170 E M E R G I - L I T E A C C E S S O R I E S & G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N

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National Electrical Code

ARTICLE 700 – EMERGENCY SYSTEMS (C) B

 attery Systems Maintenance. Where battery systems or
I. General unit equipment are involved, including batteries used for
starting, control, or ignition in auxiliary engines, the authority
700.1. Scope having jurisdiction shall require periodic maintenance.
The provisions of this article apply to the electrical safety of the (D) W
 ritten Record. A written record shall be
installation, operation, and maintenance of emergency systems kept of such tests and maintenance.
consisting of circuits and equipment intended to supply, distribute, (E) T
 esting Under Load. Means for testing all emergency
and control electricity for illumination or power, or both, to required lighting and power systems during maximum
facilities when the normal electrical supply or system is interrupted. anticipated load conditions shall be provided.
(FPN No. 1): F or further information regarding wiring and installation of
emergency systems in health care facilities, see Article 517. Informational Note: For information on testing and maintenance
(FPN No. 2): For further information regarding performance and of emergency power supply systems (EPSSs), see NFPA 110-
maintenance of emergency systems in health care facilities, 2013, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems.
see Standard for Health Care Facilities, NFPA 99-2012.
(FPN No. 3): Emergency systems are generally installed in places of 700.4. Capacity
assembly where artificial illumination is required for (A) Capacity and Rating. An emergency system shall have adequate
safe exiting and for panic control in buildings subject capacity and rating for all loads to be operated simultaneously.
to occupancy by large numbers of persons, such as The emergency system equipment shall be suitable for
hotels, theaters, sports arenas, health care facilities, the maximum available fault current at its terminals.
and similar institutions. Emergency systems may (B) Selective Load Pickup, Load Shedding, and Peak Load Shaving.
also provide power for such functions as ventilation The alternate power source shall be permitted to supply emergency,
where essential to maintain life, fire detection and legally required standby, and optional standby system loads where
alarm systems, elevators, fire pumps, public safety the source has adequate capacity or where automatic selective
communications systems, industrial processes load pickup and load shedding is provided as needed to ensure
where current interruption would produce serious life adequate power to (1) the emergency circuits; (2) the legally required
safety or health hazards, and similar functions. standby circuits; and (3) the optional standby circuits, in that order
(FPN No. 4): For specification of locations where emergency of priority. The alternate power source shall be permitted to be used
lighting is considered essential to life safety, for peak load shaving, provided the above conditions are met.
see Life Safety Code, NFPA 101-2012. Peak load shaving operation shall be permitted for satisfying
(FPN No. 5): F or further information regarding performance of the test requirement of Section 700.3(B), provided all other
emergency and standby power systems, see Standard for conditions of Section 700.3 are met. A portable or temporary
Emergency and Standby Power Systems, NFPA 110-1999. alternate source shall be available whenever the emergency
generator is out of service for major maintenance or repair.
700.2. Definitions
Emergency Systems. Those systems legally required and classed 700.5. Transfer Equipment
as emergency by municipal, state, federal or other codes, or by any (A) G eneral. Transfer equipment, including automatic transfer switches,
governmental agency having jurisdiction. These systems are intended shall be automatic and identified for emergency use and approved
to automatically supply illumination, power or both, to designated areas by the authority having jurisdiction. Transfer equipment shall be
and equipment in the event of failure of the normal supply or in the designed and installed to prevent the inadvertent interconnection
event of accident to elements of a system intended to supply, distribute, of normal and emergency sources of supply in any operation of
and control power and illumination essential for safety to human life. the transfer equipment. Transfer equipment and electric power
Informational Note: Emergency systems are generally installed in production systems installed to permit operation in parallel with
places of assembly where artificial illumination is required for safe the normal source shall meet the requirements of article 705.
exiting and for panic control in buildings subject to occupancy (B) Bypass Isolation Switches. Means shall be permitted to bypass and
by large numbers of persons, such as hotels, theatres, sports, isolate the transfer equipment. Where bypass isolation switches
arenas, health care facilities, and similar institutions. Emergency are used, inadvertent parallel operation shall be avoided.
systems may also provide power for such functions as ventilation (C) Automatic transfer switches shall be electrically operated and
where essential to maintain life, fire detection and alarm systems, mechanically held. Automatic transfer switches, rated 1000
elevators, fire pumps, public safety communications systems, VAC and below, shall be listed for emergency system use.
industrial processes where current interruption would produce (D) Use. Transfer equipment shall supply only emergency loads.
serious life safety or health hazards, and similar functions.
Relay automatic Load Control. A device used to set normally 700-6. Signals.
dimmed or normally-off switched emergency lighting equipment A
 udible and visual signal devices shall be provided, where practicable,
to full power illumination levels in the event of a loss of the normal for the following purposes described in 700.6(A) through (D).
supply by bypassing the dimming/switching controls, and to (A) Derangement. To indicate derangement of the emergency source.
return the emergency lighting equipment to normal status when (B) Carrying Load. To indicate that the battery is carrying load.
the device senses the normal supply has been restored. (C) Not Functioning. To indicate that the battery
Informational Note: See ANSI/UL 924, Emergency Lighting and Power charger is not functioning.
Equipment, for the requirements covering automatic load control relays. (D) G round Fault. To indicate a ground fault in solidly grounded wye
emergency systems of more than 150 volts to ground and circuit
700.3. Tests and Maintenance protective devices rated 1000 amperes or more. The sensor for
(A) Conduct or Witness Test. The authority having jurisdiction the ground-fault signal devices shall be located at, or ahead
shall conduct or witness a test of the complete system of, the main system disconnecting means for the emergency
upon installation and periodically afterward. source, and the maximum setting of the signal devices shall
(B) T
 ested Periodically. Systems shall be tested periodically on a be for a ground-fault current of 1200 amperes. Instructions
schedule acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction to ensure on the course of action to be taken in event of indicated
GENER AL INFO

