Emergency power

[eager2learn]

Are we as electricians allowed to at any time combine emergency power circuits with normal power circuits in the same raceway / j-box

 

[nakulak]

-under certain conditions yes 700.9
-normally no
-generally not a good practice unless it can't be avoided

can you be more specific ?

 

[charlie b]

Everytime I hear or read the word "emergency," an alarm goes off in my head. That word is very, very overused. It is used in situations to which it does not apply. It actually has very limited use within the NEC rules. Most homeowners who have a generator, and most businesses that have a backup system, will use the word "emergency" to describe the second source of power. Most of the time, it is the wrong word. A load is not an "emergency load" unless some governmental agency says it is.

So before we can give you a correct answer to your question, let me first ask what type of facility you are discussing, and why you are using the word "emergency."

 

[eager2learn]

well I have a normal 12o volt panel that we are using for recepts, etc. aswell as a u.p.s. system that is feeding downstairs at a commercial building. Instead of running two conduits i wanted to see if i could get away with just one

 

[charlie b]

I infer that this is not a proper use of the word, ?emergency.? I suspect that the rules for ?Optional Standby Systems? would apply. Those rules are far less restrictive than the rules for ?Emergency Systems.? The difference is that ?emergency? is related to the possibility that people might be injured, or worse, if there is no power to those particular systems. A commercial building is unlikely to have any such emergency systems, other than emergency egress lighting. You would have to tell us if the other circuits in the same conduit would be for emergency egress lighting.

I don?t have an NEC at home, but I think the rules for ?Optional Stancy? are in Article 702. Someone please correct me, if that is not the right article.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Charlie
If you have an internet connection, you have a code book at your fingertips.:wink:

 

[eager2learn]

there will be no egress lighting in the conduit - the circuits will be used for general purpose - so the u.p.s. ( uninterrupted power supply ) should be suitable for this application ? I'll check out the ref. chapter you suggested - thanks

 

[charlie b]

Charlie. If you have an internet connection, you have a code book at your fingertips.:wink:

I am well aware of that, being one of the first to post the link. :smile: But I also know how much work it is to get to the article you want, especially if you are not sure which article that is.

 

[iwire]

But I also know how much work it is to get to the article you want, especially if you are not sure which article that is.

I agree, that on line NEC is much more of a pain then it's worth.

 

[dlhoule]

I agree, that on line NEC is much more of a pain then it's worth.

Yeah, for an emergency back up system it sure is a pita.:grin: