Unraveling the Chaos: What We Learned from a Data Center Electrical Disturbance

By Conduit

In the complex world of electrical systems, even the smallest error can trigger a cascade of major disruptions. This was the case at a data center, where an unexpected electrical disturbance caused a series of failures, causing chaos throughout the system. The incident not only tested the resilience of the facility’s infrastructure but also highlighted the importance of following detailed procedures when operating complex electrical systems. The Incident It all started when facilities personnel inadvertently…

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February 13, 2026
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Hood Patterson & Dewar Named 2025 Commissioning Giant

By Conduit

Hood Patterson & Dewar is pleased to be in the top tier of the 25 firms recognized on the Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s  2025 Commissioning Giants list. HP&D reported a commissioning revenue of $52.6 million. The magazine’s report is based on the annual commissioning revenue of firms, including new or existing buildings, recommissioning, monitoring-based, fire protection systems, building enclosure (envelope), emergency power systems, retro-commissioning, equipment replacement and life-cycling, and communications systems. Established in 1982, HP&D is a…

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November 25, 2025
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Fall of Potential Testing Gone Wrong

By Conduit

As testers, where should we start? The standards! For grounding testing, the industry reference is IEEE Standard 81, Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and Earth Surface Potentials of a Grounding System. As with most standards, familiarity and interpretation are key. It can be a challenge to understand the intent, methods, and implementation of the prescribed testing. Fall of Potential (FOP) testing is a commonly specified test method to (attempt to) measure the impedance to…

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November 19, 2025
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Lessons Learned over 44 Years at P&D

By Conduit

I began my career at Patterson & Dewar in 1976, following my graduation from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Electrical Engineering. I retired from the company at the end of 2020. Initially, I assisted with work plans and system studies. At that time, personal computers did not exist, and handheld calculators were starting to replace slide rules and trigonometric tables for calculations. During my sophomore year at Georgia Tech, I reluctantly…

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October 22, 2025
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The Cost of Delayed Action: A Cautionary Tale of Electrical Failures

By Conduit

In the world of facility management, timely action and effective communication are crucial. This cautionary tale highlights the consequences of delayed assessments, grounding issues, and interdepartmental conflicts that led to costly outages and operational disruptions. For over a year, this client’s building manager struggled to obtain approval for a facility assessment to confirm equipment operation and verify system redundancy. Management’s delay in uncovering system weaknesses was augmented by a costly failure of a utility substation…

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August 19, 2025
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Patterson & Dewar Engineers, Inc. Earns 2025 Top Workplaces USA Honor

By Conduit

Patterson & Dewar Engineers, Inc. is proud to announce that it has been recognized as one of USA Today’s Top Workplaces for 2025, marking the sixth consecutive year of receiving this honor. This award celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have established outstanding, people-first cultures. Winners are acknowledged for their dedication to creating a workplace environment that prioritizes employee feedback and engagement. The winners are determined based on genuine employee feedback gathered through…

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August 11, 2025
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Soil Resistivity Testing Gone Wrong

By Conduit

Soil – most think “hey, it’s just dirt”, but when it comes to electricity, soil becomes more complex. Electrical resistivity (resistance to current flow) is one characteristic of soil that requires specific knowledge regarding testing and application in grounding system design. Soil is made up of combinations of clay, sand, loam, and various types of rocks. These components have differing amounts of electrical resistivity, and the soil composition varies significantly throughout the United States. Soil…

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June 20, 2025
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Never Trust, Always Verify

By Conduit

Forrester Research first introduced the concept of “Zero Trust” in 2010. This concept emphasizes the need for a security framework that does not automatically trust any user or device inside or outside the network. This approach prioritizes continuous verification and stringent access controls to safeguard sensitive information. In April 2021, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for information (RFI) regarding the continued security of critical infrastructure. The goal of the RFI was to…

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April 30, 2025
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Nurturing a Caring Culture: The Key to Organizational Success!

By Conduit

A 2019 EY Belong Barometer study found that over 40% of U.S. respondents reported feeling physically and emotionally isolated in the workplace. This feeling crossed generational, gender, and ethnic lines. Creating a caring workplace is essential for establishing an environment where employees feel valued and supported. But how can this be achieved? It requires intentional effort; such an environment doesn’t just develop on its own. In 1982, Patterson & Dewar Engineers (P&D) had two young…

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February 24, 2025
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Holistic Cybersecurity Framework: The Key to Comprehensive Protection

By Conduit

Cyberattacks on the electrical sector are becoming part of everyday life. The tools the attackers use are increasingly becoming more sophisticated. Industrial systems are now as much affected by cyber threats as traditional IT enterprise systems. The attackers often aim to disrupt operations by stealing intellectual property and blocking access to data for ransom. Many of the devices used today were designed in an era where the idea of an attacker persistently trying to penetrate…

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September 18, 2024
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