Generators

Description

Living in south Florida causes concerns for loss of power form hurricanes and other forms of power outages from FPL.

Power outages are often the result of harsh weather, such as hurricanes with high winds, lightning strikes, that causes overhead power lines to break.

There are portable and standby generators that can provide power for parts and/or your entire house.

Portable Generators

Portable generators provide power to tools and appliances when you need supplemental electricity. Because their combustion engines emit fumes, portable generators should be kept outdoors during operation, although extension cords can be used to carry the power indoors.

Portable generators are fueled by gasoline and include 120-volt power outlets like the ones in the walls of your home. When the generator is running, you can plug appliances and tools directly into these outlets. Some generators also include 120/240 or 240-volt outlets. These are especially useful for running powering into a transfer switch.

Portable generators range in cost between a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the capacity and features.

Guidelines

Below are the criteria the HOA has outlined if you select a portable generator:

1.  Must be at least 5 feet from neighboring houses.
2.  Must be at least 10 feet from door or window openings.
3.  May not store more than 25 gallons of gasoline in garage.
4.  Gasoline must be in UL approved containers with vented tops. These are to hold no more than 5 gallons each.
5.  Generators may not be operated after 10 pm or prior to 8am. Special needs will be addressed on an individual basis.
6.  Transfer Switch or Transfer Box must be installed by licensed and insured technicians, using proper permits and meeting codes.
7.  Anyone using a generator must have a carbon monoxide detector in their home.
8.  Generators are not to produce a noise level higher than 60 decibels measured at any point along the homeowner’s property line.
9.  When in use portable generators must be grounded by use of electrical cables and connectors of sufficient capacity.
10.  The generator should be cooled down before fueling and at least 10 feet from any building.
11.  When not in use portable generators and fuel are to be stored within the garage. All fuel should be drained from the generator.
12.  The generator may not be connected directly into the house wiring.
13.  If you have a corner house you may not have the generator on the house street side.
14.  Anyone using a generator must sign a hold harmless agreement with the HOA, as well as a generator application form.
15.  Generator usage must be approved by the ACB.

Description

Stand-by Generators

Standby generators give you piece of mind. Hurricanes, electrical storms or even vehicle accidents cause losses of power year in and year out. Standby generators give you control over an outage. Easily installed next to your house, standby generators automatically provide electricity to your home. Significantly quieter than a portable generator, it protects the home’s most essential appliances, like refrigerators, well pumps and AC units, without having to manually setup, refuel or run cords.

Guidelines

Below are the criteria the HOA has outlined if you select a standby generator:

1.  Must be at least 5 feet from neighboring houses.
2.  Must have ACB approval.
3.  Must have proper permits and licensing and must meet PBC building codes.
4.  Must be installed by licensed and insured vendors.
5.  The generator itself is to be concealed by shrubbery around its perimeter. Installation of this barrier requires ACB approval as well as landscaping. The homeowner must maintain this barrier.
6.  Anyone using a generator must have a carbon monoxide detector in home.
7.  Generators may never be connected directly into the house wiring.
8.  Corner houses may not place generators on street side.
9.  The noise level may not exceed 60 decibels.
10.  Anyone with a generator must sign a hold harmless agreement. A generator usage and application form a must be filed with the ACB.
11.  Trucks filling tanks must comply with the county regulations which state either the truck must be visible from the tank being filled, or must have an automatic cut-off valve.
12.  All permits must be affixed in plain sight on front window.

ACB Procedures for In-ground generators

For all in-ground standby generators a General Contractor (GC) is required.

In the planning stage, the homeowner should work with their GC to determine the scope of the job.  A design specification should outline the job, including type of type, size, location in yard and location of propane tank, etc.

Then once the homeowner determines which GC General Contractor), they are going to hire to do the job, the contractor is required to provide both their contractor license and the contractor’s insurance.

Requesting ACB approval to start project

With the planning stage completed, the homeowner can now submit the completed ACB request form along with the contractor’s license and insurance and design specifications to the ACB committee for review.  We ask for duplication of all documents.

The ACB will then review all plans to ensure all paperwork is included.

After the ACB has approved your plans, you may proceed with the improvement.

One set of signed documents will be returned to you for your records while the other set of plans will be recorded by the ACB for reference.

Approval of proposed plans does not waive the necessity of obtaining any required city or county permits, obtaining a city permit does not waive the need for ACB approval.

Completion of project

Once the job is completed, the homeowner needs to submit a signed filled out completion form to the ACB.  These results will then to filed in the small club house for reference.

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