Is an emergency light required in conference room?
- Thread starter mike9999
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dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Yep.. in compliance with "The Fair Housing Act"
The only "location" requirement for horns or strobes I see in the ADA is for sleeping rooms. We have some pretty boring meetings in our conference room, but I still wouldn't consider it a sleeping room:grin:
It might be in the IBC, but I am skeptical. We have designed some conference rooms where 4 people would be a crowd, and I'm not yet convinced these need a strobe.
I've never even seen the "Fair Housing Act" and don't know what it is, but what would it have to do with a conference room?? If it has anything to do with a conference room, they should give it a more descriptive title.
It might be in the IBC, but I am skeptical. We have designed some conference rooms where 4 people would be a crowd, and I'm not yet convinced these need a strobe.
I've never even seen the "Fair Housing Act" and don't know what it is, but what would it have to do with a conference room?? If it has anything to do with a conference room, they should give it a more descriptive title.
The term used in the ADA text is meeting rooms. See 4.28.1 at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adastd94.pdf
Ragin Cajun
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate S.C.
ADA. Hummm.
So if we call the room a "conference" room it's not a "meeting" room?
Some of these "requirements" are getting (are) just plain nuts.
So if we call the room a "conference" room it's not a "meeting" room?
Some of these "requirements" are getting (are) just plain nuts.
Ragin Cajun said:
Actually the ADA basically says all public spaces like restrooms, meeting rooms, ect.
So calling it a conference room doesn't get you out of it. Now if you called it an "office", you might have an out.
As far as some requirements getting "nuts", I won't argue with that. The number of codes one has to meet is also getting nuts.
Here is the scoop on the alarms
Here is the scoop on the alarms
Basically all common areas will require the strobe.
4.28 Alarms.
4.28.1 General. Alarm systems required to be accessible by 4.1 shall comply with 4.28. At a minimum, visual signal appliances shall be provided in buildings and facilities in each of the following areas: restrooms and any other general usage areas (e.g., meeting rooms), hallways, lobbies, and any other area for common use.
4.28.2* Audible Alarms. If provided, audible emergency alarms shall produce a sound that exceeds the prevailing equivalent sound level in the room or space by at least 15 dbA or exceeds any maximum sound level with a duration of 60 seconds by 5 dbA, whichever is louder. Sound levels for alarm signals shall not exceed 120 dbA.
4.28.3* Visual Alarms. Visual alarm signal appliances shall be integrated into the building or facility alarm system. If single station audible alarms are provided then single station visual alarm signals shall be provided. Visual alarm signals shall have the following minimum photometric and location features:
(1) The lamp shall be a xenon strobe type or equivalent.
(2) The color shall be clear or nominal white (i.e., unfiltered or clear filtered white light).
(3) The maximum pulse duration shall be two-tenths of one second (0.2 sec) with a maximum duty cycle of 40 percent. The pulse duration is defined as the time interval between initial and final points of 10 percent of maximum signal.
(4) The intensity shall be a minimum of 75 candela.
(5) The flash rate shall be a minimum of 1 Hz and a maximum of 3 Hz.
(6) The appliance shall be placed 80 in (2030 mm) above the highest floor level within the space or 6 in (152 mm) below the ceiling, whichever is lower.
(7) In general, no place in any room or space required to have a visual signal appliance shall be more than 50 ft (15 m) from the signal (in the horizontal plane). In large rooms and spaces exceeding 100 ft (30 m) across, without obstructions 6 ft (2 m) above the finish floor, such as auditoriums, devices may be placed around the perimeter, spaced a maximum 100 ft (30 m) apart, in lieu of suspending appliances from the ceiling.
(8) No place in common corridors or hallways in which visual alarm signalling appliances are required shall be more than 50 ft (15 m) from the signal.
Here is the scoop on the alarms
Basically all common areas will require the strobe.
4.28 Alarms.
4.28.1 General. Alarm systems required to be accessible by 4.1 shall comply with 4.28. At a minimum, visual signal appliances shall be provided in buildings and facilities in each of the following areas: restrooms and any other general usage areas (e.g., meeting rooms), hallways, lobbies, and any other area for common use.
4.28.2* Audible Alarms. If provided, audible emergency alarms shall produce a sound that exceeds the prevailing equivalent sound level in the room or space by at least 15 dbA or exceeds any maximum sound level with a duration of 60 seconds by 5 dbA, whichever is louder. Sound levels for alarm signals shall not exceed 120 dbA.
4.28.3* Visual Alarms. Visual alarm signal appliances shall be integrated into the building or facility alarm system. If single station audible alarms are provided then single station visual alarm signals shall be provided. Visual alarm signals shall have the following minimum photometric and location features:
(1) The lamp shall be a xenon strobe type or equivalent.
