FEMA 361 Guidelines, batteries and gen-sets

[jcbabb]

Recently, our state fire marshall has made it known that any educational project with similarities to a "safe" or "shelter" room will be forced to comply with FEMA 361 standards. One of the requirements is ventilation in the event of a power outage. Most of my projects are small (between 1 to 4 classrooms), and will typically have only 1 or 2 1200W maximum exhaust fans at 120V. This is of course in addition to the required 2 hrs of emergency lighting.

I wonder how other contractors or engineers have tackled this type of project where it is not always a no-brainer to add a gen-set. Have you installed a central inverter large enough to handle the lighting as well as the ventilation fan (along with its associated in-rush current)?

 

[texie]

Recently, our state fire marshall has made it known that any educational project with similarities to a "safe" or "shelter" room will be forced to comply with FEMA 361 standards. One of the requirements is ventilation in the event of a power outage. Most of my projects are small (between 1 to 4 classrooms), and will typically have only 1 or 2 1200W maximum exhaust fans at 120V. This is of course in addition to the required 2 hrs of emergency lighting.

I wonder how other contractors or engineers have tackled this type of project where it is not always a no-brainer to add a gen-set. Have you installed a central inverter large enough to handle the lighting as well as the ventilation fan (along with its associated in-rush current)?

While I am not familiar with FEMA 361 standards, it would seem to me that this power source would have to comply with NEC Art. 700 and by reference NFPA 110. At first glance this would seem an approved battery/inverter system might be something to consider for this application as opposed to a generator. An added benefit would be that the system could be in the protected space as opposed to a genset that would have to be outside and at risk in, say, a tornado.