Legally Required Standby per NEC 701

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chocony

Member
Location
Atlanta
Occupation
Electrical Designer
Hi All,

I have a multi-house project that client wants to add a generator for booster pumps in a separate shed. These pumps will supply water to higher elevation houses. If this is just to pump water to the house in higher elevations. I think this optional stand-by power, correct? or does this needs to be determined by AHJ?

For residential projects, i thought it's always optional standby. What makes that it's not optional standby power and required legally standby system?

Thanks in advance!
 
roger said:
Read 701.2 and 702.2 and their IN's
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I don't really think that clears it up, especially for a layman to determine whether they are legally required. My feeling is, if the municipality requires the system to be on backup power, then it is legally required. Some items are clearly designated in the code, like a smoke evac system, but what about a refrigeration system that prevents a biological agent from multiplying and spreading? If it isn't specifically addressed in the code, I still assume the AHJ has authority to dictate it must be on backup power, thereby making it legally required. In the case of the OP, he says the "Client wants", that would immediately remove it from legally required, IMO.
 
Strathead said:
My feeling is, if the municipality requires the system to be on backup power, then it is legally required.
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Which is what the definition of 701 says.
Legally Required Standby Systems. Those systems required
and so classed as legally required standby by municipal, state,
federal, or other codes or by any governmental agency having
jurisdiction. These systems are intended to automatically supply
power to selected loads (other than those classed as emergency
systems) in the event of failure of the normal source.
Informational Note: Legally required standby systems are
typically installed to serve loads, such as heating and refrigeration
systems, communications systems, ventilation
and smoke removal systems, sewage disposal, lighting systems,
and industrial processes, that, when stopped during
any interruption of the normal electrical supply, could create
hazards or hamper rescue or fire-fighting operations.
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Thank you, Roger and Strathead! Does that mean i need to ask my client to ask the city to confirm this is not legally required?
 
chocony said:
Thank you, Roger and Strathead! Does that mean i need to ask my client to ask the city to confirm this is not legally required?
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Is there an Architect involved? If so it should be included in the design.
 
Yes, there is an architect involved. Does architectural drawings show to indicate anything?

I also confirmed with the client that the pumps are only feeding water to houses to create better flow to fill each house's water tank, so my thought is that I don't think this is legally required. Have you seen any Residential house projects with legally required system?
 
If your project is covered by the Residential code (IRC), then it will be Article 702.
If it is covered by the IBC, then check Chapter 27 of the adopted version and see if it requires Emergency (700) or Standby (701). If not, then it is optional standby (702)
 
ron said:
If your project is covered by the Residential code (IRC), then it will be Article 702.
If it is covered by the IBC, then check Chapter 27 of the adopted version and see if it requires Emergency (700) or Standby (701). If not, then it is optional standby (702)
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Thanks Ron. I didn't see anything related to booster pump in IBC 2018. So, I believe it's optional standby.
 
tom baker said:
You mention water tank, what type of tank is this?
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the client said, "It is to create better flow to fill each house's 1500 gallons of water holding tank. Each house will need their own smaller pump after their own tank.". FYI, the houses are on hills, and the pump station is located at the bottom of the houses.
 
I highly doubt the generator is legally required. That said, the only way to be sure is to track down who decided there should be a generator and ask them if it was their choice or the AHJ required them to install it.

What the pumps do is almost irrelevant. It's the generator that is the standby system.
 
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