Grounded
A surge protector will not work unless it is plugged into a circuit that is grounded, i.e., the electrical outlet into which it is plugged must be grounded.
A UPS must draw power from a grounded circuit. Especially in older buildings, I have found many outlets that have been "upgraded" to accept three-prong plugs, but either there is no ground wire present, or armored cable is corroded or not properly installed. I have found such outlet plug installations in both commercial and residential units, regardless of whether installing them without a ground violates codes, and I've run ground wires for many circuits that did not have any.
Most UPS units which I've seen in the past few years have test circuitry to determine whether there is a path to ground in the circuit from which they draw power, and they will refuse to operate unless the circuit is grounded.
Installing ground wires can become an expensive "retrofit" and the landlord typically doesn't care. So before you rent or lease, insist that your agreement with the landlord makes them responsibile for the proper wiring and grounding of all electrical circuits. Quite often, landlords are NOT liable (or exempted by law from liability) when wiring in their property is old and dangerous, and/or it is not grounded, but a written addition to the rental agreement or lease will be upheld by the court as a matter of public policy.
