Generator stand by and emergency power

[Pete Staj]

Good Afternoon,
I have a question about generator power.
We have a restaurant/clubhouse that wants to stay open when on generator power.
Is it necessary to have a back up to the generator for egress lighting/life safety?
Thanks

 

[gadfly56]

Good Afternoon,
I have a question about generator power.
We have a restaurant/clubhouse that wants to stay open when on generator power.
Is it necessary to have a back up to the generator for egress lighting/life safety?
Thanks

If the current emergency egress lighting uses the typical wall-mount units with battery packs, or the architectural drop ceiling units with battery backup, then no.

 

[ron]

You need to check your adopted building code.

Some say that when you install a Article 702 generator, that you must also pickup other loads that may have been handled in the past in another way.

For example, NYC says:
2702.4 Required loads for optional standby power systems.
In addition to any other loads, optional standby power systems shall be capable of providing power to the following systems upon failure of the normal power supply
or the emergency or standby power system:
1.Emergency lighting;
2.Fire alarm systems; and
3.Elevators as follows:
3.1 For Group R-2 occupancies in buildings greater than 125 feet (38 100 mm) in height, at least one elevator serving all floors, or one elevator per bank where different banks serve different portions of the building; or
3.2 For all other buildings having occupied floors located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, at least one elevator that serves all floors

 

[gadfly56]

You need to check your adopted building code.

Some say that when you install a Article 702 generator, that you must also pickup other loads that may have been handled in the past in another way.

For example, NYC says:
2702.4 Required loads for optional standby power systems.
In addition to any other loads, optional standby power systems shall be capable of providing power to the following systems upon failure of the normal power supply
or the emergency or standby power system:
1.Emergency lighting;
2.Fire alarm systems; and
3.Elevators as follows:
3.1 For Group R-2 occupancies in buildings greater than 125 feet (38 100 mm) in height, at least one elevator serving all floors, or one elevator per bank where different banks serve different portions of the building; or
3.2 For all other buildings having occupied floors located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, at least one elevator that serves all floors

That right there is interesting, because normally you'd see that as an article 700 load, yes?

 

[ron]

That right there is interesting, because normally you'd see that as an article 700 load, yes?

Yes, but in this case the unit equipment that takes care of the 700 source gets fed from a 702 transfer switch, so it is double fed "700".

Either that or you put in a 700 ATS and a 702 ATS and have the hassles of a 700 generator.

I had a small 702 load in a large building and by the time I was forced to pick up EM lighting, the generator was enormous.

 

[steve66]

To me, it makes sense to require backing up the unit lighting if the building is going to stay occupied.

Otherwise, after 2 hours people will still be in the building, but the emergency lights will be dead, and the normal lights still won't be on. Egress could be very tough.

Combine that with the thought that some people might be using candles or kerosene heaters.