Hospitals, clinics, laboratories and residential healthcare facilities must deal with unique — and uniquely sensitive — issues that can be assessed effectively only by professionals who wield a specialized set of skills. In addition, each client has different needs and circumstances that influence how its facilities issues should be approached.

Lockatong’s engineers are active members of ASHE and participate regularly in local chapters’ activities. Even better, we learn from the engineers and managers responsible for institutional facilities how we can better apply our own engineering expertise to solve their problems.

Lockatong’s professionals are fully qualified to analyze the condition of the facility and its systems, assess a variety of risks, diagnose problems or defects, recommend a solution, design modifications to improve functionality, upgrade to meet new requirements or correct deficiencies — all to institutional standards.

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NJDEP AIR PERMIT REQUIREMENT: EMERGENCY GENERATORS CANNOT BE TESTED ON UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY DAYS – THIS INCLUDES HOSPITAL AND

MEDICAL FACILITIES

The NJDEP updated regulations in 2007 that limited testing of emergency generators on unhealthy air quality days. The regulation does allow testing on these days if required by a Federal or State Regulation. Since 2007, there was an understanding with the NJDEP that hospital and medical facilities that are required to comply with NFPA, DOH, Joint Commission and DNV (which are Federal/State regulations) would be allowed to test when the need arose, regardless of the air quality.

In 2020, the NJDEP has reviewed this allowance and has determined that hospitals and medical facilities, along with all other industries, should NOT be allowed to test generators on unhealthy air quality days. If scheduled testing is planned and the forecast is unhealthy, then the testing should be moved to another day. The only allowance that is maintained is if there are certain circumstances for which a facility is mandated by the Federal/State governing bodies that require testing to be done on a specific day for a specific reason. It is strongly advised that if a hospital does test an emergency generator on an unhealthy air quality day, that all documentation supporting the necessity for this be maintained as to avoid any penalties from the NJDEP.

Click here to access the air quality forecast for your location through the NJDEP website and through Airnow.gov. The air quality must be GOOD or MODERATE for your zip code or town.

We strongly recommend all facilities immediately start confirming the air quality prior to planned emergency generator testing and modifying their generator testing logs to include a location on the form to record that the air quality was checked and in compliance. This is important documentation to have when an NJDEP Air Enforcement inspection is being performed.

Please note – emergency generators can be operated during an emergency power outage regardless of the air quality.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to reach out to Tricia Romano, P.E. at TLR@lockatong.com.

New NJDEP UST Regulation

Just a friendly reminder to all facilities that have Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) that the deadline for compliance was October 13, 2018. If you are NOT in compliance with ALL of the regulations, you should not be receiving fuel deliveries after this date.

For all of you that have taken the UST A/B Operator Class and passed the exam – Congratulations! However there are a few items you should make sure have been completed.

Obtain a copy of your passed exam letter or UST A/B Operator Certificate (which can be downloaded from the ICCsafe.org website).

Submit an updated NJDEP UST Facility Questionnaire to the NJDEP with the A/B operator information.

Make sure to train all of your staff that would be onsite to accept a fuel delivery as a Class C Operator. Training of individual to be documented and to include the following: Instruction on how to appropriately respond to emergencies presented by spills or releases resulting from the operation of the UST system that pose an immediate danger or threat to the public or to the environment and notify the appropriate authorities. The appropriate actions and responses to alarms associated with release detection equipment or the UST system. An evaluation of the trainee’s understanding of his or her role and ability to perform the appropriate response actions for spill or releases and alarms associated with release detection equipment. Trainee shall satisfactorily demonstrate relevant knowledge and ability to the person conducting the training before he or she may be designated as Class C operator.



The other important item to have been completed was to get your spill buckets, sumps, and overfill prevention equipment tested by a certified contractor.

Make sure to get a copy of the testing report from the contractor for your records.

If one of the items did not pass the test and you need repairs, you have 30 days to get them completed and to have the contractor retest the failed system. Obtain and keep a copy of the

subsequent test.

If you still need to take the UST Training course, NJDEP has developed an online program. You must have internet access and an email address to participate.

Course Name: NJDEP UST Training for Class A & B Operators (EW0208WA19)

Date/Time: Offered continuously. Course takes approximately 8 hours to complete.

Cost: $280

Once you have completed the online course, you will still need to take the exam. To register for the UST A/B Operator certification exam, visit the ICC exam page:

Search for New Jersey in the Catalog Search box

Click on the Register button.

Please note that there is an $85 charge for the exam.

Many of you have been working with Tricia Romano, P.E. of Lockatong Engineering on this to ensure your compliance. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact her at 609-397-4106 or via email at TLR@lockatong.com.

“Lockatong Engineering has been providing consulting services to the Bergen Regional Medical Center for the last 9 years, including in the areas of building and equipment inspections , facility engineering , environmental evaluations, and remedial plans, etc. Prior to this, Lockatong Engineering had provided consulting services to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ for an extended period of time. All work was comprehensive, relevant and of the highest quality. They facilitate us, interfacing with the various regulatory agencies, preparing the necessary documentation and filing with the agencies that resulted in conforming with the various regulations and administrative ordinances and laws. The Lockatong staff is providing service in a highly professional manner based on their expertise and experience in the various specialized fields. I recommend Lockatong Engineering for any assignment in their field.” Herman Lindenbaum, Vice President, Support Services “Lockatong Engineering has been an invaluable partner at St. Mary’s. They are Healthcare friendly and have not only developed a scope of work for many of our projects, but they have also worked with the hospital preparing site surveys and all related documents. I am very happy to call them a partner in many of our endeavors.” Benedict DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE, Director of Facilities & Security “Luck has it that we can never find regulatory documents when an inspector requests them but Tricia and the Lockatong team always come through with back up copies.” Ed Grogan, Director of Plant and Engineering, Jersey City Medical Center

“We are most grateful for you and all you do to keep us in good shape.” Sr. Johnice Thone, Executive Director, St. Francis Residential Community