lighting requirements for commercial garage

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elecmen

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NH
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Electrician
Residential man here. What is the code requirements for outside lighting and for the switching for it in a commercial garage? I looked in article 210 and only see for residential. Also is it required to have an ejector(sump) pump on its own circuit ? Thanks for any help.
 
You still need to light the exit discharge are of each man door.

Most lift pumps are going to draw at least 50% of the circuit's ampacity, so it's best (even typical) to dedicate a circuit to them.
 
Thanks Marc. How about the switching? Is it required or can I use photo eyes to control them? Also switching for the inside lights can it be in any location that the installer chooses? Thanks
 
Switching is strictly your choice. The NEC doesn't mandate it.

Standard switches, a timer and/or photocell, motion sensors, occupancy sensors. It's all what you want to design.
 
been awhile since I did one of these, but I seem to recall that the recepts in a commercial garage have to be gfci. yes or no?
 
Just an FYI... if this commercial garage has any outdoor receptacles that are accessible to the public, they need GFCI protection. Could be an empty receptacle, or could be something like a soda machine. There are probably areas inside the garage where it would be prudent to provide GFCI protection like near hand sinks (non bathroom sinks) and near parts washers and any wash bays that might exist or be planned.
 
mdshunk said:
Just an FYI... if this commercial garage has any outdoor receptacles that are accessible to the public, they need GFCI protection. Could be an empty receptacle, or could be something like a soda machine. There are probably areas inside the garage where it would be prudent to provide GFCI protection like near hand sinks (non bathroom sinks) and near parts washers and any wash bays that might exist or be planned.
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As well as any bathroom(s) that may be present.
 
480sparky said:
As well as any bathroom(s) that may be present.
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GFCI protecting a receptacle in a non-dwelling bathroom is not only prudent, that's required.

However (big however), contrary to popular belief, a receptacle is not required in a non-dwelling bathroom.
 
Maybe I should start another thread for this question, but it kinda follows along with where this one has gone. I too am mostly residential but am doing some remodel on the exterior of a grocery store. There was a non-GFCI outlet for a ice-machine which I changed out to a GFCI. IT is above 6 feet, but accesible without a ladder. I seem to think a GFCI is required, but I am worried about the GFCI tripping and all the ice melting. Does it need a GFCI or not?
 
I don't have my NFPA 70 nearby but I would think that it would need a GFCI to be compliant with the vending machine requirement driving my opinion.
 
That code section says outdoors, in public spaces. Doesn't really have dimensions. Functionally, the equpiment plugged into the receptacle is where the hazard will be most present, and that's certainly right there for the public to touch, feel, hug, kiss, whatever.

I wouldn't worry about ice melting. There's probably a nickel's worth of ice in that whole machine, and if it does trip they need to fix the ice machine. Having it empty of ice will make that easier for them. :grin:
 
mdshunk said:
Fine, if you don't like 422.51, try out 210.8(B)(4)
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I wasn't arguing the "outside" part. If it's outside, then of course 210.8(B)(4) applies. But 422.51 does not apply unless this ice machine requires "insertion of a coin, paper currency, token, card, key, or reciept of payment by other means." If it does, then I guess it's a vending machine after all, but I've never ever seen an ice machine with a coin slot.

Maybe I should invent that.

Patent office here I come! (that would be my second patent if someone hasn't beaten me to it yet!)
 
jerm said:
But 422.51 does not apply unless this ice machine requires "insertion of a coin, paper currency, token, card, key, or reciept of payment by other means." If it does, then I guess it's a vending machine after all, but I've never ever seen an ice machine with a coin slot
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We don't really have a definition of a vending machine.

I seem to remember a code change slide when this hit the books (Maybe IAEI, maybe Mike Holt) that showed an bagged ice machine as the example in the slide. "Vend" means dispense, and doesn't necessarily need a money acceptor.
 
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