Fire Protection of emergency feeders

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Kelly Wofford

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Dallas, Texas, USA
We are starting to wire a newHospital where the 2017 NFPA 70 & 2015 NFPA 99 (Health Care Facilities Code). are in effect.
In the 2017NEC 700.10(D) it specifically states that in Healthcare Facilities wherepersons are not capable of self-preservation,
the Life Safety (517.26) feeders are to have the required fire Protection listed in 700.10(D) 1 through 3 . Which is in directconflict
with 2015 NFPA 99 6.5.2.2.1.5(B) Which states that 700.10(D) 1 through 3 shall not apply. Which code prevails? I thought the NFPA
had correlating committees to try and keep these direct conflicts from occurring in the various code books. I've been told it up to
the AHJ, but I think NFPA needs to address this important issue.

Thanks,

Kelly Wofford

 
6.5 only applies to type 2 systems. Doesn't a hospital have Category 1 spaces with a type 1 EES?
 
Fire Protection of Emergency feeders.

Fire Protection of Emergency feeders.

You are correct I did Quote from 6.5 (Type 2 Facilities) I should have quoted NFPA 99 6.4.2.2.1.6(B) for Type 1 Facilities which is the type we are building.
 
I just ran across a Tentative Interim Amendment # 1293 to NFPA 70 Below: But am not sure if it has been accepted yet by NFPA 70 CMP-13 so I'm still not sure which code to go by.


NFPA 70® -2017 Edition
National Electrical Code®
TIA Log No.: 1293
Reference: 700.10(D)
Comment Closing Date: September 14, 2017
Submitter: James Degnan, Stantec

1. Revise 700.10(D) to read as follows:

700.10 Wiring, Emergency System.
(D) Fire Protection. Emergency systems shall meet the additional requirements in (D)(1)
through (D)(3) in the following occupancies:
(1) Assembly occupancies for not less than 1000 persons
(2) Buildings above 23 m (75 ft) in height
(3) Health care occupancies where persons are not capable of self preservation
(4)(3) Educational occupancies with more than 300 occupants

Substantiation: Article 700.10 (D) (3) “Health care occupancies where persons are not capable
of self preservation” conflicts with the current (2015) version of NFPA 99:
“ 6.5.2.2.1.4 For the purposes of this code Article 700 shall only be applied to the life safety
branch.
6.5.2.2.1.5 The following portions of Article 700 of NFPA 70 shall be amended as follows:

(B) 700.10(D) (1) through (3) shall not apply.”

Summary: The 2015 version of NFPA 99 states that the requirements of NFPA 70 (D) (1)
through (3) do not apply to the life safety branch of healthcare facility electrical systems.
Accordingly, the 2017 version of NFPA 70 should not have specifically added list item (3) to
700.10(D) because NFPA 99 has purview over the performance requirements of healthcare
facilities. Note that the subject NFPA 99 text is retained for the proposed 2018 version, but with
revised paragraph numbers.

Emergency Nature: The standard contains a conflict within the NFPA Standard or within
another NFPA Standard.

The conflict between NFPA documents 70, 700.10 (D) (3), and 99, 6.5.2.2.1.5, may result in
AHJs being unable to determine which of the code statements takes precedence. State health
departments typically adopt NFPA 99 and will claim the cited NEC paragraph does not apply,
local electrical inspectors will claim that the NEC takes precedence.
 
Yes, I missed it the first time looking in 6.4. Its right at the top in 6.5, but almost at the bottom on 6.4.

Hopefully NFPA will resolve the conflict sometime in the near future. Until then, I guess it is up to the AHJ to decide.
 
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