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Commercial • Strata • Property owners

Backup power starts with a better site plan.

Explore Cat gas generators, understand what your property needs, and arrive at an installer conversation with the right questions.

Build your assessment checklist ↓

Canadian planning guide · British Columbia utility examples · Published October 7, 2026

Cat DG125 enclosed gas generator, front-left view
DG125 enclosure. Official Caterpillar imagery; configuration shown is illustrative. Independent equipment coverage; not a dealer offer.
The short answer: Choose a generator around the loads it must start and carry. Then confirm that the electrical system, gas supply and proposed location can support that exact configuration. A model number alone cannot answer those questions. Share your project requirements →
01 / Define the job

What needs to stay running?

Start with an outage plan. A property's full electrical service and its essential backup loads can be very different. Your electrician and equipment supplier should turn that plan into a documented load assessment.

Critical operationsList the equipment needed during an outage: selected lighting, communications, controls, refrigeration and pumps. Identify required operating hours.
Starting demandsMotors and compressors can demand more power when starting. Record equipment nameplates, starting methods and which loads may run together.
Building constraintsConfirm voltage, phase, transfer arrangement, expansion plans and the distinction between optional backup and regulated life-safety systems.

For a strata or multi-family building, separate common-property loads from individual suites. Elevators, fire protection and other critical systems need appropriate specialist design; do not assume an ordinary standby package satisfies every building requirement.

02 / See the equipment

15 models. Real product views.

Caterpillar's February 2023 announcement introduced a 20–200 kW family. This is an evergreen planning guide, not a new-product announcement. Browse the official galleries below, then confirm the current regional specification, fuel, phase and duty rating with the dealer.

Model names are not a guarantee of output in every configuration. Images can represent different enclosures or arrangements. Official product-page specifications and linked PDFs can differ by region.

Product images are referenced from Caterpillar’s official galleries and linked to their source. Confirm the exact arrangement and regional specifications with the supplier.

03 / Check the supply

Can your gas service support it?

A meter label is only part of the answer. The assessment must connect the generator's documented fuel demand and required inlet pressure to the utility service, regulator, meter and downstream piping—while accounting for other appliances.

Utility serviceAvailable supply and delivery pressure
Meter & regulatorCapacity and approved pressure arrangement
Building pipingMaterial, branches, lengths and loads
Generator inletRequired pressure at operating demand

What does “longest measured run” mean for your quote?

Bring a sketch of the actual piping route, including vertical sections and branches to other appliances. The straight-line distance across the yard is not the piping length. Your gas fitter determines the applicable sizing method, governing run, fitting allowances, pressure zones and load carried by each segment.

Do not choose a pipe diameter from distance alone. Pipe material, operating pressure, allowable pressure drop and connected demand all affect capacity. Generator electrical output in kW is also not the same as fuel input: use the manufacturer's consumption data for the selected fuel and operating condition.

Ask the contractor to document pressure under the relevant operating load, not just an idle reading. If additional supply is needed, coordinate the meter or service assessment before ordering equipment. FortisBC explains its gas-service upgrade process ↗

04 / Prepare for the visit

Your installer assessment checklist.

Check the items you can gather for a site visit. This checklist stays in your browser; nothing is submitted.

Photograph visible labels without removing covers or adjusting gas equipment. Measurements here support a professional assessment; they are not an installation design.

05 / Find the right team

Nearby is useful. Qualified for the job is essential.

Use your city or postal code to find a Cat dealer, then check the licensing and scope of the trades doing the installation. Ask who takes responsibility for the complete project.

Equipment partner

Confirm regional availability, the exact configuration, installation documents, commissioning, warranty and service coverage.

Find a Cat dealer ↗
Gas contractor

Check the licence, relevant scope and generator experience. Ask for a documented gas-load and piping assessment.

Check a BC contractor ↗
Electrical contractor

Coordinate load calculations, transfer equipment, grounding, permits and commissioning with the gas contractor and supplier.

Check permit responsibilities ↗

Ask for a quote that covers the whole installation.

Equipment and enclosure; pad and access; gas service changes; piping; electrical work and transfer equipment; approvals; startup and testing; scheduled maintenance; and responsibility for resolving any capacity shortfall. Confirm local siting, exhaust, noise and access requirements for the proposed location.

NaturalGasGenerators.ca is an independent information and project-inquiry resource. Contractor availability must be confirmed; these links do not represent a verified local roster. Outside BC, check the applicable provincial or territorial licensing authority.

Questions property owners ask.

Can I select a generator using building square footage?

Floor area alone does not identify the loads or starting demands. Build the selection around equipment, voltage, phase, outage priorities and operating conditions.

Will a larger gas meter solve a supply problem?

Not necessarily. The utility service, regulator and downstream piping must also support the required flow and pressure. Ask for the complete supply assessment.

Can one contractor handle everything?

A project coordinator may arrange the entire job, but verify who performs each regulated scope and who provides equipment commissioning and warranty support.

Does emergency standby mean I can run it continuously?

No. Confirm the manufacturer's rating, operating limits and applicable approval for the intended use. Emergency standby, demand response and prime operation are different applications.

Sources & related planning guides

Generator sizing · Automatic transfer switches · Installation planning · All guides

Request a project-planning conversation →

Include your city or postal code, property type, outage priorities and known service details. Contact: colin@gasfitter.ca.

Planning in the Lower Mainland?

Read the local generator guides and contact BeeWarm directly about your gas-supply assessment and project scope.

Find your city & BeeWarm contact