Load Banks are devices designed to provide electrical loads for testing power sources such as generators and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS). Load banks are also used to reduce "wet stacking" problems in diesel engines of backup generating systems.
No, but CSA 282 requires building owners to test their generator systems monthly and full load test the generator set for two hours yearly; permanent load banks make this easier.
Yes, but in most cases the building load will not provide 100% of the generator load required. Load banks can be offered with load controls to add or remove load to supplement your building load to obtain 100 %.