the systems are maintained in proper operating condition. ground fault shall be located at or near the sensor location.
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Informational Note: For signals for generator sets, see NFPA 110- (C) W
 iring Design and Location. Emergency wiring
2013, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems circuits shall be designed and located to minimize the
hazards that might cause failure due to flooding, fire,
700.7. Signs icing, vandalism, and other adverse conditions.
(A) Emergency Sources. A sign shall be placed at the (D) Fire Protection. Emergency systems shall meet the
service entrance equipment indicating type and following additional requirements (D)(1) through (D)
location of on-site emergency power sources. (3) in assembly occupancies for not less than 1000
Exception: A sign shall not be required for individual persons or in buildings above 23 m (75 ft) in height.
unit equipment as specified in Section 700-12(F).
(B) G rounding. Where removal of a grounding or bonding Informational Note: For the definition of Occupancy Classification,
connection in the normal power source equipement interrupts see Section 6.1 of NFPA 101-2009, Life Safety Code
the grounding electrode conductor connection to the alternate
power source(s) grounded conductor, a warning sign shall be (1) Feeder-circuit wiring shall meet one of the following conditions:
installed at the normal power source equipment stating:
WARNING (1) B e installed in spaces or areas that are fully protected by
SHOCK HAZARD EXISTS IF GROUNDING ELECTRODE CONDUCTOR an approved automatic fire suppression system.
OR BONDING JUMPER CONNECTION IN THIS EQUIPMENT IS (2) B e listed electrical circuit protective system with a minimum
REMOVED WHILE ALTERNATE SOURCE(S) IS ENERGIZED. 2-hour fire rating. Informational note: UL guide information for
The warning sign(s) or label(s) shall comply with 110.21(B). electrical circuit protective systems (FHIT) contains information
on proper installation requirements to maintain the fire rating
700.8 Emergency Sources (3) B e protected by a listed thermal barrier system for electrical
A listed SPD shall be installed in or on all emergency system components with a minimum 2-hour fire rating.
systems switchboards and panelboards. (4) B e protected by a listed fire-rated assembly that has a minimum
fire rating of 2 hours and contains only emergency wiring circuits
II. Circuit Wiring (5) Be encased in a minimum of 50 mm (2 in) of concrete

