Separation of emegency and non-emergency circuits

[gibson]

700.9(B) is pretty clear about not being able to mix emergency wiring with non-emergency wiring in the same raceway.

But I have a different twist on the issue.

We have systems furniture - Steelcase- where you can bring multiple circuits to a "whip" and then route them through the furniture raceway to different recepetacles.

We are re-wiring our call center and want to bring in normal ciruicts as well as circuits fed from a UPS which is in-turn fed by the emergency generator.
The emergency generator is used for our egress lighting (legally required standby system).

Each cubicle would get a normal receptacle and a UPS fed receptacle.
So the question is:
Can we mix the UPS and normal circuiting in the steel case raceway or is the UPS still considered an emergency circuit.

If we can not mix the two then we have to mount some other form of raceway - wiremold, conduit, etc and run the UPS circuit through that.

Has anyone had to deal with this situation?

 

[iwire]

You can't feed optional receptacles from the emergency system at all.

To be supplied from the emergency system at all the receptacles would have to be 'legally required'

To supply optional receptacles you need a complete optional standby distribution system.

 

[peter d]

To be supplied from the emergency system at all the receptacles would have to be 'legally required'

Like a deli scale or meat slicer, for instance?

 

[iwire]

Like a deli scale or meat slicer, for instance?

Yes, or a bread slicer or Lobster tank...

But hey things have changed they are now being done correctly.

 

[W6SJK]

First, your lighting is a legally required EMERGENCY system. And yes, you can mix the wiring to the receptacles, per NEC 702.9. The UPS is NOT an emergency system and the wiring to the receptacles is not emergency wiring as far as the NEC is concerned. They are parts of a Optional Standby System governed by NEC Article 702. BUT you can't feed the UPS from the same transfer switch as the emerg ltg because you can't mix the optional standby system (UPS) feeder with legally required emergency system wiring as you said. See 700.6 (D). You need a separate transfer switch for that UPS. Or put in battery powered emergency lighting and classify the generator as a STANDBY generator, assuming that there are no other emerg loads in question.

 

[RB1]

You identified the egress illumination as a legally required standby load. Is that the interpretation of your local building department? If so, what emergency loads, if any, are supplied by the transfer switch? Wiring for legally required standby loads are permitted in the same raceway or enclosure with other general wiring (701.10).