Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
(OP)
I have a situation where I am being told I should power elevators and stairwell pressurization fans from the ememgency power system.
The person telling me this says the functions are safety the same as lighting. I am reading the NEC and the IBC to say I need two switches, safety and leaglly required standby.
The building is a 14 story condo with two elevators. The fire pump has it's own xfr switch.
Has anyone elxe hear fo the stairwell pressurizaton and elevators being on the emergency power system. Ther may be a difference in terms Emergency and standby as used by the NEC and the IBC
thanks
The person telling me this says the functions are safety the same as lighting. I am reading the NEC and the IBC to say I need two switches, safety and leaglly required standby.
The building is a 14 story condo with two elevators. The fire pump has it's own xfr switch.
Has anyone elxe hear fo the stairwell pressurizaton and elevators being on the emergency power system. Ther may be a difference in terms Emergency and standby as used by the NEC and the IBC
thanks






RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
-- power and lighting for the fire command room
-- electric powered fire pumps
-- ventilation and fire detection for smokeproof enclosures
-- elevators in accordance with Chapter 30
Emergency power is required for:
-- Exit signs and illumination
-- Elevator car lighting
-- Emergency voice/alarm systems
-- Fire alarm systems
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
Thats exactly the way I read it. There are several local projects where they (AHJs) are letting people use one trasfer switch.
I know a AHJ can do what they want. I was asking to see how many others had seen it and if there was some rational behind it.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
No they can't. The AHJs responsibility is to verify compliance with the adopted standard. If you as the design professional can meet the requirement of the code using one transfer switch and the AHJ wants two, have them provide you with the specific code section that specifies this. If not, kindly tell them that it is not a requirement and ask to appeal the decision. This usually causes the AHJ to rethink the decision. You can also them that they are pulling something out of their a__ but usually that may preturb them.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
There is no requirement to have separate generators for emergency and standby loads either along the same logic.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
There well hidden in my copies.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
IN fact I am asking for the chapter and verse requiring separation of ATSs or sources besides healthcare facilities..
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
OK. It's not NEC 700.5(A) but 700.5(D) which says a emergency transfer switch shall only supply emergency load.
So I stand corrected for that. I am not sure how this item was there in the Code, if so it is very loosely enforce. But that is beside the point.
Thanks
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
Yes, 700.6 (D). Thanks again.
The original question is if two sepratate (transfer)switches are required for (life) safety and standby loads.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
And in my own humble opinion, the 2003 IBC clearly stipulates the loads and I promise you as an AHJ I will not pull some requirement from a posterior orifice and impose it upon you.
This website is a wonderful tool.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
StookeyPE - thanks again. When all is said and done even if you have a note or an OK from the AHJ it won't hold up when things get to a courtroom. Laws and codes are our responsibility to follow, not to evade with exceptions from AHJ.
If one wants to read why stairwells are pressurized the book
"102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
by Jim Dwyer, Kevin Flynn"
is pretty interesting.
RE: Life safety vs standby transfer swtiches.
I always say, AHJ are neither our quality control agency nor our excuse for not following code.