I work in a Industrial Processing plant I have a Fire Alarm System, E light system and a Gas Sniffing system required by the state all on backup batterys. If I want to power the panel they are fed out of with a generator are they considered emergency loads or is this a optional standby system since they are already battery back up? The reason I ask is because this panel feeds other loads as well and if it is emergency im under the impression cannot mix the two loads without another trandferswitch. Let me know what you think!
Generator optional standby and emergency loads.
- Thread starter kjroller
- Start date
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
The state's requiring backup power does not make the equipment "emergency," as covered by (and defined in) NEC 700. For that is different than the state requiring the loads to be powered by an "emergency power source." Unless that is stated in whatever rule book you are reading, you're OK with treating this as optional standby.
That said, it is the building codes that require egress lighting to have an emergency power source, as do fire codes with fire alarm systems. That need not be a generator.
That said, it is the building codes that require egress lighting to have an emergency power source, as do fire codes with fire alarm systems. That need not be a generator.
So if it has a battery backup up I can treat it as optional standby? Is what im understanding
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Correct. If you have addressed the Article 700 power source already with batteries, then you don't also need an Article 700 generator. Your gen can be 702