NFPA 101 7.8.1.2.2 in a Hospital

[Shujinko]

I have a hospital application where we are providing lighting occupancy sensors in the egress corridors. The normal light fixtures are controlled by these occupancy sensors, the emergency fixtures (on life safety branch circuits) are on all the time and not controlled by the occupancy sensors. The AHJ has cited that we must comply with NFPA 101 7.8.1.2.2 and that if occupancy sensors are installed in the corridors...upon initiation of the fire alarm system the lights must turn on in the corridor (if they are off).

I am used to using the Wattstopper ELCU-100 or ELCU-200 which turns normal and emergency lighting (controlled by the occ sensor) on at the same time in the event of a fire alarm. But this case is different because only the normal lights are controlled by the occupancy sensor not the emergency light (life safety branch). How would I interface only the normal lighting with the fire alarm system?

What product could be used? How would it be wired?

 

[RAKocher]

Couldn't you connect the same normal lighting circuit to both the emergency and normal inputs on the ELCU, connect the normal lighting to 'Line Out' as if it was emergency lighting and connect the 'Remotes In/Out to a common closed (opens on alarm) dry fire alarm contactor? There may be a couple of ways to use the occupancy sensor.

 

[ron]

I think there is a misinterpretation of NFPA 101 7.8.1.2.2 going on.

You said that the Emergency fixtures are not connected to the occ sensors. Section 7.8 only refers to the emergency fixtures that are needed to get the required egress lighting levels dictated in the egress path (1 ft-candle on the floor ........). You should not have to mess with the occupancy sensors, and even if you decided to do it, 7.8.1.2.2 just says the switch controllers are equipped for fail-safe operation, not tied into the fire alarm system. If the switch controller is not fail-safe, just replace the switch controller.

 

[Shujinko]

I think there is a misinterpretation of NFPA 101 7.8.1.2.2 going on.

You said that the Emergency fixtures are not connected to the occ sensors. Section 7.8 only refers to the emergency fixtures that are needed to get the required egress lighting levels dictated in the egress path (1 ft-candle on the floor ........). You should not have to mess with the occupancy sensors, and even if you decided to do it, 7.8.1.2.2 just says the switch controllers are equipped for fail-safe operation, not tied into the fire alarm system. If the switch controller is not fail-safe, just replace the switch controller.

My jurisdiction is under NFPA 101 2015. NFPA Section 7.8 refers to egress lighting during normal operation. Section 7.9 refers to egress lighting in emergency operation. And the NFPA 101 2015 7.8.1.2.2(5) does say that the lights need to turn on upon initiation of the fire alarm system.

 

[steve66]

I think I agree with Ron, although the code isn't as clear as I expected it to be, and even the handbook doesn't help much.

I think you would be correct if the emergency lighting was unit equipment or something that is normally off and only activates when there is a power failure.

However, since your "ermergency" fixtures are always on, and they are supplied both by normal and generator power, those fixtures alone cover both 7.8 and 7.9. Therefore, any other fixtures or motion sensors don't need to comply with 7.8.