700-10. Wiring, Emergency System. (2) Feeder-Circuit Equipment. Equipment for feeder circuits (including
(A) Identification. All boxes and enclosures (including transfer transfer switches, transformers, panel boards) shall be either
switches, generators, and power panels) for emergency circuits located in spaces fully protected by approved automatic fire
shall be permanently marked so they will be readily identified suppression systems ( including sprinklers and carbon dioxide
as a component of an emergency circuit or system. systems) or in spaces with a 2-hour fire resistance rating.
(B) Wiring. Wiring of two or more emergency circuits supplied
from the same source shall be permitted in the same raceway, (3) G
 enerator Control Wiring. Control conductors installed
cable, box, or cabinet. Wiring from an emergency source between the transfer equipment and the emergency
distribution overcurrent protection to emergency loads shall generator shall be kept entirely independent of all other
be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment, wiring and shall meet the conditions of 700.10(D)(1)
unless otherwise permitted in 700.10(B) (1) through (5):
III. Sources of Power
(1) W iring from the normal power source located
in transfer equipment enclosures. 700.12. General Requirements. Current supply shall be such that, in
(2) Wiring supplied from two sources in exit or emergency luminaires the event of failure of the normal supply to, or within, the building
(3) W iring from two sources in a listed load control relay or group of buildings concerned, emergency lighting, emergency
supplying exit or emergency luminaires, or in a common power, or both will be available within the time required for the
junction box, attached to exit or emergency luminaires application but not to exceed 10 seconds. The supply system for
(4) W iring within a common junction box attached to emergency purposes, in addition to the normal services to the
unit equipment, containing only the branch circuit building and meeting the general requirements of this section,
supplying the unit equipment and the emergency shall be one or more of the types of systems described in 700.12(A)
circuit supplied by the unit equipment. through (D) below. Unit equipment in accordance with Section
(5) W iring from an emergency source to supply emergency and other 700.12(E) shall satisfy the applicable requirements of this article.
loads in accordance with 700.10(B)(5)a, b, c,and d as follows:
a. S
 eparate vertical switchgear sections or separate vertical In selecting an emergency source of power, consideration shall be given
switchboard sections, with or without a common bus, or to the occupancy and the type of service to be rendered, whether of
individual disconnects mounted in separate enclosures shall minimum duration, as for evacuation of a theater, or longer duration, as
be used to separate emergency loads from all other loads. for supplying emergency power and lighting due to an indefinite period
b. The common bus of separate sections of the switchgear, of current failure from trouble either inside or outside the building.
separate sections of the switchboard, or the individual Equipment shall be designed and located to minimize the hazards
enclosures shall be permitted to be supplied by single or that might cause complete failure due to flooding, fires, icing, and
multiple feeders without overcurrent protection at the source. vandalism. Equipment for sources of power as described in Sections
Exception to (5)b: Overcurrent protection shall be permitted 700.12(A) through (E) where located within assembly occupancies
at the source or for the equipment, provided the overcurrent for greater than 1000 persons or in buildings above 23 m (75 ft)
protection complies with the requirements of 700.28. in height with any of the following occupancy classes: assembly,
 egally required and optional standby circuits shall
c. L educational, residential, detention and correctional, business, and
not originate from the same vertical switchboard mercantile, shall be installed either in spaces fully protected by
section, panel board enclosure, or individual approved automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers, carbon
disconnect enclosure as emergency circuits. dioxide systems, and so forth), or in spaces with a 1-hour fire rating.
d. It shall be permissible to utilize single or multiple feeders
GENER AL INFO

to supply distribution equipment between an emergency Informational note No. 1: For definition of Occupancy Classification,
source and the point where the combination of emergency, see Section 6.1of NFPA 101-2012, Life Safety Code.
legally required, or optional loads are separated.
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National Electrical Code

