Legally Required Standby Systems

In addition, both the legally required backup system and the optional backup system equipment must be adapted to the maximum fault current available at line terminals. The legal emergency power source may provide regulatory and optional emergency loads under any of the following conditions [701.6]: An emergency system is not necessarily designed to keep everything running continuously. An information note on the definition states that they are “typically installed in assembly sites where artificial lighting is necessary for safe exit and panic control in buildings exposed to large numbers of people, such as hotels, theaters, sports arenas, health facilities and similar facilities.” Statutory reserve systems are defined in NFPA 70, Section 701 as: systems that are classified as required by local, state, state, or other codes or by a competent government agency. These systems are intended for the automatic power supply of selected loads (which are not classified as backup systems) in the event of a failure of the primary power source. Legally required backup systems provide secondary power to assist in firefighting, rescue operations, health risk control and similar operations. In the event of a primary power failure, legally required backup power systems must be able to provide secondary power within 60 seconds, instead of the 10 seconds or less required for backup power systems. In the event of a disaster, not all systems require immediate backup power. While Section 700 requires critical emergency systems to provide power in 10 seconds or less in the event of a power outage, legal backup systems (LRSS) that power communication, lighting, ventilation, and smoke extraction systems must provide standby power in 60 seconds or less. LRSS-supported systems are not critical, but shutting them down could impede rescue operations or create hazards. The term “backup generator” is often misused to describe the generator used to provide backup power to a facility. Officially, according to NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC), there are four types of emergency or backup power systems: emergency systems, regulatory backup systems, optional backup systems, and critical operations power systems (COPS). Understanding the differences between these system classifications is important to determine which codes and standards apply and which design, installation, inspection, maintenance and testing requirements apply to the backup power system.

Sort. If you take a step back and look at what each type of backup system is trying to achieve, the requirements make sense. Section 700 applies to systems or equipment necessary to protect persons who are in an emergency and attempt to disembark, while section 701 applies to systems or equipment necessary to assist persons responding to an emergency. Section 700 lighting provides an exit route, but Section 701 lighting illuminates hydrants and switchgear areas. Section 702 systems don`t protect people – they protect against financial loss. The use of emergency power systems in aviation can take place either in the aircraft or on the ground. As mentioned earlier, a generator can provide emergency and other non-emergency loads. Section 700.10(B)(5) contains requirements in this order for maintaining the integrity of the emergency system, the statutory reserve system and the optional reserve system.

AC power can go down due to interrupted lines, substation disruptions, adverse weather conditions, planned power outages, or in extreme cases, a grid-wide outage. In modern buildings, most emergency power systems are based on generators. Typically, these generators run on diesel engines, although small vessels may use a gasoline generator. The type of system installed depends on the loads served, how quickly those loads need to be served, and the size of the plant. It is not uncommon for commercial and institutional buildings to have emergency charges, statutory reserve charges and optional emergency charges. If it is optional. An emergency power supply system is optional if it is not required by Art. 700 or art. 701. These systems protect public or private facilities or property whose safety of life does not depend on their performance.

These systems are not necessary for rescue operations. Section 708.2 defines critical operations power systems (COPS) as power systems for facilities or assets that require continuous operation for reasons of public safety, emergency management, national security or business continuity. A system is required by law if a competent government agency so indicates. The rules that dictate what types of emergency loads are required by law can be found in locally adopted building codes, such as the International Building Code or NFPA 101. Unlike emergency systems, legislative systems do not directly protect the lives of the general public. They prevent the stopping of certain loads whose loss would cause danger or hinder rescue operations. Hospital communication systems, for example, fall under Section 701 because evacuation orders announced through the public address system are part of a rescue operation. Section 701 regulates the installation, operation and maintenance of these systems.

[701.5(E)]. A load test is the only way to determine with certainty that a system is supporting the load. Therefore, the NEC requires that you have a way to test all legally required power systems under conditions of maximum expected load. The wiring of emergency systems must be separated from the wiring of the normal system. The purpose of separation is to eliminate the likelihood of simultaneous failure of the emergency situation and the normal system. The wiring of the emergency system must be identified as a component of the emergency situation to avoid mixing with the normal wiring of the system and accidental disconnection. Section 701.2 defines statutory reserve systems as systems that are determined to be required by local, state, federal or other laws or by a competent governmental authority. These systems are designed to automatically supply power to selected consumers (who are not classified as emergency systems) in the event of a failure of the normal source. Optional backup systems are defined in NFPA 70, Article 702 as follows: systems for the protection of public or private installations or property, when the safety of human life does not depend on the performance of the system. Optional backup power systems are designed to automatically or manually power selected loads with secondary power. Testing and maintenance. While there are compelling operational and economic reasons to perform testing and maintenance on optional systems, this is not an NEC requirement.

But for legislative schemes, it is [701.5]. A PPSC provides electricity to a critical infrastructure facility that must continue to operate during an incident or event. Typical incidents or events include severe weather events such as hurricanes. These systems are deemed necessary to provide vital infrastructure whose loss could affect national security, the economy, public health or security. Emergency systems and the SRSL work together to ensure the safety of building occupants in hazardous situations. They have similar code requirements, but they also have distinct differences. It is also important to note that while HSRL falls under emergency response systems, they are referred to as HSRA to distinguish sections 700 and 701 in this section. Locators, gliding and other instrument landing aids (e.g., microwave transmitters) are both high and mission-critical power consumers and cannot be reliably powered by battery power, even for short periods of time. Therefore, when absolute reliability is required (for example, when Class 3 operation is in effect at the airport), it is common practice to operate the system from an automatically switched diesel generator to the grid in the event of generator failure.

This avoids interrupting the transmission while bringing a generator to the operating speed. [701.5(D)]. The owner must keep test and maintenance records for each of the previous tests. Although the Code requires “written” documents, this can be interpreted as “recorded”. Thus, a database tool such as a CMMS or a test management program usually meets this requirement. If the JHA wants documents that are literally written, you may need to submit printed reports. The NEC does not specify the required retention period for records, but if you use a database method, the ability to store those records indefinitely is not an issue. Emergency and regulatory power supply is the source of electrical power with the capacity to transport connected consumers. The power system is defined as a backup power supply (EPS) and may include: storage batteries, generators, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), DC microgrid systems, fuel cells and/or separate power sources.

NFPA 70, sections 700 and 701 in the fine print (FPN) refer to NFPA 110, standard for emergency and backup power systems. NFPA 110 also defines the requirements for the classification of the emergency power supply system (EPSS). EPSS refers to the secondary energy system as a whole. It includes EPS, automatic transfer switches (ATS) and all control, monitoring and support devices up to the charging terminals of the transmission equipment necessary for the operation of the system as a safe and reliable secondary power source. Examples of common secondary power systems required by building codes and associated loads include: In addition, where possible, you must provide audible and visual (701.8) signalling devices to indicate when the backup source is defective or carrying the charge, or when the battery charger is not working.