Remember to identify raceways, boxes, and wiring methods that are part of the emergency system.

In the 2014 NEC^®, boxes and enclosures for emergency circuits were required to be identified as a component of the emergency system. Most often this was done by spray painting the box and cover a specific color. In the 2017 NEC^®, a proposal was accepted to require similar language for the actual wiring method as well.

Not all emergency circuits installed in a building have junction boxes. It can be difficult to distinguish emergency circuits from non-emergency circuits when they all look the same above a suspended ceiling.

Sometimes MC cable is strung from luminaire to luminaire above a suspended ceiling with no junction box in between. Knowing which MC cable is part of the emergency system and which one is not can be tricky.

NEC 700.10(A) also requires identification of receptacles supplied from the emergency system. These devices are required to have a distinctive color or marking on the receptacle cover plates or the receptacles. Knowing which receptacles are backed up by the emergency system ensures that someone looking for a receptacle to plug into during a power outage can find one without having to test each one and use the process of elimination.

The intent of 700.10(A) is to provide installers, service electricians and the AHJ with the ability to identify components of an emergency circuit or system.

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 700.10(A) Identification. Emergency circuits shall be permanently marked so they will be readily identified as a component of an emergency circuit or system by the following methods:

(1) All boxes and enclosures (including transfer switches, generators, and power panels) for emergency circuits shall be permanently marked as a component of an emergency circuit or system.

(2) Where boxes or enclosures are not encountered, exposed cable or raceway systems shall be permanently marked to be identified as a component of an emergency circuit or system, at intervals not to exceed 7.6 m (25 ft).

Receptacles supplied from the emergency system shall have a distinctive color or marking on the receptacle cover plates or the receptacles.