Power Failure Testing – Emergency Curtain Drops

Determine farm protocols to:

  • Define procedures and schedule a time to test emergency curtain drops, per manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Record maintenance and testing of alarm system.

There are multiple ways to perform this procedure. The following is a template to assist in customizing a standard operating procedure for this procedure on your farm. Edit as necessary to describe the procedures specific to your farm.

Introduction

An operation that lacks properly operating emergency power-failure backup systems, including a backup curtain-drop system, risks animals being harmed or even dying from suffocation during a power loss. Loss of electrical power for more than a very short period of time could potentially create catastrophic financial losses for the farm. Emergency power-failure backup systems, including backup curtain drops, must be tested on a regular basis to help ensure that they will operate properly, if the need arises.

Safety

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that may be used to help ensure safety includes gloves, hearing protection and a dust mask.

Use caution when working with electricity.

Be aware of your hand position to avoid pinching fingers when using a curtain winch.

Preparation

Supplies needed for testing include:

  • Curtain drop winch handle
  • Curtain drop checklist from operator’smanual
  • Manufacturer’s operation manual with system-testing information
  • Remote alarm calling list

Procedure

Emergency curtain drops should be tested monthly during a time period specified by the operation.

Equipment check:

  • Check the curtain hand winch to ensure that it is securely fastened to the curtain drop mechanism.
  • Inspect cable(s) for fraying or other potential operational and safety issues. Ensure winch, winch handle and curtains are not prevented from moving up or down due to damage, wear, ice build-up, vegetation (including weeds)or any other reason.
  • Record the status of each individual item that was checked on the curtain drop checklist.
  • Inspect the curtain, and repair any holes or tears.

Operation check:

  • Switch curtain controller to manual position.
  • Close curtain using the curtain controller’s manual operation switch.
  • Turn electrical power off via main breaker panel, or designated curtain-power disconnect switch, and evaluate if the curtain drop releases the hand winch properly. This may take a few minutes, depending on type/style/brand of curtain drops.
  • Review the distance the curtain opens via the drop release to ensure that it is adequate to prevent animal suffocation for the current season of the year and quantity/bodyweight of animals in the barn.
  • Consult the operation’s ventilation supervisor if you are unsure of the proper opening distance for current conditions.

Reconnecting emergency curtain system:

  • Turn electrical power on via main breaker panel or the curtain-power disconnect switch.
  • Re-attach curtain drop cable to the curtain hand winch. Ensure that the winch latch is unsecured to allow free movement of the curtain winch handle.
  • Crank the curtain’s hand winch to return curtain to fully closed position.
  • Replace curtain controller switch position to automatic.
  • Make sure the winch, winch crank and curtainareclear from anything that could tangle or inhibit the complete drop of the curtain, such as a curtain drop cord, weeds, etc.
  • Record the date, your initials and any additional information on the curtain-drop checklist record sheet.

Follow-up

If the curtain drop does not perform properly, or other maintenance or repair needs to be performed, immediately contact a farm supervisor (or the curtain manufacturer/supplier).