Please note: The information below represents a provisional plan designed to assist staff and
students to continue working where possible during power outages. We invite feedback and
suggestions to help the University of Cape Town deal with this reality. If you have any suggestions
please email Riana Geldenhuys. This will be updated periodically.
Load shedding is a reality.
Because load shedding depends on national demand, we must all do our part by switching off all nonessential appliances.
As load shedding will happen for at least the next six months, each of us will have to find ways to carry on
with our work at UCT. Here are some guidelines to help you know what to expect when the power goes
off.
What to do in an emergency, or if you are stuck inside a lift or a building
Please avoid using lifts just before planned load shedding.
UCT has in excess of 100 lifts. Some of the lifts have emergency dial-out systems which will allow
communication to Campus Protection Services (CPS) and if stuck you are advised to use this function;
alternatively make use of your cellular phone, assuming reception, to contact CPS on 021 650 2222/3.
CPS will contact the relevant lift company who will dispatch a lift technician to open the lift. You are
advised to remain calm and be patient as the lift technicians will be responding to passenger entrapments
across the Cape Peninsula. Other more modern lifts are equipped with grounding devices and will allow
the lift to move to the next lowest floor and open there in the event of a power outage, while a few lifts are
on back-up generator feed and might continue to operate. Properties and Services (P&S) will be putting
notices to this effect in these lifts.
Should you experience a failure of any access control systems in your building after load shedding, please
phone 021 650 1199 during office hours or email Access Control. After hours, or in any emergency
situation, please call CPS on 021 650 2222/3. This line will continue to operate, but other phone and email
functions may not continue during load shedding. Please see below for email and phone usability during
load shedding.
Information is available online. UCT social media will help keep you informed.
The load shedding website for the City of Cape Town is here. The website provides maps as well as a
load shedding schedule for stages 1, 2, 3A and 3B.
UCT’s Upper, Middle and Lower Campuses, all residences and the Health Science Campus in Groote
Schuur are in Area 15. Hiddingh Campus and the Graduate School of Business are in Area 7, so they may
fall on different load shedding schedules. Click here for the City of Cape Town’s schedule for Areas 15
and 7, where UCT campuses are located, and click here for Eskom’s load shedding forecast for January April 2015.
The City of Cape Town’s load shedding information phone line is available at 0860 103 089.
As UCT is informed about load shedding, information will be made available on the university’s website,
Facebook and Twitter feeds. We are all aware of the inconvenience that is caused by load shedding and
the university’s Communication and Marketing Department will provide updates as far in advance as
possible. It is important to note that the City of Cape Town’s electrical control centre notification to UCT is
sporadic and usually at short notice.
Students and staff members who are most at risk during load shedding are those in wheelchairs or with
other mobility limitations. If you have such a limitation, or one of your staff does, we advise you to be
aware of the load shedding schedule and plan ahead as much as possible to avoid being stuck on a floor
or in a room that is difficult to access when load shedding is imminent. Please contact CPS if you need
assistance.
Some tips on how to prepare for load shedding
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Get into the habit of saving your work regularly on computer (you can configure auto-save options
in your software).
Keep all electronic devices charged and ready to run on battery.
Wi-Fi will not be available in most UCT buildings during power outages.
If you have a 3G option available and battery power, you will be able to connect to UCT data
services.
The CPS landline will operate during power outages: 021 650 2222/3. The few remaining old-style
Telkom landlines will operate. Other UCT IP landlines will not operate; so we advise you to keep
personal cellphones charged and within reach.
Plan ahead to use load shedding sessions for tasks and errands that do not require electricity.
Carry a small torch with you at all times in case you are in a stairwell or other dark area when the
lights go out.
Solar-powered mason jar nightlights can provide enough light for students to study. You can
purchase these locally or follow the instructions here to make your own.
Guidelines regarding electronic equipment
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Switch off your computer a few minutes before load shedding is scheduled to occur. Switch it
back on only after the power is restored.
Switch off all computers and other electrical equipment (printers, scanners, etc) at the wall plug
overnight and on weekends.
Keep your laptop, phone and mobile devices charged and close by so that you can use them
during load shedding.
