The summary.
BACKUP SYSTEMS FAIL MORE OFTEN THAN ANYONE EXPECTS, BECAUSE THEY ARE RARELY EXERCISED
Test generators under real load — an unloaded test proves the engine starts, not that it can supply the facility.
Ask to see the testing record, not a description of the schedule.
MOST FACILITY INCIDENTS FOLLOW A CHANGE
And maintenance is when many outages occur. Plan what happens if the work goes wrong.
While one path is being maintained, the other is a single point of failure.
BE CAREFUL WITH TIER CLAIMS
Certification of a design, of a constructed facility, and of ongoing operation are three different things.
Ask what scope any certification covers, and for which facility.
COMMITMENTS DESCRIBE INTENT; HISTORY DESCRIBES PERFORMANCE
Ask for the actual outage record over recent years, with causes and durations.
The remedy is service credits, which do not compensate your losses.
A SINGLE FACILITY, HOWEVER GOOD, IS A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE
Keep backups elsewhere, test restoring them, and measure how long a full restore actually takes.
THE CHEAPEST EFFICIENCY SAVING AVAILABLE
Removing equipment that is powered and doing nothing. There is always more of it than expected.
