Every Home Standby Generator Installation is different. Access to utilities, ground and soil conditions, and even the prevailing winds can affect site placement. Generator manufacturers specify the minimum requirements for a generator installation, but is “good enough” always the best way to go? Sometimes following the manufacturer’s minimum requirements simply isn’t enough. A home standby generator for backup power can represent a sizable investment. Choosing a good generator installer is just one step in the process. Taking their advice on installation options and following local building codes helps ensure a stable installation that provides years of service. All You Need to Know for Concrete Pads for Standby Generators.
Pre-Cast Concrete Pads
The Generac Genpad sits directly on the soil.
Pads made of concrete are poured and cured by the generator manufacturer, the installer, or by a local company that specializes in concrete products. The process is simple. Curing takes up to a week for full strength. In the case of a generator manufacturer product such as the GenPad, the pad is often purchased and shipped with the generator.
Minimal site preparation includes leveling the soil. Sometimes the standby generator installer removes a rectangular area of grass and soil to add sand and gravel which is then compacted, and the pre-cast concrete pad laid over the top. The installer ensures it is stable before placing the generator on it. Thickness depends in part on the weight of the generator. Three to four inches thick is common.
Pre-cast pads reduce installation time over pouring a pad on site and are usually the most cost-effective concrete pad. Upgrading to a pre-cast pad over a compacted soil installation is easy and in most cases worth the additional cost.
Made on Site
The way a poured concrete foundation becomes a part of the existing soil makes it more stable and less likely to sink or move over time. State and local building codes may include requirements for poured concrete pads, including pads for generators. Many communities require them for central air conditioning units and apply similar requirements for home standby generators. In some cases, steel rebar connects the pad to the building foundation.
The installer removes soil and compacts the excavation. A compacted sand and gravel base provide drainage and a stable surface for the concrete. Wooden sides staked in place create a frame or mold. The installer mixes the concrete and pours it into the frame. They smooth the top with a trowel and texture it. Some installers round the edges with an edging trowel.
The poured concrete pad must cure for several days before the generator can sit on it. Made-on-site pads take time and add to the installation cost, but they offer better stability and the depth is easily adjusted to account for the generator weight, local conditions, and building codes.
Custom Pedestal
Ideally, a concrete foundation anchors the pedestal which is built on top of the foundation. Wooden forms make a mold for the sides. The generator sits on top of the pedestal where it remains out of the flood water.
Custom pedestals cost more than either pre-cast or made-on-site pads, but they protect the home standby generator from floods.
Compacted Soil or Gravel Bed
The minimal basic installation. Site preparation includes removing the grass and top layer of soil to a depth of three inches. An additional layer of compacted gravel may add stability to the site and provide better drainage. The home standby generator installs on a composite pad that sits directly on the prepared site instead of on concrete.
When allowed and where soil conditions are appropriate, the compacted soil or gravel bed meets the minimum requirements for most air-cooled, home standby generator installations. Over time however, the soil may move which leaves the generator tilted and not flat or level. Regions that receive heavy rain or are subject to flooding are the least suitable for this type of installation. Grass can grow right up to the generator and cause problems with air flow or contribute to debris accumulation.
Homesites with stable soil, proper grading that won’t flood during heavy rains or when the snow melts, and where the local jurisdictions allow it make a good site for this type of installation. Sometimes however, local installers just won’t risk it. The potential for problems is greater and for cost difference just isn’t worth it to take a chance that something will go wrong.
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