance work. Training of operating personnel is also an important measure to address lack of maintenance.

Potential benefits of using UPS maintenance

  • Ensuring operational continuity
  • Optimized service life
  • Optimized energy efficiency
  • Reduction of energy costs
  • Risk minimization
  • Reduction of potential liability and repair costs

Importance of UPS systems for your company

Regular maintenance of UPS systems is crucial for companies of all sizes to ensure the reliability and efficiency of these systems. On our website, we present a diverse selection of UPS systems from renowned brands such as APC, Eaton, Arista and Dell. In particular, we feature an outstanding range of high-quality batteries from APC.

The UPS plays a key role in protecting against power failures and mains disturbances in various applications, including critical infrastructure and general IT environments. Taking care of the battery, implementing a structured maintenance plan and specifically addressing challenges such as battery failure, overheating and environmental conditions are critical.

Companies that consistently implement these measures benefit from continuous operational continuity, optimized service life, improved energy efficiency and a reduction in costs and risks. You can increase and further expand the IT infrastructure in your company, read more in our blog post "Build IT infrastructure and benefit from improved processes".

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