NEC and NFPA 110 ligting in Electrical Room

[brother]

A discussion came up again about emergency or battery lighting in Electrical Rooms. In this electrical room is a fire alarm panel that is not hook up to the generator emergency power because it was said that it had a battery backup unit in it so it was not required.

We were told that no emergency lighting/battery unit was required in the electrical room since most of everything was normal power there and there is no NEC 2008 requirement either even though it would be good practice to do so. I thought Article 700 or 110 would help in this area but the interpretation can go either way.

The issue of NFPA 110 (2005 edition) came into play. It was stated by one of our guys that since fire alarm was using it's battery unit as it's emergency power source instead of a separate branch circuit from the generator emergency panel then the battery light is required per 7.3.1.

He states that even though most of the time it has to do with generator rooms, it is not limited to them. Other types of power can be an emergency power source (ie batteries) so there for there has to be battery powered emergency lighting.

Is he right in that this is not limited to generator rooms? I would like to see common sense prevail and have the emergency lighting in the electrical room. I believe the generator system falls under the 'legally required' instead of optional standby.

 

[Gregg Harris]

A discussion came up again about emergency or battery lighting in Electrical Rooms. In this electrical room is a fire alarm panel that is not hook up to the generator emergency power because it was said that it had a battery backup unit in it so it was not required.

We were told that no emergency lighting/battery unit was required in the electrical room since most of everything was normal power there and there is no NEC 2008 requirement either even though it would be good practice to do so. I thought Article 700 or 110 would help in this area but the interpretation can go either way.

The issue of NFPA 110 (2005 edition) came into play. It was stated by one of our guys that since fire alarm was using it's battery unit as it's emergency power source instead of a separate branch circuit from the generator emergency panel then the battery light is required per 7.3.1.

He states that even though most of the time it has to do with generator rooms, it is not limited to them. Other types of power can be an emergency power source (ie batteries) so there for there has to be battery powered emergency lighting.

Is he right in that this is not limited to generator rooms? I would like to see common sense prevail and have the emergency lighting in the electrical room. I believe the generator system falls under the 'legally required' instead of optional standby.

7.3.1 is very specific to"the Emergency Power System"

Even though at this time there is no specific requirement for emergency lights required in electrical rooms, it is an excellent design requirement.

There are a few code articles that could be interpreted to require them.

There was proposals made for 2011 to require emergency lighting in electrical rooms that was rejected by CMP 1, stating that it should be a building code requirement "IBC"

 

[brother]

7.3.1 is very specific to"the Emergency Power System"

Even though at this time there is no specific requirement for emergency lights required in electrical rooms, it is an excellent design requirement.

There are a few code articles that could be interpreted to require them.

There was proposals made for 2011 to require emergency lighting in electrical rooms that was rejected by CMP 1, stating that it should be a building code requirement "IBC"

Im told the definition of Emergency Power Supply (EPS) is define as : The source of electric power of the required capacity and quality for an emergency power supply system.

I believe it is a stretch for him to make the claim because I believe NPFA 110 deals mostly with generators etc... but I can see how that definition could be applied to that battery source for the fire alarm system in a literal sense.

I was also told that a proposal was submitted to the IBC but was rejected.