Most student computing labs will not function during load shedding. Only some computers in the
Obz Square lab have back-up power (but these will not connect to the UCT network during load
shedding).
Physical access into and out of labs may also be affected, depending on the door configurations.
Central Nashua and iPrint services will remain active, so printing jobs can be sent to a printer, but
they will only be released once the power is restored. Printing devices will be off during load
shedding.
Should your IT equipment not switch on after a power outage, log a call with the ICTS Helpdesk
using one of the following methods:
o Phone (021) 650 4500. This line will operate during load shedding and consultants will
continue to take calls during business hours.
o Log a call online (www.icts.uct.ac.za | Helpdesk | Log a new call) or via ICTS_Feedback
Facebook and Twitter accounts.
o Send an email to ICTS.
The main UCT Switchboard will operate during load shedding.
Which ICT services will continue during load shedding?
Wi-Fi will not work during a power outage.
But if you have a functional device with access to the internet (working from on or off campus), you can
still access the following services. Mobile device users can also use their mobile data (provided by their
cellular network) to access these applications.
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The wireless network will remain accessible from anywhere on campus as well as via a network
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cable in buildings equipped with unlimited power supply or generators
Email and calendaring for staff and students
SAP (Finance and HR)
PeopleSoft Campus Solutions
HPC clusters and eResearch applications data (OpenClinina)
Residential Management Systems (RMS)
Business Objects reporting
Network drives
Student mobile
SharePoint
CRM
ImageNow
KIDZ
Vula and lecture recordings
Applications via Remote Desktop Support and CloudWare
Back-up power is available for some facilities
Only Jameson Hall, Geological Sciences, the Molecular and Cellular Biology Building and the data centres
have full coverage back-up power supply. Some UCT facilities have generators to provide back-up power
that is limited to research facilities, emergency lighting, some power points, access and fire detection
systems. Other UCT facilities have uninterruptable power supplies (UPS) which will provide emergency
lighting and some power points for a limited time – usually about two hours. Most back-up power would
need to be applied to “first-line functions” and this would have been installed before the installation of the
new standard electronic teaching podiums. So, for instance, electronic teaching aids will not be available
during load shedding.
Many venues rely on power not just for lighting but also for air conditioning and/or ventilation. So even if a
venue has daylight available through windows, each lecturer will need to determine which options are also
available for air circulation and whether it is safe to continue in a venue that is mechanically ventilated.
Please note that back-up generators may require as much as 60 seconds to power up. If a generator fails
to power up, please log a maintenance call on (021) 650 4321/2 or (021) 650 4500.
Back-up power generation capacity at UCT
Building, Location or
Venue
Arts 100
Arts A109, A16, A209 and
A8
P D Hahn LT 1 and LT 2
P D Hahn LT 3 and LT 4
Leslie Social Science LT
1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B,
2C and 2D
Menzies LT 9 and 10
Zoology LT1 and 2
Zoology LT3
Humanities LT 1, LT 2 and
LT 3
Maths 202, 304 and 320
NSLT
Centlivres CL2.11.5 and
CL5.03
Computer Science CS2A
and CS302
Geological Sciences
Coverage
Back-up Type
Seats
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
150 seats
91 seats
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
550 seats
223 seats
1142 seats
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
438 seats
491 seats
48 seats
422 seats
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
Lights and RED plug points
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
2 hr UPS
484 seats
458 seats
125 seats
Lights and RED plug points
2 hr UPS
314 seats
Full coverage excluding HVAC
Generator (100 kVA)
plus160 kVA UPS
Hoerikwaggo 3A, 3B, LT1
