Emergency power and fuel storage rarely top the list of priorities when a commercial building is being designed. But leaving it as an afterthought has real consequences: service personnel end up working in cramped spaces that barely meet minimum safety requirements, and retrofitting equipment into a room that wasn't planned for it is far harder and more expensive than designing the space properly from the start.
Championing the energy supply room early, with open communication between designers, property developers, and electrical engineers, makes the difference between a space that works for decades and one that becomes a persistent problem. Here's a real example of what that looks like when space is tight, and what it looks like when it isn't.
Case Study: Wastewater Treatment Plant Generator Set Room
Challenge: A wastewater treatment plant in New Zealand needed power supply for its generators, but the space available for fuel storage was extremely tight.
Solution: Fuelchief supplied two custom SuperVault tanks, designed specifically to fit the constrained space. This is a common scenario for older or retrofitted sites: the customer needs a tank built to fit an existing room, rather than a room designed around a standard tank. It's achievable, but it adds complexity and cost for both the design engineers and the installers involved.
Result: Fuelchief fitted two SwRI 95-03 compliant SuperVault tanks into the space, and they've been operating reliably since installation.
When the Room Is Designed Around the Tank
The wastewater plant is a good example of making the best of a constrained space, but it also shows why planning ahead matters. Here's what changes when a project designs the energy supply room with the tank in mind from the outset, rather than fitting one in after the fact:
- A standardised model can be used instead of a custom build, which usually means a faster turnaround.
- There's enough room for proper servicing and maintenance access.
- Health and safety requirements are addressed as part of the design, not bolted on afterward.
- The tank can sit closer to the generator, keeping fuel run lines shorter.
- For inspectors and building owners, a multi-hazard tested tank like the SuperVault can typically be repaired after an extreme event rather than requiring full replacement, which matters even more in a tight space where replacement would be difficult.
Considerations for Your Next Project
If you're planning a generator set, power supply room, or plant room, it's worth accounting for more than just fitting the equipment in. Key considerations include:
- Clear access to the generator set for operation and maintenance
- Compliance with code-required clearances
- Enough space to remove and replace major components without dismantling the room itself
- Adequate airflow to bring in clean, cool air and reject the heat generated during operation
- Minimal air recirculation or bypass, so cooling stays effective
- Noise and vibration levels that meet code both inside and outside the building
- Reliable operation of components located outside the generator set itself
It's also worth planning ahead for major repairs. Even a well-maintained generator will eventually need internal work after enough hours of operation. Is there enough clearance for engine or generator disassembly? Can the unit be removed without altering the building? For heavier jobs, it may be worth specifying a chain hoist or overhead crane as part of the room's design from the start.
Planning an energy supply room for an upcoming project? Get in touch with our team early in the design process - it's the easiest way to avoid a tight-space problem later.
