chuckarthur
Member
Does anyone know if there is a Code or Standard in California that requires emergency lighting in electrical rooms of commercial/industrial buildings?
Emergency Lighting - Electrical Rooms
- Thread starter chuckarthur
- Start date
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sandsnow
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern California
Re: Emergency Lighting - Electrical Rooms
In general it is not required. The building code specifies when and where lighting is requied to be on emergency power. The NEC specifies minimum requirements to install such systems.
Many engineers will put emergeny luminaires in the electrical room as a good design practice.
Please post as much as you know about the occupancy such as Group B or R3. Or what is the building used for.
In general it is not required. The building code specifies when and where lighting is requied to be on emergency power. The NEC specifies minimum requirements to install such systems.
Many engineers will put emergeny luminaires in the electrical room as a good design practice.
Please post as much as you know about the occupancy such as Group B or R3. Or what is the building used for.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Emergency Lighting - Electrical Rooms
Are you using the phrase ?emergency lighting? in the same context as the NEC? Are you speaking about ?egress lighting?? If the intent is to make sure occupants of a building will have enough light to safely walk out of a building that has lost power, then the issue is hallway lights, not room lights. The NEC presumes you can find the door to the room in which you are standing. But a path from that door to the outside world must be illuminated.
On the other hand, if you are talking about having lights available in the room, to permit the operator to throw switches or take other actions that will restore power, then the term ?emergency? does not apply. Nor would the NEC cover this application.
Are you using the phrase ?emergency lighting? in the same context as the NEC? Are you speaking about ?egress lighting?? If the intent is to make sure occupants of a building will have enough light to safely walk out of a building that has lost power, then the issue is hallway lights, not room lights. The NEC presumes you can find the door to the room in which you are standing. But a path from that door to the outside world must be illuminated.
On the other hand, if you are talking about having lights available in the room, to permit the operator to throw switches or take other actions that will restore power, then the term ?emergency? does not apply. Nor would the NEC cover this application.
chuckarthur
Member
Re: Emergency Lighting - Electrical Rooms
I'm not sure about the UBC occupancy designation, but the building is a shell tilt-up building for commercial/light industrial tenants in northern California. The electrical room doors (one at either end) open to the outdoors. I was thinking that if the lighting circuit for the electrical room trips while a worker is working on the panels, we want him to get safely away from energized surfaces and find his way out. I believe for example that NFPA 20 requires an emergency light in a NFPA 20 Fire Pump Room for a similar reason. I have also seen the requirement in Building Codes in other states and cities and as a standard for some universities in CA. I can't seem to find it in the California building codes. The builder wants to save money and delete it from our design.
I'm not sure about the UBC occupancy designation, but the building is a shell tilt-up building for commercial/light industrial tenants in northern California. The electrical room doors (one at either end) open to the outdoors. I was thinking that if the lighting circuit for the electrical room trips while a worker is working on the panels, we want him to get safely away from energized surfaces and find his way out. I believe for example that NFPA 20 requires an emergency light in a NFPA 20 Fire Pump Room for a similar reason. I have also seen the requirement in Building Codes in other states and cities and as a standard for some universities in CA. I can't seem to find it in the California building codes. The builder wants to save money and delete it from our design.
sandsnow
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern California
Re: Emergency Lighting - Electrical Rooms
E lites not req in this occupancy. I asked for the use of the bldg to be able to double check in the bldg code
E lites not req in this occupancy. I asked for the use of the bldg to be able to double check in the bldg code
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Emergency Lighting - Electrical Rooms
It's a good idea, but the NEC doesn't care about good ideas.
You won't find an NEC rule that helps you. I don't know about building codes. You?ll just have to appeal to the owner?s sense of responsibility to the health and safety of the persons occupying, and working in, the building.
Just out of curiosity, do all electricians keep a flashlight in their toolkit?
It's a good idea, but the NEC doesn't care about good ideas.
You won't find an NEC rule that helps you. I don't know about building codes. You?ll just have to appeal to the owner?s sense of responsibility to the health and safety of the persons occupying, and working in, the building.Just out of curiosity, do all electricians keep a flashlight in their toolkit?
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