Informational note No. 2: For further information, see ANSI/ Exception: For installations under single management where conditions
IEEE 493-2007, Recommended Practice for the Design of of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons
Reliable Industrial and Commercial Power Systems. will monitor and service the installation and where documented
safe switching procedures are established and maintained for
(A) Storage Battery. disconnection, the generator set disconnecting means shall not be
Storage batteries used as source of power for emergency systems required to be located within sight of the building of structure served.
shall be of suitable rating and capacity to supply and maintain the
total load for a period of 1-1/2 hours minimum, without the voltage (C) Uninterruptible Power Supplies. Uninterruptible power supplies
applied to the load falling below 87-1/2 percent of normal. used to provide power for emergency systems shall comply
with the applicable provisions of Sections 700-12(A) and (B).
Batteries, whether of the acid or alkali type, shall be designed and
constructed to meet the requirements of emergency service and (D) S
 eparate Service. Where acceptable to the authority having
shall be compatible with the charger for that particular installation. jurisdiction as suitable for use as an emergency source of
power, an additional service shall be permitted. This service
For a sealed battery, the container shall not be required to be shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of
transparent. However, for the lead acid battery that requires Article 230 and following additional requirements.
water additions, transparent or translucent containers shall be (1) Separate overhead service conductors, service
furnished. Automotive-type batteries shall not be used. drops, underground service conductors, or
service laterals shall be installed
An automatic battery charging means shall be provided. (2) The service conductors for the separate service shall be
installed sufficiently remote electrically and physically
(B) Generator Set. from any other service conductors to minimize the
(1) P
 rime Mover-Driven. For a generator set driven by a prime possibilit of simultaneous interruption of supply
mover acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and sized
in accordance with Section 700-4. Means shall be provided (E) F
 uel Cell System.Fuel Cell Systems used as a source of
for automatically starting the prime mover on failure of the power for emergency systems shall be of suitable rating
normal service and for automatic transfer and operation of all and capacity to supply and maintain the total load for
required electrical circuits. A time-delay feature permitting not less than 2 hours of full demand operation.
a 15-minute setting shall be provided to avoid retransfer in
case of short-time reestablishment of the normal source. Installation of a fuel cell system shall meet the requirements
(2) Internal Combustion Engines as Prime Movers. Where internal of Parts II through VIII of Article 692. Where a single fuel
combustion engines are used as the prime mover an on-site cell system serves as the normal supply for the building or
fuel supply shall be provided with an on-premise fuel supply group of buildings concerned, it shall not serve as the sole
sufficient for not less than 2 hours full-demand operation of source of power for the emergency standby system.
the system. Where power is needed for the operation of the fuel
transfer pumps to deliver fuel to a generator set dry tank, this (F) Unit Equipment.
pump shall be connected to the emergency power system. (1) C
 omponents of Unit Equipment. Individual unit equipment
(3) Dual Supplies. Prime movers shall not be solely dependent for emergency illumination shall consist of the following:
upon a public utility gas system for their fuel supply or (1) A rechargeable battery
municipal water supply for their cooling systems. Means (2) A battery charging means
shall be provided for automatically transferring from one (3) P rovisions for one or more lamps mounted on
fuel supply to another where dual fuel supplies are used. the equipment, or shall be permitted to have
Exception: Where acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction, the terminals for remote lamps, or both and
use of other than on-site fuels shall be permitted where there is a low (4) A relaying device arranged to energize the lamps automatically
probability of a simultaneous failure of both the off-site fuel delivery upon failure of the supply to the unit equipment.
system and power from the outside electrical utility company. (2) Installation of Unit Equipment. Unit equipment shall be
(4) W here a storage battery is used for control or signal power, or installed in accordance with 700.12(F)(2)(1) through (6).
as the means of starting the prime mover, it shall be suitable for (1) T
 he batteries shall be of suitable rating and capacity to
the purpose and shall be equipped with an automatic charging supply and maintain at not less than 87-1/2 percent of the
means independent of the generator set. Where the battery nominal battery voltage for the total lamp load associated
charger is required for the operation of the generator set, it shall with the unit for a period of at least 1-1/2 hours, or the
be connected to the emergency system. Where power is required unit equipment shall supply and maintain not less than 60
for the operation of dampers used to ventilate the generator set, percent of the initial emergency illumination for a period
the dampers shall be connected to the emergency system. of at least 1-1/2 hours. Storage batteries, whether of the
(5) Auxiliary Power Supply. Generator sets that require more acid or alkali type, shall be designed and constructed
than 10 seconds to develop power shall be permitted to meet the requirements of emergency service.
is an auxiliary power supply energizes the emergency (2) Unit equipment shall be permanently fixed in place (i.e., not
system until the generator can pick up the load. portable) and shall have all wiring to each unit installed in
(6) O utdoor Generator Sets. Where an outdoor housed generator accordance with the requirements of any of the wiring methods in
set is equipped with a readily accessible disconnecting means Chapter 3. Flexible cord and plug connection shall be permitted,
in accordance with 445.18, and the disconnecting means is provided that the cord does not exceed 900 mm (3 ft) in length.
located within sight of the building or structure supplied, an (3) The branch circuit feeding the unit equipment shall be the
additional disconnecting means shall not be required where same branch circuit as that serving the normal lighting in
ungrounded conductors serve or pass through the building or the area and connected ahead of any local switches.
structure. Where the generator supply conductors terminate
at a disconnecting means in or on a building or structure, the Exception : In a separate and uninterrupted area supplied
GENER AL INFO

