NEC 410.73(E)(4) clearly states that ballasts in fluorescent luminaires that are used for egress lighting and normally OFF (energized only during an emergency) shall NOT have thermal protection. Granted, in many cases such emergency lights powered from a generator are normally ON and energized (like a night light circuit), so this code does not apply. However, we would like to leave some compact fluorescent downlights nomally OFF (this is an application where the room is used for presentations and often requires overhead lights OFF or dimmed) and we would provide an interface that turns them ON when power is lost and a generator takes over. However, the NEC seems to be in conflict with UL and its requirement to have thermal protection on these type fixtures. I am checking with various lighting manufacturers for CFL downlights without thermal protection, but so far, no answers yet. Is the NEC requiring something that is in conflict with UL here. Is the code requiring something that is not readily available on the market?
Emergency fluorescents w/o thermal protection
- Thread starter dwayne7
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