Emergency Egress Lighting

[plechtenberg]

I am currently in a debate about the proper way to feed fluorescent troffers with integral battery backup utilized for emergency egress lighting and exit signs in a typical office space.
NEC 700.12(E) states, ?The branch circuit feeding the unit equipment shall be the same branch circuit as that serving the normal lighting in the area and connected ahead of any local switches.? This indicates that, excluding the exception to this paragraph for three or more lighting circuits in a uninterrupted area, it would be against code to employ a single circuit (with padlock provisions) utilized as a night-light circuit to power the emergency light fixtures. It has been argued that you are required to feed the emergency lighting fixtures separately from the normal lighting circuits in this manner by NEC 700.9(B) which states that ?Wiring from an emergency source or emergency source distribution overcurrent protection to emergency loads shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment?.
Any code references that clear this up would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[roger]

Re: Emergency Egress Lighting

Plechtenberg,

it would be against code to employ a single circuit (with padlock provisions) utilized as a night-light circuit to power the emergency light fixtures.

Since this night-light circuit is supplying normal lighting in the given area, you would be in compliance with 700.12(E) even without the lockout. It doesn't say you can't utilize a circuit that is being used for general lighting in an area regardless of the number of circuits. The night-light circuit would be the logical choice since it would be illuminated continuously.

?Wiring from an emergency source or emergency source distribution overcurrent protection to emergency loads shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment?.

This would be true if you were feeding these fixtures with an emergency source. But it seems as though you are talking about normal sources

Roger

[ June 02, 2003, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: roger ]