What is NDIS SDA and what are the certification requirements?
- SDA stands for Specialist Disability Accommodation – which refers to housing that has been specially designed for people with extreme functional impairment and/or very specific needs.
- NDIS stands for National Disability Services Limited (NDS) or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission).
Before being certified by the NDIS Commission, you will receive an ‘Initial Scope of Audit’ document outlining the requirements for your business.
This document will determine whether you need a ‘verification’ or ‘certification’ audit (including what your business needs to comply with the relevant NDIS Practice Standards).
- An approved quality auditor will be needed to ensure accuracy throughout.
- You have the relevant qualifications.
- Expertise and experience.
- Risk management.
- Assess your complaint management & resolution processes.
- Assess your incident management & resolution processes.
- HR management.
- Participants' rights and responsibilities of providers.
- Provider operational management and governance.
- Delivery of environment and support.
In a nutshell, to gain NDIS SDA certification you will need to prove that you can safely and competently provide a certain level of care – and that any products and/or services (e.g., UPS systems) meet the necessary quality standards.
What are the UPS requirements for NDIS SDA certification?
As for gaining NDIS SDA certification for a UPS system, there are some minimum requirements:
- A UPS system must provide backup power on 2 circuits for a total of 2-hours.
- Reliable and designed to meet the high demands of the Medical Industry.
- Can handle high varying loads including large inrush currents.
- The specifications of the UPS must be checked by certified engineers and the NDIS – and signed off on.
Why is it important to have a UPS system that is certified for NDIS SDA use?
There are a number of reasons why a UPS system must be certified for NDIS SDA use, primarily because it ensures the safety of the SDA individuals.
- Compliance with SDA design standards ensures participant safety.
- All critical SDA equipment and medical machinery remain sufficiently powered even in the event of a power outage for a minimum of 2-hours.
- For insurance purposes.
Simply put, if you installed a UPS system in specialist disability accommodation that doesn’t meet the necessary NDIS SDA certification standards – and the equipment fails when it is needed most – it can result in dire consequences.
Which UPS options are certified for NDIS SDA use in Australia?
First of all, a UPS for SDA use must be Medical Grade. This is because Medical Grade UPS equipment has a primary role in maintaining life safety equipment.
Any UPS systems that are designed for residential use (although not stipulated in the SDA Design Standard) are not suitable for SDA use.
For example, a shared house battery on a solar charge, in most cases, cannot be controlled or maintained for 2-hours or power storage.
Here’s the perfect example of UPS systems that are certified for NDIS SDA use in Australia:
How to find a quality UPS that meets the appropriate certification requirements?
Ideally, the best way to find a quality UPS system that meets the appropriate NDIS SDA certification requirements is by speaking with professionals. Simply contact us and one of our friendly and knowledgeable advisors can help you settle on the perfect NDIS SDA-certified UPS system for your needs.
In any case, below are some critical features to look out for when choosing a UPS system that meets the appropriate standards:
- Medical Grade UPS Systems
- Online Double Conversion UPS (to protect against all potential power issues).
- 1.5kW load per SDA participant as a rule of thumb (however, this should be checked and thoroughly tested once all participants and equipment have been moved in).
- A UPS for SDA use must have suitable ventilation with a fan to successfully extract any built heat.
- UPS system must be on an isolated power supply, separate from common feeds.
- A built-in Bypass panel is recommended (though not essential).
Again, if you are coming up short and worried that you might make a mistake, contact the professionals and have them aid you in finding a suitable system.
How UPS Solutions can accommodate your needs
UPS Solutions is a government-accredited specialist provider of UPS systems and UPS installation & maintenance services in Australia. With over 18 years in the Australian market, we are perfectly positioned to provide you with industry-expert advice.
We provide a wide variety of UPS systems – many of which are indeed NDIS SDA certified. If you are looking for specialist equipment that meets the legal requirements, we will happily point you in the right direction and settle you on the perfect UPS system for you.
