Exit lighting

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Trouyano

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The AHJ asked the owners of a commercial strip store ( 5 stores) to add lighted exit signs...
The exit signs don't need emergency lights, only battery backed exits sign. My question is... Do the exits signs need to be installed on the light circuit?
Thank you
 
Emergency lights must turn on when the protected lighting circuit fails, whether the associated lights are manually turned on or off st the time. Sensing this condition requies a connection to the lighting circuit.
Exit signs, on the other hand, must be on regardless of the state of the lighting circuit and so do not depend on the status of the lighting circuits.
Whether that logical answer matches the code requirement or not is another question.
 
cowboyjwc said:
I believe that lit exit signs are only required when the occupant load is 50 or more.
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It's my experience that if it's a windowless area or an area occupied at night, then the exit signs must be lit internally or have an emergency light focused on them.

Retail is occupied at night.

The exit signs will be always on. It doesn't matter what circuit they are on. Upon power failure they will switch from line power to battery power.

A mistake some people make is that they put them on a switched lighting circuit and then they drain the batteries every night when the lights are off. This substantially shortens the effective run time of the batteries from too much cycling. They should be wired "always on".
 
cowboyjwc said:
I believe that lit exit signs are only required when the occupant load is 50 or more.
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2012 IBC section 1011 Exceptions: 1. Not required in rooms or areas that require only one exit or exit acess. 2. Main exterior doors or gates that are obviously and clearly identifiable as exits need not have exit signs where approved by the Building Official.
 
Trouyano said:
The AHJ asked the owners of a commercial strip store ( 5 stores) to add lighted exit signs...
The exit signs don't need emergency lights, only battery backed exits sign. My question is... Do the exits signs need to be installed on the light circuit?
Thank you
Click to expand...

I would think that you would be required to put in emergency egress lighting per NFPA Life Safety Code
 
cowboyjwc said:
I believe that lit exit signs are only required when the occupant load is 50 or more.
Click to expand...

construct said:
2012 IBC section 1011 Exceptions: 1. Not required in rooms or areas that require only one exit or exit acess. 2. Main exterior doors or gates that are obviously and clearly identifiable as exits need not have exit signs where approved by the Building Official.
Click to expand...

I think a long with the occupant load, 75 ft. travel distance comes into play in determining if two exits are required,.
And in addition to how the building codes address egress lighting NFPA 99 may require egress lighting regardless of occupant load or travel distance. In some types of business class (medical doctor offices)

517.25 Scope.The essential electrical system for these facilities shall comprise a system capable of supplying a limited amount of lighting and power service, which is considered essential for life safety and orderly cessation of procedures during the time normal electrical service is interrupted for any reason. This includes clinics, medical and dental offices, outpatient facilities, nursing homes, limited care facilities, hospitals, and other health care facilities serving patients.
FPN: For information on the need for an essential electrical system, see NFPA 99-2005, Standard for Health Care Facilities.
 
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