Often overlooked, is the physical construction of a UPS. This equipment is purchased to protect critical loads from power problems that are typically caused by tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, explosions, lightning, high winds, falling trees, snapped off power poles, vibration from passing trains, the constant motion of an oil rig, etc. The UPS must be physically strong enough to hold up under these types of conditions in order to protect your critical load.
Evaluating how a UPS is constructed is a very important step in the process of selecting the correct UPS. Many UPS today are assembled using light gauge metal or plastic and may not be fit for duty in some tougher environments. Modular or N+1 UPS consist of multiple low power inverter and battery modules plugged into a common vertical rack. These types of UPS have a high center of gravity and with their exposed architecture, are more susceptible to damage.
