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Joined: Feb 2002
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I was doing some trouble shooting for the hall lights in a 3 story appartment complex. On one floor there was a photo eye by a window.When the sun came up it shut the hall lights off It worked fine. My question is doesn't this hall lighting circuit with the photo eye have to have an override switch??????????
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Joined: Apr 2005
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According to 210.70, it does not. BUT, Life Safety Codes require egress lighting to be installed, and they can not be turned off by the sensor or a wall switch.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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How do they rationalize this with the energy code?
Greg Fretwell
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Greg per the NEC you can not switch off any legally required emergency lighting unless it is rigged to come back on automatically regardless of the switch position during a power failure. Sorry I am not at my computer with the NEC in it for a section number.
Typically we accomplish this via normally closed contacters.
I think safety codes trump energy codes.
Bob
Bob Badger Construction & Maintenance Electrician Massachusetts
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I usually think of that kind of lighting being the battery lights. I was curious if energy codes affect lighting in places where it is not necessary to be 24/7 because of ambient light.
Greg Fretwell
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I hear you Greg, we run in to this in a lot of new installations, many new buildings have ambient light sensors used to kill the electric lights when the natural light is enough.
We are switching more of the required lighting down but as I mentioned this usually involves adding some NC contactors that drop closed on utility power loss.
Bob
Bob Badger Construction & Maintenance Electrician Massachusetts
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The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) does not necessarily require lights to be on during the day. It only requires that there be a minimum level of lighting along the exit path whenever the building is occupied. If this lighting is supplied by daylight, then we have met the Life Safety Code.
Earl
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The IBC also has something to say on this subject:
"1006.1 Illumination required. The means of egress, including the exit discharge, shall be illuminated at all times the building space served by the means of egress is occupied. Exceptions: 1. Occupancies in Group U. 2. Aisle accessways in Group A. 3. Dwelling units and sleeping units in Groups R-1, R-2 and R-3. 4. Sleeping units of Group I occupancies.
1006.2 Illumination level. The means of egress illumination level shall not be less than 1 foot-candle (11 lux) at the floor level."
By the way, safety codes do not "trump" energy codes. We need to find a way to satisfy both codes if at all possible. If not possible because of conflicting rules, then the adopting authority needs to be consulted to make the call.
Earl
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By the way, safety codes do not "trump" energy codes. We need to find a way to satisfy both codes if at all possible. If not possible because of conflicting rules, then the adopting authority needs to be consulted to make the call. And that AHJ is going to decide that energy codes are on the bottom of the list in regards to importance.
Bob Badger Construction & Maintenance Electrician Massachusetts
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And that AHJ is going to decide that energy codes are on the bottom of the list in regards to importance. We can only hope but when I see some of the other stuff going on (like California) I am not sure. Actually I am ahead of that curve with lots of low level lights on occupancy sensors. The only bright lights we have are task lighting.
Greg Fretwell
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