Multiple standby system feeders to a building allowed?

[ekbrunn]

2005 NEC 225.30 states only one feeder is permitted to a building. When applying sub-section (A) Special Conditions - (1) fire pumps; (2) Emergency systems; (3) Legally required standby systems; (4) Optional standby systems; etc. Since the term used is optional standby systems (plural) does that mean I could have any number of optional standby systems installed or that only one of the various types available could be installed? My feeling is that it means I can only have one feeder from a single optional standby system, with ?six hand movements? for disconnecting means (225.33), not six different feeders from different generators, disconnects either all grouped together, or separated.
Does the code require that only one of each type of system can be installed, in this case optional standby?

 

[iwire]

In MA and RI where I commonly work the interpretation seems to be that you can have as many standby systems as you want.

It is very common for us to wire office buildings with a Article 700 emergency system and as tenants move in each may add a Article 702 standby generator for their own needs.

What I do see happening is that the AHJs are starting to require emergency power off buttons for each system at a central location at the buildings service main or in the fire command room if there is one.

Sometimes these buttons will include UPS systems as well. We did a Research Lab and the local AHJ required 2 buttons at just inside the front door one will kill normal power the other button will dump all the other sources including any hardwired UPS.

They are clearly marked and only protected by a plastic lift off cover. It's only a matter of time before a student has some fun.:grin:

 

[ekbrunn]

It is very common for us to wire office buildings with a Article 700 emergency system and as tenants move in each may add a Article 702 standby generator for their own needs.

What I do see happening is that the AHJs are starting to require emergency power off buttons for each system at a central location at the buildings service main or in the fire command room if there is one.

Sometimes these buttons will include UPS systems as well. We did a Research Lab and the local AHJ required 2 buttons at just inside the front door one will kill normal power the other button will dump all the other sources including any hardwired UPS.

They are clearly marked and only protected by a plastic lift off cover. It's only a matter of time before a student has some fun.:grin:

Bob,
I agree different types of standby systems can be installed. In my situation we have a building with a normel power feeder, an emergency generator, and an optional standby generator. This optional generator is for a cell provider. A second cell provider is asking for a generator and there are rumors that two more providers will be added to the building soon. I imagine they will want standby power also.
My confusion is trying to understand the logig of the NEC limiting the number of "main feeders" (similar to services), but allows any number of other feeders, i.e., optional standby??
I seem to remember an response to a post a while back where someone stated a building could conceivably have 36 disconnects (six at the main feeder/service and six each at the other five locations). There seemed to be a consensus agreeing with that statement. If any numer of optional standby generators are permitted to be installed, what would limit the number of possible disconnects??? It would not stop at 36.
Thanks for your input. Just trying to understand the logic.