Exit Light Help

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jxavier

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Hello everyone I could use some help with a few exit light questions. I am in new york and was wondering what the code is on exit lights not with remote heads just a regular exit light. Firstly do they have to be battery back up in a building without a generator? The building I am working in has a emergency light lighting panel where the exit lights are fed from and from there they go to a emergency light distribution panel and then to a disconnect which is fed from the line side of the service switch.I am just trying to upgrade the existing two lamp exit lights which weren't battery back up and our no longer working. The building has no generator but does have seperate battery packs with 2 heads on each 200 watt pack and remote heads in the stairwells fed from the battery packs. The battery packs are then fed from the local panels where the lighting is controlled for each floor.I have always thought that the exit lights if there is no generator in a building have to be battery back up to withstand at least 90 minutes if the utility company goes out. I read through article 700 and still cant find what i think is right, so I'm not sure if its in the NYC amendments or The Life Safety Code. Sorry for the long winded post and any help i can get is much appreciated everyone be safe and have a Happy Columbus Day.
 
It would be in the fire code or the life safety code. It may depend on the size of the building and the use.
 
Just a question If they were not battery back up what good would they be over the normal lighting circuit?
 
Seems the batteries just need replacing, I'm not negating your Local AHJ, Rules.
The existing install seems pretty modern to me, it's exactly what I have to install next week.

I think alot of 700 applys, But I think 700.12 hits it out of the park!
Like you did with your first post!

Welcome to the forum!!!
 
I know that NY uses a modified version of the IRC so I can assume that they do the same for the IBC which may apply in your case.

In case of a power outage, emergency lights must be supplied by "Emergency Power" that is capable of illuminating for a duration of not less than 90 minutes.

This power can be from:

.Storage batteries
.Unit equipment
.On site generator

However, realize that "Emergency Power" is power that comes on within 30 seconds Vs standby power which can come on within 10 minutes.

I hope this helps.
 
Thank you for all the help I have a better understanding of 700 now . So they way I'M understanding my situation is to replace the bad exit lights which were 2 7watt bi pin plug in bulbs with no battery back up with new NYC approved battery back up exit lights . Cadpoint thanks I forgot to mention that there are a few 12 volt 100 watt batteries in the seperate 2 head battery packs that also need replacing throught the building. This happens to be A NYC public school and I guess what bothers me or what confuses me is I guess when they had this upgrade done of new exit lights and seperate 2 head battery packs put in in the mid 90s you did not have to have battery back up exit signs yet. So even though the exit signs are fed ahead of the main they should still be battery back up because if utility goes down then you have nothing but the seperate 2 head battery packs that have to light your way.And I also see from your post ivsenroute that if the building would have had a generator and the exit light cut off panel would have been fed from the generator then I would not need to install battery back up exit signs. Does anyone out there know when or if it became a law to have exit lights battery back up if a building has no generator? Everyone thanks again the amount of knowledge here is amazing.
 
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