In long‑term care (LTC) residences, emergency backup power is essential to protect vulnerable residents, support clinical care, and meet regulatory obligations. Maintenance and facility managers, health & safety leaders, engineers, and electrical contractors all need to understand the codes that govern generator systems in Canadian LTC facilities.

In Canada, emergency generators serving long‑term care facilities must comply with CSA 282, CSA Z32, and the National Building Code of Canada 2025 (NBC 2025). These documents set requirements for the design, installation, operation, testing, and documentation of emergency power systems that support fire alarm systems, critical building services, and essential electrical systems in health care occupancies.

Why Emergency Power Compliance Matters in Long‑Term Care

Residents in LTC homes depend on powered systems for safety and comfort: fire alarms, nurse call, medical devices, emergency lighting, HVAC, and more. Any loss of power can quickly turn into a life‑safety issue. The combination of NBC 2025, CSA 282, and CSA Z32 is designed to ensure these systems continue to operate when normal utility power fails.

CSA 282: Emergency Electrical Power Supply for Buildings

CSA 282 remains the primary standard for emergency generator systems in Canadian buildings, including LTC residences.

What CSA 282 governs

• Design of emergency generator systems and associated equipment
• Installation and configuration of generators, transfer switches, and distribution equipment
• Operation and testing of emergency power systems when normal supply fails
• Maintenance and record keeping, including test logs and corrective actions

CSA 282 is used both in new LTC projects and in existing facilities to ensure that standby power systems are maintained and tested appropriately over their service life.

CSA Z32: Essential Electrical Systems in Health Care Facilities

CSA Z32 addresses electrical safety and essential electrical systems in health care facilities and classifies facilities into three categories. For LTC, the key class is Class B.

• HCF, Class A – Hospitals and acute/complex care facilities
• HCF, Class B – Facilities whose residents cannot function independently and require daily care by health care professionals (typical long‑term care and multi‑level care homes)
• HCF, Class C – Ambulatory and outpatient facilities

In practice, most LTC residences are treated as Class B health care facilities, which means the essential electrical system must be designed and maintained to support resident care and life safety during power failures.

Key point: The facility’s executive/administration is responsible for determining the correct CSA Z32 classification, typically in consultation with the design engineer.

NBC 2025: Where Emergency Power Is Required

The National Building Code of Canada 2025, Volume 1 is the current national model building code. It is developed by the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes and sets minimum technical requirements for building safety, including emergency power.

For LTC facilities, the most relevant NBC 2025 provisions are still found in Division B, Part 3 and Part 3/6, including:

3.2.7.8 – Emergency Power for Fire Alarm Systems

NBC 2025 continues to require that fire alarm systems, where mandated, be supplied by an emergency power source so they remain operational during a loss of normal electrical supply.

In practice, this means:

• Fire alarm control units, annunciators, and notification appliances must remain powered during an outage.
• Backup power (commonly batteries and/or generators) must start or switch over automatically on power loss.

3.2.7.9 – Emergency Power for Building Services

This section identifies building services that must remain operational during an outage, such as:

• Emergency lighting and exit signage
• Fire pumps and sprinkler system controls
• Smoke control or smoke management systems
• Elevators designated for emergency or firefighter use
• Certain communication systems that support emergency response

These services must be connected to a reliable emergency power supply that can carry the required loads for the durations specified in NBC and referenced standards.

3.6.2.8 – Emergency Power Installations

NBC 2025 retains specific expectations for how emergency power equipment is installed and protected.

Key points include:

• Generators, transfer switches, and related equipment must be located and protected so they are not unduly exposed to fire or other hazards.
• Emergency power wiring is separated from normal power systems to reduce the chance of a single event disabling both.
• Installations must follow referenced standards (commonly CSA C282 for emergency generators) and applicable electrical codes.

Important for Ontario/LTC audiences: NBC 2025 is a model code. Provinces adopt its content into their own building codes (e.g., the Ontario Building Code) on their own timelines, sometimes with amendments. Always verify the currently adopted requirements in your jurisdiction when applying NBC 2025 clauses.

Putting It Together for Long‑Term Care Facilities

For New LTC Construction or Major Renovations

Designers, engineers, and electrical contractors should:

• Use NBC 2025 to determine where emergency power is required (fire alarm, building services, emergency installations).
• Apply CSA 282 to size, configure, and lay out the emergency power system.
• Apply CSA Z32 to ensure that essential electrical systems for Class B healthcare facilities are properly divided, prioritized, and backed up.

This combination ensures that LTC facilities have clearly defined emergency power loads, properly protected generator and distribution equipment, and compliant wiring and transfer arrangements.

For Existing LTC Facilities

Even if there is no new construction, LTC homes need to keep existing standby power systems compliant:

• Testing and inspections – Follow CSA 282 schedules for weekly visual checks, monthly testing, and more extensive annual testing.
• Maintenance records – Keep logbooks showing inspections, test results, deficiencies, and corrective actions.
• Upgrades and replacements – When major generator or ATS changes are made, update documentation and confirm continued compliance with current code and standard requirements.

For health & safety managers and facility directors, these records are often reviewed in:

• Licensing and compliance inspections
• Accreditation visits
• Insurance and risk management audits

Key Takeaways for Long-Term Care Facilities

For maintenance and facility managers in LTC:

• Ensure your generator and transfer equipment are maintained and tested in line with CSA 282.
• Confirm that fire alarms, emergency lighting, and other critical systems are on emergency power circuits defined by the designer.

For health & safety managers:

• Verify that your emergency power setup aligns with the facility’s CSA Z32 classification (usually Class B).
• Make sure procedures and logs demonstrate ongoing compliance and readiness.

For engineers and electrical contractors:

• Design and install systems to meet NBC 2025 (Sections 3.2.7.8, 3.2.7.9, 3.6.2.8) plus CSA 282 and CSA Z32 for LTC applications.
• Coordinate early with AHJs and the facility team to clarify required loads, run times, and acceptable configurations.

Ensuring Compliance Going Forward

Emergency generator systems in long‑term care residences must now be designed and maintained with NBC 2025, CSA 282, and CSA Z32 in mind. The section numbering and core intent of the emergency‑power provisions are unchanged from earlier code cycles, but citing 2025 keeps your documentation and marketing aligned with the latest edition.

If you’re planning a new LTC project or reviewing an existing facility’s standby power, your next step should be a code‑based review of emergency loads, generator capacity, and documentation. Ideally with a healthcare‑focused generator specialist such as T&T Power Group, who can validate emergency loads, system capacity, and compliance with NBC 2025 and CSA standards.

Contact us to get started.