(2) The color shall be clear or nominal white (i.e., unfiltered or clear filtered white light).
(3) The maximum pulse duration shall be two-tenths of one second (0.2 sec) with a maximum duty cycle of 40 percent. The pulse duration is defined as the time interval between initial and final points of 10 percent of maximum signal.
(4) The intensity shall be a minimum of 75 candela.
(5) The flash rate shall be a minimum of 1 Hz and a maximum of 3 Hz.
(6) The appliance shall be placed 80 in (2030 mm) above the highest floor level within the space or 6 in (152 mm) below the ceiling, whichever is lower.
(7) In general, no place in any room or space required to have a visual signal appliance shall be more than 50 ft (15 m) from the signal (in the horizontal plane). In large rooms and spaces exceeding 100 ft (30 m) across, without obstructions 6 ft (2 m) above the finish floor, such as auditoriums, devices may be placed around the perimeter, spaced a maximum 100 ft (30 m) apart, in lieu of suspending appliances from the ceiling.
(8) No place in common corridors or hallways in which visual alarm signalling appliances are required shall be more than 50 ft (15 m) from the signal.
Bob NH
Senior Member
- Location
- The "Live Free or Die" State
I think the premise that you must turn off the emergency light for a video presentation is incorrect. I have been in lots of assembly areas and conference rooms where dim lights remain on and there is no problem with the video presentations. In fact, it is very disconcerting if you are trying to make a presentation to a group using video or other graphics and the room is otherwise completely dark.mike9999 said:
Consider what they do in theaters, churches where they use a lot of video, and other places of assembly.
I think you are imagining a problem that doesn't exist.
Bodine Gdt20
Bodine Gdt20
You can use Bodine GDT20 device
Bodine's GTD Generator Transfer Device, GTD20? Switch Bypass Device and GTD20A? Emergency Lighting Relay Control Device eliminate night-lighting for emergency lighting purposes. Because these devices supply emergency lighting only when it?s needed, thousands of energy hours can be saved each year. In addition to eliminating night-lighting, the GTD, GTD20 and GTD20A make it possible to turn off lights for presentations and other activities without jeopardizing emergency lighting. The GTD20A is not limited to emergency lighting applications. The GTD, GTD20 and GTD20A work in conjunction with an auxiliary generator or central inverter system. They are not emergency ballasts.
Bodine Gdt20
You can use Bodine GDT20 device
Bodine's GTD Generator Transfer Device, GTD20? Switch Bypass Device and GTD20A? Emergency Lighting Relay Control Device eliminate night-lighting for emergency lighting purposes. Because these devices supply emergency lighting only when it?s needed, thousands of energy hours can be saved each year. In addition to eliminating night-lighting, the GTD, GTD20 and GTD20A make it possible to turn off lights for presentations and other activities without jeopardizing emergency lighting. The GTD20A is not limited to emergency lighting applications. The GTD, GTD20 and GTD20A work in conjunction with an auxiliary generator or central inverter system. They are not emergency ballasts.
mike9999 said:
You can use a Generator Transfer Device (GTD) manufactured by Bodine. The light can be controlled by a switch. In the event of a power failure the GTD in combination with the generator will override the switch and operate the light. I use them all the time.
Ragin Cajun
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate S.C.
Oh, good grief!!!
Emergency lights, strobes, in a two bit room used for several people to "meet."
I guess I'm in a foul mood this am.
I'm doing a commons building where the "gathering room" has two walls with two doors to the outside and one wall with one exit and the other wall goes to a hall through which there's another exit. So, how many exit signs do I use, huh? Where do we stop!!!
At the rate we're going, every room in every building will have strobes, horns, emergency lights, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, AND an exit to the outside where you have to have lights all the way to a public street where the city will also have to have emergency lights there as well. Grrrrrrrr.
Where does this @#$%^&* STOP!! There?s no such thing as zero risk!!! But the code people sure seem to think so!!
Hum, rant off.
Ah, I feel better - for now. . . Until I have to finish design on another project.
Ragin Cajun raging
Emergency lights, strobes, in a two bit room used for several people to "meet."
I guess I'm in a foul mood this am.
I'm doing a commons building where the "gathering room" has two walls with two doors to the outside and one wall with one exit and the other wall goes to a hall through which there's another exit. So, how many exit signs do I use, huh? Where do we stop!!!
At the rate we're going, every room in every building will have strobes, horns, emergency lights, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, AND an exit to the outside where you have to have lights all the way to a public street where the city will also have to have emergency lights there as well. Grrrrrrrr.
Where does this @#$%^&* STOP!! There?s no such thing as zero risk!!! But the code people sure seem to think so!!
Hum, rant off.
Ah, I feel better - for now. . . Until I have to finish design on another project.
