Occupancy Sensors in Electrical Equipment Rooms

[GoldDigger]

I've had that tour, thanks. Let's just say I was particularly glad I have MiniMag on me at all times.

I prefer an Olight S1 Baton. Smaller and brighter.

[Saturn_Europa]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

"The illumination for indoor service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers must not be controlled only by automatic means [110.26(D)]."

Looks like I can still go ahead with the project if I install a manual "on" switch.

Does anyone know where I can find good reference material on automatic lighting?

[Fulthrotl]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

"The illumination for indoor service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers must not be controlled only by automatic means [110.26(D)]."

Looks like I can still go ahead with the project if I install a manual "on" switch.

Does anyone know where I can find good reference material on automatic lighting?

the word *only* is the thing here. you have to have local control.

suggestion only:

wattstopper dm-100 occ sensor. set it for two hour timeout.
it has an on/off override for local control.

[kwired]

Bathroom stalls pretty much guarantee that you will often be out of the active range of the sensor!
A single occupancy bathroom is a much easier problem.

I've had that tour, thanks. Let's just say I was particularly glad I have MiniMag on me at all times.

M118 trip flare doesn't need batteries

[SparkyHC]

As an EC and a PE, I would never allow occupancy sensors in an electrical room, especially when I'm working in it...
The NEC does not require it and neither do the energy codes. Strangely enough if the electrical room has windows, ASHRAE requires
that you install daylight responsive controls...

[tkb]

Automatic lighting control is prohibited per 110.26(D).

[augie47]

Automatic lighting control is prohibited per 110.26(D).

not exactly.. see post #12 the word "only" changes things..

[Fulthrotl]

As an EC and a PE, I would never allow occupancy sensors in an electrical room, especially when I'm working in it...
The NEC does not require it and neither do the energy codes. Strangely enough if the electrical room has windows, ASHRAE requires
that you install daylight responsive controls...

california's title 24:2016 i don't believe has an exception for electric rooms.
as for the daylight harvesting, the daylighting area has to have over 120
watts of downlighting in either the primary or the secondary daylighting
area to mandate harvesting on the left coast. i don't remember if ashrae
requires it no matter what the load is.

in my experience, if you put in an approved occupancy sensor in
the electric room, and set the timeout factor to two hours, you
aren't going to create a hazard. if using a dual technology occ
sensor (wattstopper dw-100 or equal) will detect your presence,
and if you aren't moving enough in two hours to trigger it and
reset the time, you are asleep, and the light should be turned off
to allow you to get your rest.

[don_resqcapt19]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

"The illumination for indoor service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers must not be controlled only by automatic means [110.26(D)]."

Looks like I can still go ahead with the project if I install a manual "on" switch.

Does anyone know where I can find good reference material on automatic lighting?

Why would you waste money on the sensors and a manual switch? If they are not shutting the manual switch off now, why would you expect them to shut off the switch that over rides the occupancy sensors?

[Saturn_Europa]

Why would you waste money on the sensors and a manual switch? If they are not shutting the manual switch off now, why would you expect them to shut off the switch that over rides the occupancy sensors?

Because my interpretation of the code is that there must be a "hold on" function of lightning in a room that houses Electrical equipment. We only have 8 operators , so getting everyone on board to leave the switch in "auto" shouldn't be to hard.

Turning off and on the lights = impossible

Leaving the switch alone = more likely

There's only one electrician, so in theory the only time the switch will be in "over ride" on is when I'm doing electrical work. Nobody else should have to touch it.

I'm going to try the occupancy sensors in one building to see how it goes for a couple of months before I roll it out plant wide. I'm calculating return on investment to be well under a year. Just emailed Legrand to get some install and diagram instructions. Looks fairly simple.

Just saw another technology that uses Cat-5 Ethernet cables and RJ-45 plugs in place of the low voltage wiring. That looks pretty slick!