Issues involving emergency systems always seem to arise and create costly delays near the final inspection. The next several sections in this course will cover the most common code violations written on the inspector’s red tag during the final inspection involving emergency systems and emergency lighting.

Whether its emergency lighting, exit signs, or emergency generators, these systems require special thought and preparation by the electrician, so they don’t become an issue at the final inspection.

Article 700 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) provides rules on electrical safety of the installation, operation, and maintenance of emergency systems. These systems include circuits and equipment that supply and control electricity for illumination, power, or both, to those facilities required to have emergency lighting or power when the normal electrical supply or system has been interrupted.

There are many codes that provide rules on means of egress illumination and emergency lighting.

The International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code require means of egress illumination and emergency lighting in specific locations and occupancies. The NEC^® lays out the requirements on how they are to be powered and controlled.

The city inspector will not issue a certificate of occupancy or even a temporary certificate of occupancy if there are items under correction related to life safety. Its best to be aware of and avoid the most common electrical violations written on an inspection red tag. These items include:

• Emergency lights/exit sign batteries not connected and/or not fully charged.
• Emergency lights not arranged properly. The failure of one emergency lamp leaves the area in darkness.
• Emergency lights missing.
• Time delay feature required for EM lighting that backs up high intensity discharge lighting.
• EM lighting not supplied from the normal area lighting circuit.
• Emergency lighting circuits not properly identified in panelboard.
• Emergency generator does not restore lighting within 10 seconds.

Below is a preview of the NEC^® (NFPA 70). See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the edition of the NEC^® being enforced.

NEC 700.1 Scope.

This article applies to the electrical safety of the installation, operation, and maintenance of emergency systems consisting of circuits and equipment intended to supply, distribute, and control electricity for illumination, power, or both, to required facilities when the normal electrical supply or system is interrupted.