UPS Installation - EPO needed?

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tkman

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Hey guys. We're doing a new UPS installation in NYC.

From Article 645 EPO required if all are met...

1. The room is separated from other occupancies by fire-resistant rated walls, floors and ceilings with
protected openings.
2. A means is provided to disconnect power to all electronic equipment in the room (EPO). There
shall also be a means to disconnect the power to all dedicated heating / ventilating / air-conditioning
(HVAC) systems serving the room and cause all fire smoke dampers to close. The control for
these disconnecting means shall be grouped and identified and shall be readily available at
principal exit doors.
3. A separate HVAC system is dedicated to the room. Any HVAC system that serves other
occupancies shall be permitted to also serve the information technology room if fire / smoke
dampers are provided at the point of penetration of the room boundary. Such dampers shall
operate on activation of smoke detectors and also by operation of the disconnecting means (EPO)
for HVAC systems.
4. Properly listed information technology equipment is installed in the room.
5. Only those personnel needed for the maintenance and functional operation of the installed
equipment occupy the room.

The place has no EPO currently. The room (20'x40' server room) is running off a single 100A panel and is not fire rated. We're putting a UPS with remote batteries in an adjacent closet to feed the 100A panel mebntioned. So my understanding is I don't need it. But, I dont want to get the job all wrapped up and find out later on from an inspector that he wants it. Any thoughts?
 
Article 645 doesn't require an EPO if all the conditions you listed are met.

Article 645 allows some wiring methods that normally wouldn't be allowed, IF you meet all the requirements you listed, other requirements listed in 645, AND if you install an EPO.

The wiring methods that wouldn't normally be allowed include 645.5(B)(1) (15' power cords under the raised floor), and 645.5(C) and (D).

If you don't need to take advantage of any of the special wiring methods allowed by 645, you don't need the EPO.

Personally, I can't understand how the designers or electricians ever know what the IT people have ran, or will run, under the raised floor.

Steve
 
tkman said:
Hey guys. We're doing a new UPS installation in NYC.

From Article 645 EPO required if all are met...

1. The room is separated from other occupancies by fire-resistant rated walls, floors and ceilings with
protected openings.
2. A means is provided to disconnect power to all electronic equipment in the room (EPO). There
shall also be a means to disconnect the power to all dedicated heating / ventilating / air-conditioning
(HVAC) systems serving the room and cause all fire smoke dampers to close. The control for
these disconnecting means shall be grouped and identified and shall be readily available at
principal exit doors.
3. A separate HVAC system is dedicated to the room. Any HVAC system that serves other
occupancies shall be permitted to also serve the information technology room if fire / smoke
dampers are provided at the point of penetration of the room boundary. Such dampers shall
operate on activation of smoke detectors and also by operation of the disconnecting means (EPO)
for HVAC systems.
4. Properly listed information technology equipment is installed in the room.
5. Only those personnel needed for the maintenance and functional operation of the installed
equipment occupy the room.

The place has no EPO currently. The room (20'x40' server room) is running off a single 100A panel and is not fire rated. We're putting a UPS with remote batteries in an adjacent closet to feed the 100A panel mebntioned. So my understanding is I don't need it. But, I dont want to get the job all wrapped up and find out later on from an inspector that he wants it. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Look at the function of the EPO. Since it is a device to remove the potential energy source to a fire supplied by an equipment (UPS) that supposed to feed power until its dying end, it seems reasonable to have a quick way to stop the supply without going through a complex, multi-step shutdown procedure what usually requires a trained serviceman to perform. Simple so even a caveman - or fireman :) - can do it.

Makes sense to me.
 
Just adding my standard advice - for a computer room EPO, dont use the fail-safe series contactor arrangement, but a shunt trip breaker.

Power failure to computers caused by faulty EPO is a far more common occurance than a fire in the computer room.
 
645.4 says that you can only use 645 if you comply with 645.4 and the pre-requisites.
So don't do the pre-requisites, and be sure to design the space like any other commercial space. Don't use the leniencies in 645 because then you need to do the pre-requisites like EPO.
 
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