Ragin Cajun raging
lurrabq
Member
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
Emerg. lighting in Conference Room
Emerg. lighting in Conference Room
Bodine makes a product called a GTD (Generator Transfer Device) that works well for the situation you describe. It will allow you to switch the emergency luminaire 'off', and will automatically transfer to the emergency source upon loss of normal power, bypassing the wall switch.
Hope this helps. I've been doing this for some time now, and it works well.
Lurrabq
Emerg. lighting in Conference Room
Bodine makes a product called a GTD (Generator Transfer Device) that works well for the situation you describe. It will allow you to switch the emergency luminaire 'off', and will automatically transfer to the emergency source upon loss of normal power, bypassing the wall switch.
Hope this helps. I've been doing this for some time now, and it works well.
Lurrabq
jjs
Member
- Location
- Puryear, TN, USA
Is there a section of the code that allows you to turn off EM lighting in other than theaters and similar?
If an EM ltg is truly required, you have to find a section that says you can actually turn it off. Typically all EM lighting (other than battery or in theater type occupancy) are required to be lit at all times.
We have gotten told we need the lights in conf rms with two exits before. Now we always put them in. Not worth fighting over. You may save the client a few bucks up front and you may be able to convince the AHJ it is not required, but if the owner can't get occupancy when they want, that costs them a whole lot more than an extra em ltg does. I try to keep the EM ltg as far from the projection screen as possible. The new projectors are good enough you can have the lights on all the way and the image is still visible.
Bathrooms, no matter how small get em ltg, too many FD's ask for it even if it is not written in any code. Not worth fighting over. It gets especially silly when you have a one light toilet and a generator for em ltg and you are suppose to be saving energy because you are using the energy code. Those ltgs run continously, no energy savings there.
Just because somebody makes a product that will work, does not mean it will meet code.
I don't see conf rms mentioned.
If an EM ltg is truly required, you have to find a section that says you can actually turn it off. Typically all EM lighting (other than battery or in theater type occupancy) are required to be lit at all times.
We have gotten told we need the lights in conf rms with two exits before. Now we always put them in. Not worth fighting over. You may save the client a few bucks up front and you may be able to convince the AHJ it is not required, but if the owner can't get occupancy when they want, that costs them a whole lot more than an extra em ltg does. I try to keep the EM ltg as far from the projection screen as possible. The new projectors are good enough you can have the lights on all the way and the image is still visible.
Bathrooms, no matter how small get em ltg, too many FD's ask for it even if it is not written in any code. Not worth fighting over. It gets especially silly when you have a one light toilet and a generator for em ltg and you are suppose to be saving energy because you are using the energy code. Those ltgs run continously, no energy savings there.
Just because somebody makes a product that will work, does not mean it will meet code.
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regulators who exceed their authority
regulators who exceed their authority
If you do not object to this practice, you are allowing it to continue and you a part of the problem! Although some of us regulators act as if we have God-like powers, we do NOT! We are required to enforce codes and see what was placed on the approved plans gets built. NOTHING MORE!
regulators who exceed their authority
iwire said:
If you do not object to this practice, you are allowing it to continue and you a part of the problem! Although some of us regulators act as if we have God-like powers, we do NOT! We are required to enforce codes and see what was placed on the approved plans gets built. NOTHING MORE!
Ragin Cajun
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate S.C.
Remember, emergency lights can be switched on and off. Many fluorescent ballasts are so made. You bring a hot leg to them so that they go "on" when the hot (sensing) leg is lost. Use them all the time.
Remember, typical two headed emergency lights are always off until the power goes off.
RC
Remember, typical two headed emergency lights are always off until the power goes off.
RC
dezwitinc
Senior Member
- Location
- Delray Beach, FL
Em Light
Em Light
If you really want or need that emergency light, Bodine makes what they call a generator ballast (GTD Series).
You can connect the light to your emergency circuit and a normal circuit.
It will automatically switch over if normal power is lost and you can switch the light during a presentation.
http://www.bodine.com/products/gtdfamily.html
This is a really nifty little device.
Em Light
If you really want or need that emergency light, Bodine makes what they call a generator ballast (GTD Series).
You can connect the light to your emergency circuit and a normal circuit.
It will automatically switch over if normal power is lost and you can switch the light during a presentation.
http://www.bodine.com/products/gtdfamily.html
This is a really nifty little device.
I just went thru this today, the stamped drawings showed em lights in several rooms that really didn't require them, but the offical from the fire marshall office said" if they are shown on the approved drawings they must function as em lights - some switching was envolved installed incorectly.
Another question came up- does a sw gear room with 1200 amp service 2 doors require em lighting??
Another question came up- does a sw gear room with 1200 amp service 2 doors require em lighting??
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