ELRun a retail store? Believe it or not, you need to know about “critical loads”
In a retail store, critical loads are the equipment and systems whose downtime, even briefly, causes an immediate and substantial problem for the business's ability to operate, serve customers and generate revenue.
These are not simply “machines we want to keep powered”, but the core of the store's daily operation: the points where an outage translates into lost transactions, risk to data or a gap in the security of the premises.
A load is usually considered critical when at least one of the following applies:
- Its interruption immediately stops sales or the issuing of receipts and invoices.
- Its interruption creates a risk of data loss or system malfunction.
- Its interruption affects the security of the store or communication with customers and partners.
What are the critical systems in a modern store
In a typical retail store, critical loads usually include:
- Server or main computer, running the ERP, inventory management and reporting
- NAS or other local storage, holding files, price lists, receipts and invoices, and settings.
- Router, firewall and switches, which provide access to the internet and the local network.
- CCTV system, i.e., the NVR/recorder and the cameras, usually powered through PoE switches
- Telephony and VoIP terminals, especially when phone communication runs over the same network.
- Back-office workstations (computers and monitors) used for order taking, invoicing and inventory control
- POS and thermal printers at the checkout
- EMS/auxiliary systems in the rack, which monitor and control the infrastructure
- Basic LED lighting in critical areas (e.g., around the checkout and the exits)
Even in a mid-size store, the sum of these loads can easily approach 2-3 kW, especially when a full rack, CCTV, VoIP and multiple computers are all present.
You can read a detailed calculation example here. In the meantime, you can contact the Tescom Hellas team, who will guide you to the best possible solution.
