residential building emergency lighting

[NEC User]

In a New York City Residential Building with Tenant one on the Cellar and Basement Floor and Tenant 2 on Floors 2, 3, and 4. Is emergency lighting required? I was only going to but emergency lighting at the exit of the building and in a small common (shared by tenant 1 and tenant 2) stairwell. Should I provide emergency lighting for the stairs used only by Tenant 2?

 

[ceb58]

In a New York City Residential Building with Tenant one on the Cellar and Basement Floor and Tenant 2 on Floors 2, 3, and 4. Is emergency lighting required? I was only going to but emergency lighting at the exit of the building and in a small common (shared by tenant 1 and tenant 2) stairwell. Should I provide emergency lighting for the stairs used only by Tenant 2?

That's going to be a question for the local AHJ. The NEC doesn't cover that.

 

[cppoly]

Emergency lighting is required in all means of egress components such as corridors, common areas, stairways, exits, etc. in NYC.

 

[mgookin]

Emergency lighting is required in all means of egress components such as corridors, common areas, stairways, exits, etc. in NYC.

Even within a dwelling unit?
I've never done work in NYC so I don't know. But generally speaking within a dwelling unit is exempt from means of egress illumination; common areas require it.

 

[cppoly]

Inside a dwelling unit emergency lighting is not required. But common areas and means of egress outside of the dwelling unit but still within the building require emergency illumination to get out.

 

[GoldDigger]

So an interior staircase private to a single unit would not be covered, but one serving several units would, yes And a staircase from an open lobby entrance to the locked door of only one unit might or might not be considered common?

Tapatalk!

 

[mgookin]

... a staircase from an open lobby entrance to the locked door of only one unit might or might not be considered common?

That needs emergency lighting. It's outside of the dwelling unit and part of the means of egress.

 

[NEC User]

Thank you for your responses.

 

[ron]

Although I'm sure you checked the actual NYC Building Code, I'll post this for everyone else http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/s...nyc_b200v08_10_sec006.htm?bu=YC-P-2008-000006

I would guess you are an R-2 Occupancy

SECTION BC 1006 MEANS OF EGRESS ILLUMINATION

1006.1 Illumination required. Exits, exit discharges, and public corridors shall be illuminated at all times by either daylight or electric lighting fixtures. Exit access components shall be illuminated by either daylight or electric lighting fixtures at all times during occupancy that the space served by the exit access component is occupied.

Exceptions:

1. Occupancies in Group U.2. Aisle accessways in Group A.3. Dwelling units and sleeping units in Groups I-1, R-1, R-2 and R-3.4. Sleeping units of Group I occupancies.1006.2 Illumination level. The means of egress illumination level shall not be less than 2 foot candles (22 lux) at the floor level in exits, at exit discharges, and in public corridors, and shall not be less than 1 foot-candle (11 lux) at the floor level in exit access components other than public corridors 1 foot-candle (11 lux) at the walking surface level.

Exceptions:

1. For auditoriums, theaters, concert or opera halls and similar assembly occupancies, the illumination at the floor level is permitted to be reduced during performances to not less than 0.5 foot-candle (5.38 lux) for aisles and cross aisles, and 0.2 foot-candle (2.15 lux) for other portions of the space, provided that the required illumination is automatically restored upon activation of a premise's fire alarm system where such system is provided. Step lights shall be provided in accordance with Section 1024.11.4.2. Safe areas in assembly occupancies shall be illuminated in accordance with Section 1024.17.3.2.3. Open exterior spaces used to receive occupants as Class 1 or 2 exits in assembly occupancies shall be illuminated in accordance with Section 1024.17.4.4. In exits in buildings that contain photoluminescent exit path markings tested in laboratory conditions with 2 foot-candles (22 lux) of activating illumination, the illumination level shall not be less than 2 foot-candles (22 lux).1006.2.1 Sensors and controls. Automatic, occupant sensor or photosensor lighting controls shall be permitted within means of egress, provided that the illumination level is not reduced to a level below the minimum requirements of Section 1006.2, and the switch controllers are equipped for fail-safe operation ensuring that if the sensor or control fails, the lighting levels will be at the levels required by Section 1006.2.1006.3 Illumination emergency power. The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premise's electrical supply.

In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate the following areas:

1. Exit access corridors, passageways and aisles in rooms and spaces which require two or more means of egress.2. Exit access corridors, exit passageways and exit stairways located in buildings required to have two or more exits.3. Exterior egress components at other than the level of exit discharge until exit discharge is accomplished for buildings required to have two or more exits.4. Interior exit discharge elements, as permitted in Section 1023.1, in buildings required to have two or more exits.5. The portion of the exterior exit discharge immediately adjacent to exit discharge doorways in buildings required to have two or more exits.1006.3.1 Emergency power source. The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Section 2702.1006.3.2 Performance of system. Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is at least an average of 2 foot-candle (22 lux) and a minimum at any point of 0.2 foot-candle (2.15 lux) measured along the path of egress at floor level. Illumination levels shall be permitted to decline to 0.6 foot-candle (6.46 lux) average and a minimum at any point of 0.06 foot-candle (0.646 lux) at the end of the emergency lighting time duration. A maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded.