Emergency egress lighting - Generator vs unit eq.

[scott thompson]

Hello all!!!

Hope I have posted this question in the correct forum area, as it is more geared towards Building Codes - but does fall in the NEC as much.

Question is in regards to Emergency Egress Lighting (Fluorescent fixtures, not Exits):

I am involved in the Design and Engineering of a very large, new Industrial project (+375,000 sq,ft. , then 230,000 sq. ft. in future).

The customer will have a Generator, which will be used for powering loads designated as "Emergency Loads" (critical loads).

We (the Electrical Design Team) wish to drive the Emergency Egress area lighting from the Generator, as opposed to having the typical Unit Equipment installed for the "Emergency Lights".
(FYI: "Unit Equipment" = Fixtures with Battery Back-up Ballasts included within the fixture assembly).

The problem with using Unit Equipment is there will be close to 100 Emergency fixtures installed in Freezer / Cooler areas, having normal ambient temperatures of -20? C on average.

In these situations, the Battery Back-up Ballast is normally mounted remote from the fixture (outside the Freezer "Box"), and an Insulated Panel Penetration is required at each fixture's location.

BTW:, the Exit signs will be Unit types, and will be on the General Lighting circuitry.

Conclusion:

Will it be compliant to not have Battery Back-up Ballasts on the Emergency Lighting Fixtures, and have them driven from the Generator "Emergency Power" Panelboards?

In County of Los Angeles, we had to use Unit Equipment + connected to the Emergency Panels - but this was for a high rise Commercial Building.

Any responses are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Scott

 

[George Stolz]

Long time no see, Scott.

What building code are you under? It sounds compliant by the IBC and the NEC. I'd only mention 700.15 when selecting the loads - I've seen the coffeepot in the EMT's breakroom supplied by a critical panel, which seemed like a code violation in my book.

Ultimately, it's the AHJ's call, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of consensus on these things nationwide, from what I've seen.

 

[scott thompson]

Hey there George!
Thanks for the reply.

I am not sure what Building Code is being used out here as Model Code, possibly 2004 UBC (is there a 2004 version?).

The CBC (California Building Code) is 2007 - and County of Los Angeles has their own local stuff, which uses IBC for Model.

The local AHJ for this project has not returned my calls, and I am getting behind on Design big time.

Thanks for the NEC reference. I may query another Building Department to see what I can get, and I will include what's referenced in Article 700.

Thanks once again!

Scott