Commercial Electrical
Commercial Generator
Installation in Vancouver, WA
When the power goes out, your business stops making money. Refrigerators warm up, registers go dark, servers shut down, and customers walk out. A commercial generator keeps your building running through outages, and Newman Electric installs them for businesses across Vancouver, WA. Ryan sizes the generator to your actual load, installs the transfer switch, handles the gas connection coordination, and pulls the permits. You lose power, the generator kicks on, and your business keeps going.
Who Needs One
A Power Outage Costs Your Business More Than You Think
The Pacific Northwest gets windstorms, ice storms, and the occasional tree through a power line. Clark PUD restores service as fast as they can, but "as fast as they can" might be eight hours. Or two days. If your business can't afford to close for that long, you need a commercial generator.
Restaurants & Food Service
Walk-in coolers, freezers, and prep equipment all need power. A four-hour outage can cost thousands in spoiled food. A commercial generator keeps your cold storage running and your kitchen operational even when the grid goes down.
Offices & Data-Dependent Businesses
Servers crash, phone systems go dead, and your team sits around doing nothing. If your business runs on computers and internet, a generator with a UPS keeps everything online through the switchover.
Retail & Customer-Facing Locations
No power means no registers, no credit card processing, and no lights. Customers leave. A commercial generator keeps your store open and processing transactions while competitors down the street are closed with a handwritten sign on the door.
Warehouses & Industrial
Loading docks, conveyor systems, climate-controlled storage, and security systems all need continuous power. A commercial generator sized for your critical loads keeps operations moving during outages.
Installation Process
How Newman Electric Installs
Your Commercial Generator
Site Visit & Load Calculation
Ryan comes out and looks at your building, your electrical system, and the equipment you need to keep running. We calculate your critical load and your full load so you know exactly what size generator you need. No guessing, no overselling you a unit that's bigger than necessary.
Generator Sizing & Equipment Selection
Based on the load calculation, we recommend a generator that fits your building. Natural gas or propane, air-cooled or liquid-cooled, and the right kW rating for your needs. Newman Electric works with major commercial generator manufacturers and can source the unit for you or install one you've already purchased.
Pad, Gas Line & Electrical Prep
The generator needs a concrete pad, a gas line, and electrical connections. We coordinate with your gas company for the fuel line and handle all the electrical work: the transfer switch, the feeder from the generator to your panel, and the branch circuit connections.
Transfer Switch Installation
The transfer switch is what detects the outage and tells the generator to start. For commercial buildings, Newman Electric installs automatic transfer switches (ATS) that switch your building to generator power within seconds. No one needs to be on site to flip a switch.
Startup, Testing & Permit Closeout
We fire up the generator, run it under load, and verify the transfer switch operates correctly. Then we close out the permit with the inspector. Ryan walks you through the maintenance schedule and makes sure you know how everything works.
Codes & Sizing
Generator Codes & Sizing for Commercial Buildings
Sizing by Building Type
Every commercial generator installation starts with a load calculation. These are rough ranges to give you an idea of what your building might need. Ryan will give you exact numbers after the site visit.
Code Requirements
NEC 700: Emergency Systems
Buildings with legally required standby systems (hospitals, nursing homes, certain assembly occupancies) must have generators that start within 10 seconds and run for a minimum duration. Commercial buildings without those requirements still benefit from the same wiring standards.
NEC 702: Optional Standby Systems
Most commercial generator installations in Vancouver, WA fall under Article 702. This covers generators that power non-life-safety loads like refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, and business equipment. Newman Electric wires these to NEC 702 standards with proper transfer equipment and overcurrent protection.
NEC 445: Generators
Article 445 covers the generator itself: nameplate ratings, overcurrent protection, ampacity of conductors, and disconnecting means. We size all conductors and breakers based on the generator's rated output, not the building's connected load.
WAC 296-46B: Washington Permits
Generator installations in Washington State require an electrical permit. City of Vancouver handles its own permits (360-487-7890). Unincorporated Clark County goes through L&I (360-896-2300). Newman Electric pulls the permit and schedules inspections for every generator project.
Customer Reviews
Real Clients, Real Results
"We decided to bite the bullet and get a whole-home generator. Ryan came out as scheduled and we went for it. James did the installation, and was terrific: he worked fast, clean, and efficiently."
James L.
Generator Installation
"James did everything I expected and quickly with a minimum of power interruptions, which is important because my wife is on continuous supplemental oxygen and we had to use a tank for less than an hour while James completed the wiring. He hauled my 7.5K generator down to the garage and fired it up to test that all worked as needed."
Central Point
Generator Wiring
"Newman Electric is top notch. We use them for our personal projects and have used them for 10+ remodeling projects for our business and they have always showed up on time and been honest with pricing. Ryan and his crew are professional and friendly!"
Arne K.
Commercial Projects
Common Questions
Commercial Generator FAQ
It depends on what you want to keep running. Some businesses only need to power critical systems like refrigeration, security, and emergency lighting. Others want the entire building running like nothing happened. Ryan does a load calculation during the site visit that adds up the wattage of everything you want powered. That number determines the generator size. Newman Electric won't sell you a 200 kW unit when a 75 kW unit covers your needs.
Natural gas is the most common choice for commercial generators in Vancouver because the fuel supply is continuous. You don't have to worry about refilling a tank during a long outage. Propane works well for buildings that aren't on the natural gas grid. Diesel generators are another option for larger industrial applications where you need maximum power density. Ryan will walk you through the pros and cons for your specific building.
Yes. Generator installations require both an electrical permit and often a mechanical/gas permit. In the City of Vancouver, electrical permits go through the city. In unincorporated Clark County, they go through L&I. Newman Electric pulls all permits and schedules every inspection. You don't need to deal with any of that.
With an automatic transfer switch, the generator starts within seconds of detecting an outage. The ATS monitors your utility power continuously. When voltage drops or disappears, it sends the start signal to the generator, waits for the engine to stabilize (about 10-30 seconds), and then switches your building over. For businesses with sensitive electronics, Newman Electric can pair the generator with a UPS to cover that brief transition window.
Commercial generators need regular oil changes, filter replacements, coolant checks (for liquid-cooled units), and battery testing. Most units run a brief self-test once a week automatically. Newman Electric recommends an annual professional inspection to check fuel lines, electrical connections, and transfer switch operation. The generator doesn't help you if it won't start when you need it.
Yes. Three-phase commercial generators are available in natural gas, propane, and diesel. Newman Electric installs three-phase generators with three-phase automatic transfer switches for buildings that run three-phase HVAC, motors, or industrial equipment. We size the generator for your three-phase load and make sure the transfer switch matches your building's electrical configuration.
More Services
Related Commercial Services
Service Areas
Commercial Generator Installation
Across Vancouver, WA
Newman Electric installs commercial generators for businesses across Clark County and Cowlitz County, WA. Restaurant generators in Camas, office backup power in Salmon Creek, warehouse standby systems in Battle Ground. Wherever your business is, Ryan and the crew will come out and give you a free estimate.
Keep Your Business Running
When the Power Goes Out
Newman Electric installs commercial generators for businesses across Vancouver, WA. Call Ryan for a free estimate and load calculation.