To meet CMS’ Life Safety Code requirements, facilities are required to have one of two types of emergency power systems. This can be in the form of either a generator that takes fuel (like diesel) or battery system - mentioned below. The two categories are Type 1 and Type 3.
The easiest way to think about it is if a facility is performing any kind of procedure that has general anesthesia where a patient may be put on a ventilator, then Type 1 is required. In this scenario, the ventilator needs power no matter what or the patient may be in danger. In the case of sedation where a patient is continuing to breath unassisted, the patient will not be in immediate danger if there is a power failure, so minimum Type 3 is required (Type 1 could be provided, it would just be going above and beyond).
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Type 1
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Type 3
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What is on emergency power
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Emergency lighting, nurse call, fire alarm, equipment for procedures (usually red outlets); typically enough for facility to stay in (almost) full operation.
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Emergency lighting, fire alarm, designated outlets and/or equipment
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Duration
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Minimum 4 hours
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Either 90 minutes, or as long as it would take to stop the procedure, whichever is longer
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Having said this, there are battery packs with 4 hour durations.
So, the facility needs to make the determination that will provide for the greatest patient safety based on its procedures and patients.
