Article 708 - Existing Building

[Rock86]

If an existing build was not initially designed in accordance with 708, and now 30+ years later they discover they are a vital infrastructure facility required to have critical operations power, would everything need to be rewired or could a generator set be installed that meets the requirements of 708?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

What other code or regulation is requiring compliance with 708? That article, just like 700, only tells you how to wire it after some other regulation requires compliance.

 

[Rock86]

The current governing authority is claiming that it is a vital infrastructure, is that not authority enough? my understanding of 708 (and I am not experienced with or very confident with this section) is that if the governing authority determines that it requires COPS, then we design for COPS.

 

[ron]

Typically when the client realizes the cost associated with COPS compliance, they change their mind. You can surely add a 702 generator to improve power reliability, but COPS compliance would add all kinds of requirements not typically needed for an "important" building. Check out each section of 708, in which they generally have an increased requirement over the 1st 4 chapters of the NEC.

 

[Rock86]

Typically when the client realizes the cost associated with COPS compliance, they change their mind. You can surely add a 702 generator to improve power reliability, but COPS compliance would add all kinds of requirements not typically needed for an "important" building. Check out each section of 708, in which they generally have an increased requirement over the 1st 4 chapters of the NEC.

Agreed. I have ran into that in the past where clients have turned around discovered they werent important after all. Im worried if I need call for receptacles to have marked cover plates and be illuminated and the lot, when all I am designing for is a generator replacement.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The current governing authority is claiming that it is a vital infrastructure, is that not authority enough? my understanding of 708 (and I am not experienced with or very confident with this section) is that if the governing authority determines that it requires COPS, then we design for COPS.

Have they officially classified it as such? Do they have any idea what such a classification actually means? I expect that it would mean a lot more than just the power system. For example the NFPA standard for a 911 call center requires a lot of things that are much beyond the power.

 

[Rock86]

Have they officially classified it as such? Do they have any idea what such a classification actually means? I expect that it would mean a lot more than just the power system. For example the NFPA standard for a 911 call center requires a lot of things that are much beyond the power.

its a town hall with attached police station with holding cells.

 

[Rock86]

And I know no one here has authority to tell me it does or does not require COPS.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

its a town hall with attached police station with holding cells.

Have never seen COPS specified for a police station. Have seen it for a 911 dispatch center within a police station, but they never did it because of costs not only for Article 708, but for separate HVAC, separate bathrooms and separate break rooms so that the dispatch center is independent from the rest of the building.

The authority rests with the owner, if there is no specific building code that requires compliance with 708.

 

[Rock86]

Thanks!

Have never seen COPS specified for a police station. Have seen it for a 911 dispatch center within a police station, but they never did it because of costs not only for Article 708, but for separate HVAC, separate bathrooms and separate break rooms so that the dispatch center is independent from the rest of the building.

The authority rests with the owner, if there is no specific building code that requires compliance with 708.