517.31 Emergency System
Those functions of patient care depending on lighting or appliances that are connected to the emergency system shall be divided into two mandatory branches: the life safety branch and the critical branch, described in 517.32 and 517.33.
The branches of the emergency system shall be installed and connected to the alternate power source so that all functions specified herein for the emergency system shall be automatically restored to operation within 10 seconds after interruption of the normal source. [NFPA 99:4.4.2.2.2.1, 4.4.3.1]