Exit Lights

[Grouch1980]

According to section 700.12(F)(2)(3) of the 2017 NEC:

"The branch circuit feeding the unit equipment shall be the same branch circuit as that serving the normal lighting in the area and connected ahead of any local switches."

Any emergency lights, such as the wall mounted battery packs with the 2 bulbs, have to be connected to the normal lighting circuit in the area.

My question is, this does not include exit lights, correct? Can the exit lights be on their own circuit?

 

[Buck Parrish]

My understanding is that exit lights would be included with the emergency lights. If the lights go out it would be prudent to know where the door (exit) is.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Check this out

Part IV. Emergency System Circuits for Lighting and Power
700.15 Loads on Emergency Branch Circuits. No appliances
and no lamps, other than those specified as required for emergency
use, shall be supplied by emergency lighting circuits.
700.16 Emergency Illumination. Emergency illumination
shall include means of egress lighting, illuminated exit signs,
and all other luminaires specified as necessary to provide
required illumination.

 

[david luchini]

I don't think and exit sign would meet the definition of "unit equipment" unless, of course, it was a combination exit sign/emergency light.

If it's an emergency type exit sign (with battery) then I don't see that it would make any difference what circuit it is connected to.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I agree with David, if it is just a battery powered exit light, it can be on any circuit and is not required to be on the lighting circuit for that area.

If you are on the 2020 code, even unit equipment emergency lights are no longer required to be on the circuit that serves the general lighting in area.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Check this out

For an exit light with battery back up, the section you cited would only apply to the conductors that directly supply the illumination and not to the power circuit that supplies the normal power to the exit light.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

For an exit light with battery back up, the section you cited would only apply to the conductors that directly supply the illumination and not to the power circuit that supplies the normal power to the exit light.

How would you do that if the exit light has battery backup. It is low voltage so....

 

[d0nut]

If you are on the 2020 code, even unit equipment emergency lights are no longer required to be on the circuit that serves the general lighting in area.

I think this was an oversight by the code making panel that will probably be revised in a forthcoming NEC. NFPA 101 requires the emergency egress lighting to come on when the normal lighting in that space loses power. If you connect your unit equipment to a different circuit than the normal lighting, it would make meeting this requirement more difficult.

From the 2012 version of NFPA 101:
7.9.2.3 The emergency lighting system shall be arranged to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting due to any of the following:
(1) Failure of a public utility or other outside electrical power supply
(2) Opening of a circuit breaker or fuse
(3) Manual act(s), including accidental opening of a switch controlling normal lighting facilities

Admittedly, I have never had a good understanding of what exactly is required by item (3).

 

[hbiss]

Used to be that exit lights (before battery back up) had to be on a circuit supplied from before the service main breaker. The first time I saw that I wondered why there was a separate 20A breaker in an enclosure all by itself tapped off the mains with #12s.

-Hal

 

[david luchini]

How would you do that if the exit light has battery backup. It is low voltage so....

I think it would be more accurate to say that the section you listed doesn't apply to the battery backup exit sign at all.

There is no "emergency branch circuit " connected to it, only a normal power branch circuit.

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

Every old school I remolded had a fuse disconnect ahead of the main feeding exits. All were line voltage with out battery's. They were also in separate raceway from other systems with red covers. Good old days

 

[roger]

Food for thought, most of the battery type exit lights (actually all that I remember) I have installed had a clear panel on the bottom for illuminating the egress path through the exit door so IMO they meet the definition of emergency lighting.

Roger

 

[Dennis Alwon]

In an emergency I would certainly want the exit sign lit otherwise why bother with a lighted exit light.

 

[david luchini]

In an emergency I would certainly want the exit sign lit otherwise why bother with a lighted exit light.

Isn't that the point of the battery?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Isn't that the point of the battery?

Emergency lights have batteries also. At least the ones I have installed had batteries.

 

[david luchini]

Emergency lights have batteries also. At least the ones I have installed had batteries.

Those wouldn't get connected to an emergency branch circuit either.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Those wouldn't get connected to an emergency branch circuit either.

That's true they only come on when the power goes off

 

[Grouch1980]

Hmmm. Trying to figure out the general consensus... dedicated circuit for exit lights or connect to the lighting circuit in the area? In NYC I've seen circuits on panels labeled as exit lights only... as I've come to learn though, it doesn't necessarily mean its correct.

 

[david luchini]

Hmmm. Trying to figure out the general consensus... dedicated circuit for exit lights or connect to the lighting circuit in the area? In NYC I've seen circuits on panels labeled as exit lights only... as I've come to learn though, it doesn't necessarily mean its correct.

It could be either. Whatever works best for your layout.

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

As far as general consensus goes, even if there a dedicated circuit. I would still use a battery back up. I like the idea of a second source for emergency situations. Just like running EM raceways etc. Run them away (different direction) from the normal source. Plus batteries today are a lot better than the old lead acid of years past. I find more issues with the boards now than the battery's.
Now with the use of an EM panel boards and two sources (utility and generator) feeding panel boards there is a third layer of protection.
When it comes to public safety, why not.