A turnaround power plan should settle four things before the shutdown begins: which loads the temporary power must carry, who classifies each work area, how the generators connect to the plant, and who owns fuel and billing. When these stay open until the week of shutdown, electrical and safety questions tend to surface while crews are waiting on power. This article treats the plan as a decision log, with each decision tied to a planning stage and an owner, rather than as a general overview.
Process units usually involve classified locations, and OSHA 1910.307 covers electric equipment and wiring in locations classified by the flammable vapors, liquids or gases, or combustible dusts or fibers that may be present. Under that standard, Class I locations use Division or Zone classifications, and each area is evaluated individually. Whether a generator can sit near a given unit therefore depends on the site’s own classification and the safety office’s judgment, which our page on temporary generators near a process unit discusses further. For the broader sequence of a shutdown, see the turnaround generator rental planning overview.
How to Read a Decision Log
A decision log differs from a schedule because it records the choice, the owner, and the stage by which the choice should be closed. The stage names used here are relative to the shutdown, and the calendar behind each one depends on the plant, the contractors, and the contract. Treat them as an order of operations, not as fixed durations.
Decisions by Planning Stage
The table below groups decisions by the stage where they usually need an answer and names the role that normally makes the call. Ownership varies between plants, so read the last column as a starting assumption to confirm internally. Where the provider is listed, it supplies information and equipment, while the plant keeps authority over its own electrical and safety rules.
| Stage | Decision | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Early scoping | Which work areas need temporary power, and for which crews | Planner |
| Early scoping | Whether the load list comes from tool counts or from past shutdown records | Planner with electrical lead |
| Early scoping | Preliminary hazardous-area classification of each work area | Safety office |
| Mid planning | Generator size range, and whether loads split across units or run in parallel | Electrical lead with provider |
| Mid planning | Connection points, cable routes, and distribution layout | Electrical lead |
| Mid planning | Billing shift pattern: single, double, or triple shift | Planner with provider |
| Final preparation | Fuel tank size, refill responsibility, and fueling access | Planner with provider |
| Final preparation | Placement approval for each unit relative to classified areas | Safety office |
| Final preparation | Delivery, commissioning, and acceptance sequence | Provider with electrical lead |
| Week of shutdown | Who may change the load or move equipment once work is underway | Electrical lead |
| Week of shutdown | Escalation contact for a generator fault on every shift | Planner with provider |
Early Scoping: Load and Classification
Early scoping decides what the temporary power has to carry. A planner can start from the work scope, but the load list usually needs the electrical lead to confirm motors, welding machines, and lighting, along with any equipment that draws extra current at startup. Stag’s fleet spans 20 kW to 2000 kW, which gives planners a wide range to match against that list, and our sizing guide for load lists shows how to organize the inputs. Safety should start the preliminary classification at this stage too, since it shapes where any unit can be placed later.
Mid Planning: Configuration and Billing
Once scope is firm enough to estimate, the electrical lead and the provider can decide whether one large unit or several smaller ones suit the loads. Running units together is one option, and the paralleling guide explains how scalable setups work at large facilities. Stag bills by single, double, or triple shift, so the planner needs a view of how many shifts will draw power before the cost picture is settled. Exact terms depend on the contract.
Final Preparation: Fuel, Placement, and Delivery
Final preparation is where fuel and placement get fixed. These generators run on diesel, so the plan should name who refills tanks, when, and through which access route, and an extended-runtime fuel tank may reduce refill visits depending on the load. The safety office approves each placement against the site’s classification. Equipment ships from the Dickinson, TX yard, and the delivery and commissioning order should be agreed with the provider so acceptance does not happen under time pressure.
Week of Shutdown: Change Control
By the week of shutdown, the useful decisions are about change. Someone needs authority to add load, move a unit, or shut one down, and that person should be reachable on every shift. A short escalation list kept at the work site usually costs less than a delayed answer. For the schedule effect of a generator fault, see our guide to how a temporary power failure causes turnaround delays.
Decisions That Tend to Be Left Open
The items below are commonly deferred because each looks minor until it blocks work. This is not a complete list, and which items apply depends on the plant and the contract. Assigning each one an owner in the log is usually enough to keep it from slipping.
- Who confirms the final classification when scope changes after early scoping
- Who refills fuel on later shifts, and how access is arranged after hours
- Whether a spare unit is planned or the plan accepts the risk of a single unit
- Who signs off acceptance when the electrical lead is off shift
- How added crews or tools get approved against the load list
- Who releases the equipment once work ends, and how that is recorded
Closing the Log With Stag
Stag Power Rentals can help turn this log into a rental plan, drawing on diesel generators from 20 kW to 2000 kW. Bring the open rows from your own log, and the team can discuss them against your shift pattern and site rules. Start from the construction industry overview if you want context first, or send the open items through the quote request form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a turnaround power plan settle first?
The first decisions are the work areas that need power and the loads in each one. Those inputs drive generator size, configuration, and cost. The planner and electrical lead usually own this step, and the safety office can begin classifying areas at the same time. Details depend on the plant and the contract.
Who decides whether a generator can go near a process unit?
The plant’s safety office typically makes that decision, based on the site’s hazardous-area classification. OSHA 1910.307 covers electric equipment in classified locations, and each area is evaluated individually. The provider can share equipment details, but approval of the placement stays with the plant. Local rules and site policy may add further requirements.
How does shift billing affect turnaround planning?
Stag bills by single, double, or triple shift, so the number of shifts that draw power matters to the cost. The planner should confirm the expected shift pattern with the provider once scope is firm. Changes to the pattern during the shutdown may affect billing. Exact terms depend on the rental contract.
Can the load list change after it is submitted?
It often does, since scope tends to move as inspection findings come in. The log should say who approves additions and how the electrical lead rechecks capacity. Adding load without that check can overload a unit or a distribution point. Whether more equipment is needed depends on the new load and what is available.
What fuel decisions should be settled before shutdown starts?
The plan should name who refills the diesel tanks, how often, and through which access route. Tank size may affect how many refill visits are needed, depending on the load. Fueling near classified areas is a question for the safety office. Agreeing on these points early can keep fuel from becoming a late surprise.