and LT2
Commerce Building LT,
Hiddingh Campus
Lights and RED plug points
Bridge
2 hr UPS
286 seats
Lights and RED plug points
2 hr UPS
125 seats
Jameson Hall
Full coverage
Generator
Leslie Social Science 3A
and 3B
Molecular Biology 1 and 2,
Seminar A and B, and all
internal spaces
Kramer
Emergency lights and plugs
Generator (50 kVA)
400 to 1000
seats
287 seats
Full coverage excluding lifts and
HVAC
Generator (760 kVA)
320 plus
seats
Stairwell Lighting, Lecture
Rooms and Level 2 Flat Floor
Classrooms
Lecture Venues, Seminar
Rooms and Electron Microscope
Unit
Chemistry, Chibale Laboratories
and Naidoo ICTS Cluster
Emergency lighting, laboratories
and plugs
Emergency lighting, plugs and
lifts
Emergency lighting, plugs and
lift
Generator (100 kVA)
690 seats
(LT 1,2 and
3)
598 seats
Full coverage including climate
control
All emergency, freezers and
animal areas but excluding LC
HVAC
All emergency, freezers and cold
rooms
Entire complex and Bio Safety
Containment
Ventilated animal cages and bio
safety
Full coverage
Generator
(125 kVA)
Generator
(100 kVA)
R W James
PD Hahn
New Chemical
Engineering
New Engineering Building
and New SNAPE
Masingene (Student
Administration Building)
and School of Economics,
Middle Campus
UCT Archives, Mowbray
Anatomy Building including
Learning Centre, Medical
Campus
Chris Barnard, Medical
Campus
Chris Barnard Animal
Facility, Medical Campus
Corner Site Animal Facility,
Medical Campus
Geological Sciences
Werner Beit South,
Medical Campus
Werner Beit North, Medical
Campus
Werner Beit Cryogenetics,
Medical Campus
Bremner Data Centre
Computer Data Centre
Animal Facility HVAC and bio
safety
All emergency, freezers and cold
rooms
All emergency and cryogenetic
facility
HVAC, UPS, Core Switches and
Servers
HVAC, UPS, Core Switches and
Servers
ICTS on Main, Mowbray
Emergency lights and plugs
Zoology
All emergency circuits, aquaria
and cold rooms
Generator (88 kVA)
Generator
(200 kVA)
Generator
Generator
Generator
(300 kVA)
342 seats
Generator
(3 x 40 kVA)
Generator
(135 kVA)
Generator
(100 kVA)
Generator
(100 kVA)
Generator
(325 kVA)
Generator
(200 kVA)
Generator (88 kVA)
Generator (150kVA)
plus UPS Bridge
Generator
(200 kVA) plus UPS
Bridge
Generator
(200 kVA)
Generator
(50 kVA)
Library services will be limited
Please see the following information on which services will be available during load shedding. Access to
study spaces will depend largely on the availability of natural light.
Library
Chancellor
Oppenheimer
Library
(Central
Library)
Health
Sciences
Library
Law Library
Hiddingh
Hall Library
Music
Library
ICH Library
Built
Environment
Library
Jewish
Studies
Library
Bolus
Herbarium
Library
Library
Learning
Lounge
(Snape
Building)
24/7
Space
No
Summer (daylight until 19h00):
Printing,
RefeStudy CompuPhotocorence
space
ters
pying,
Service
Scanning
Yes,
limited
to
areas
No
No
Limited
with
natural
light
Loans
Desk
Short
Loans
Interlibrary
Loans
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes,
until
18h00
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes,
until
17h30
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
Yes,
until
17h00
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
No
No
N/A
Loans
Desk
Short
Loans
Interlibrary
Loans
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
Yes,
until
15h00
Yes,
until
16h00
Yes,
until
17h00
Winter (daylight until 17h00):
Printing,
RefeCompuPhotorence
ters
copying,
Service
Scanning
24/7
Space
Study
space
Chancellor
Oppenheimer
Library
(Central
Library)
No
Yes,
limited
to
areas
with
natural
light
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
Yes
Health
Sciences
Library
No
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
Library
Law Library
Hiddingh
Hall Library
Music
Library
ICH Library
Built
Environment
Library
Jewish
Studies
Library
Bolus
Herbarium
Library
Library
Learning
Lounge
(Snape
Building)
N/A
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
Yes
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
Yes
Yes
N/A
No
No
Limited
No
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Yes,
until
15h00
Yes,
until
16h00
Yes,
until
17h00
Suggestions for academic staff: what to do if the power fails during your lecture
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The objective is to continue teaching where possible.
