13-118 Log #3367 NEC-P13 Final Action: Accept
(700.19 (New) )
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Submitter: James T. Dollard, Jr., IBEW Local 98
Recommendation: Revise text to read as follows:
700.19 (New) Multi-wire Branch Circuits. The branch circuit serving
emergency lighting and power circuits shall not be part of a multi-wire branch
circuit.
Substantiation: This proposal is modeled after the requirements added to 517.18(A) and 517.19(A) in the 2011 NEC ® . The requirements were added to Article 517 to prevent the unnecessary opening of the other one or two poles of a multi-wire branch circuit because of an overload, ground fault, or short circuit on one pole of the multi-wire branch circuit. Emergency power and lighting circuits have the same need for continuity of service. For example,reliability is certainly decreased when a short in a 277 volt lighting ballast takes out the other two poles of a three pole circuit breaker, knocking out the
remaining 2/3 of the lighting. With this proposed requirement only the 1/3 of the lighting on the affected pole is out, leaving 2/3 of the lighting in operation. It should be noted that as per 240.15(B)(3), a multiwire branch circuit supplying 277-volt lighting requires a common trip circuit breaker which results in the loss of multiple lighting branch circuits when one circuit is subjected to an overcurrent.
Panel Meeting Action: Accept
Number Eligible to Vote: 18
Ballot Results: Affirmative: 18