Every generator test, witnessed and on the record.
Your emergency generator must be tested every month and the results kept for your surveyor. RunWitness records each test automatically and hands you a sealed, inspection-ready record. Nothing to wire, nothing to write down.
For nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, schools and houses of worship with standby generators.
- Continuous loaded run41 min
- Exhaust above manufacturer minimumMet
- Days since last test29
- Transfer to emergency power6.8 s
What your surveyor looks for
Under the codes CMS enforces through the Life Safety Code, NFPA 99 and NFPA 110, each monthly test must meet four conditions, and the record must show the actual values, not just "tested, passed."
Continuous run under load. Warm-up and cool-down don't count.
Load of nameplate, or exhaust temperature at the manufacturer's minimum.
Between tests, 12 times a year. Drift past 40 days and it's a gap.
Maximum time for essential loads to transfer to generator power.
When the records fall short
The generator is rarely the problem. The record is: logs filled in after the fact, intervals that drift, readings that were never written down.
Not every records gap leads to a fine. Every records gap can lead to a citation.
- CitationGenerator testing and records are surveyed under Life Safety Code tag K918. Missing tests or incomplete logs are cited as a deficiency.
- Plan of correctionDue within 10 calendar days of the Statement of Deficiencies, followed by a revisit survey.
- Public recordNursing home deficiency reports are publicly disclosed and visible to families and referral sources.
- Civil money penaltiesFederal ranges of $50–$3,000 per day, $3,050–$10,000 per day for immediate jeopardy, or $1,000–$10,000 per instance, adjusted upward for inflation every year. Penalties increase for repeat deficiencies.
- An outageIf an untested generator fails when residents depend on it, the finding can rise to immediate jeopardy, with liability far beyond any fine.
Penalty ranges: 42 CFR 488.438 base amounts, before annual inflation adjustment. General information, not legal advice.
How RunWitness works
Two small sensors, one cellular gateway, and a record that builds itself every month.
Sensors go on
A vibration sensor and an exhaust temperature sensor attach to your generator with magnets. Installed and calibrated in a single visit.
Every test is witnessed
The sensors detect each run on their own and record how long it ran and how hot the exhaust got. Nobody has to remember.
Staff add one number
During the test, your staff read the transfer time from the transfer switch and enter it on a phone. That's the only manual step.
The record is sealed
Each month you get a tamper-evident test record in the format your surveyor expects, plus an alert before any test window closes.
No wiring
Battery-powered sensors mount with magnets. No electrician, no panel work, no permits.
No IT network
Data travels over its own cellular connection. Nothing touches your facility's network, so there's nothing for IT to review.
No change to your generator
Nothing connects to the generator's controls. It runs and is serviced exactly as it is today.
Built for facilities that can't afford a missed test
Nursing homes
Surveyed by CMS against NFPA 99 and 110. One facilities director usually carries the whole log.
Hospitals and clinics
Records ready for CMS and Joint Commission review, generated the same way every month.
Schools
Proof for the fire marshal where the generator is a required emergency system.
Houses of worship
Reliable backup power and a clean record, without adding work for volunteers.
Straightforward pricing
One kit per generator, one setup per site, one monthly fee. Cellular data included.
Sensor kit: vibration sensor, exhaust temperature sensor and mounting hardware.
Setup and activation: gateway, installation and a commissioning run calibrated to your generator.
Monitoring, alerts, monthly sealed records and support.
Start with a free review of your test logs
Tell us about your facility and we'll ask for your last 12 months of generator test logs. We'll tell you exactly where they fall short of the requirements, if anywhere. If your records are complete, we'll say so.
- No cost and no obligation
- Written findings against each requirement
- Answers from people who manage facilities
Prefer to talk? Call (845) 903-3928 or email info@runwitness.com.
Common questions
Does the law require monitoring equipment?
No. The law requires you to test the generator and keep accurate records. RunWitness makes those records automatic and complete; it doesn't replace your testing or your generator service.
Do we need an electrician or a shutdown?
No. The sensors are battery-powered and attach with magnets. Nothing is wired, and the generator stays in service during installation.
Will it connect to our network?
No. The gateway uses its own cellular connection and plugs into an existing outlet. Your IT department has nothing to approve.
Our generator is in a basement with no cell signal.
That's common. The sensors reach the gateway by radio through floors and walls, so the gateway can sit upstairs wherever cellular signal is available.
Who runs the monthly test?
You or your generator service company, exactly as you do now. RunWitness records the test; it never starts, stops or controls the generator.
Which generators does it work with?
Diesel standby generators of any make and age. For natural gas or propane units, call us: the monthly test rule is different and we'll confirm the right setup.