Anticipate load shedding: there are many ways to do this. Have a laptop with your slides, so that
you can teach to them even if you cannot project them (or have a hard copy); record your lecture
in advance (the Centre for Higher Education Development will help if you need to know how to do
this) or after the event and make it available on VULA; put your slides on VULA.
Make any decision to end a lecture early because of load shedding in consultation with the
students.
Consider alternative venues such as sitting outdoors or in a quad, lounge or other area with
natural lighting. Try to find ways for lectures to continue despite load shedding. If you do decide to
vacate a lecture venue for any reason, please ensure it is done in a calm manner.
If you are in a venue with a generator, wait for up to 60 seconds for the generator to start and the
power to resume. If the generator fails to power up, please log a maintenance call on (021) 650
4321/2 or (021) 650 4500. Remember however that the generator will not power up air
conditioning and/or ventilation.
If your venue has a UPS with established coverage to some lighting and some power points, load
shedding might reduce some lighting and some power.
If your venue does not have UPS or a back-up generator, or the generator fails to start, you will
need to determine whether there is enough natural light and ventilation available to allow the
lecture to continue.
NB: Ventilation options will need to be considered in every venue, depending on how densely the
venue is populated and if there is alternative ventilation available, for instance by opening the
doors and windows. A working generator will provide power for lights and some plug points but not
for air conditioning or ventilation. If the lecture venue does not have windows that can be opened,
you may need to wrap up your lecture and vacate the venue calmly.
Information for students: what to do if the power fails in residences
Every Residence Management Team has a plan in place to help prepare for power outages. Specific
individuals in each residence have assigned responsibilities in this event. Make sure that you inform
yourself of your residence’s plans. Please follow their instructions for your residence. In general, students
in residences need to know the following:
Communication and access in residences
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UCT internal telephones may not work during a power outage. The older model phones do
function without running electricity, however the newer IP phones do not.
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Residents with mobility disabilities, protected tenants and guests in guest flats may need
assistance to enter or leave a residence during load shedding. We advise residents with mobility
needs to discuss their needs with residence management ahead of any scheduled load shedding.
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Residence access control gates and doors are fitted with UPS, which means they will continue to
operate for about two hours during a power outage, depending on usage. If the UPS runs out,
residence staff will be responsible for unlocking the access control gates.
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Fire doors also have a battery back-up and will continue to function during a power outage. Where
they do not, log a call to maintenance.
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Batteries and battery chargers are fitted to all fire alarms and PA systems so that they are fully
functional when the power is down. These batteries can be expected to last from one to eight
hours, depending on usage.
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Loud hailers are available as a back-up system for each residence’s emergency supplies, such as
first aid kits, bolt cutters, torches, emergency keys, etc.
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Each residence must have emergency keys for all access gates, all fire doors and any other area
of the residence required during an emergency. All Wardens, Assistant Wardens, Subwardens
and Student Housing staff must know the location of the emergency keys.
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Residences are instructed to lock down lifts ahead of scheduled load shedding stages. If students
happen to be trapped in a lift that shuts down unexpectedly, this should be reported immediately
to CPS on 021 650 2222/3. CPS will contact the lift company to open the doors. (Attempting to
force open the doors damages the lift mechanisms and incurs substantial repair costs.)
Lighting and water usage in residences
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All students in residences are provided with a portable emergency light as part of the registration
process. It is each student’s responsibility to keep their respective lights charged; they will be
checked during fire drills. Personal torches would also be an advantage.
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All residence front desks have been provided with a torch and a spare set of batteries as part of
their emergency stock.
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Candles pose a serious safety risk and students and staff should please do not use them but
rather use battery- or solar-powered lights during load shedding.
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Please limit use of hot water during load shedding, to allow the cylinders to retain as much heat as
possible. During surges in electrical current, circuit breakers can be damaged as a result of power
being reactivated to hot water cylinders that have cooled down.
Catering in residences
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Meals will still be provided during a power outage, although the menu may need to be altered to
accommodate the circumstances.
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Should dishwashers be inoperable, disposable crockery and cutlery may be used instead.