disconnecting means shall meet the requirements of 225.36. by a minimum of three normal lighting circuits, a separate
branch circuit for unit equipment shall be permitted if it
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originates from the same panelboard as that of the normal 700.19. M

 ultiwire Branch Circuits. The branch circuit
lighting circuits and is provided with a lock-on feature. serving emergency lighting and power circuits
(4) The branch circuit that feeds unit equipment shall shall not be part of a multiwire branch circuit.
be clearly identified at the distribution panel.
(5) Emergency luminaire’s (illumination fixtures) that obtain power 700.20. Switch Requirements. The switch or switches installed in
from a unit equipment and are not part of the unit equipment emergency lighting circuits shall be arranged so that only
shall be wired to the unit equipment as required by Section authorized persons will have control of emergency lighting.
700-10 and by one of the wiring methods of Chapter 3.
(6) Remote heads providing lighting for the exterior of an exit Exception No. 1: Where two or more single-throw switches are
door shall be permitted to be supplied by the unit equipment connected in parallel to control a single circuit, at least one of
serving the area immediately inside the exit door these switches shall be accessible only to authorized persons.

IV. Emergency System Circuits for Lighting and Power Exception No. 2: Additional switches that act only to put emergency
lights into operation but not disconnect them shall be permissible.
700.15. Switches connected in series or 3- and 4-way switches shall not be used.
Loads on Emergency Branch Circuits. No appliances and no
lamps, other than those specified as required for emergency 700.21. Switch Location. All manual switches for controlling emergency
use, shall be supplied by emergency lighting circuits. circuits shall be in locations convenient to authorized persons
responsible for their actuation. In facilities covered by Articles 518
700.16. and 520, a switch for controlling emergency lighting systems shall
E mergency illumination. Emergency iillumination shall include all be located in the lobby or at a place conveniently accessible thereto.
required means of egress lighting, illuminated exit signs, and all other In no case shall a control switch for emergency lighting be placed
lights specified as necessary to provide required illumination. in a motion-picture projection booth or on a stage or platform.
Exception: Where multiple switches are provided, one such switch
Emergency lighting systems shall be designed and installed shall be permitted in such locations where arranged so that it can
so that the failure of any individual lighting element, such as energize the circuit only, but cannot deenergize the circuit.
the burning out of a light bulb, cannot leave in total darkness
any space that requires emergency illumination. 700.22. Exterior Lights. Those lights on the exterior of a building that
are not required for illumination when there is sufficient daylight shall
Where high-intensity discharge lighting such as high- and low-pressure be permitted to be controlled by an automatic light-actuated device.
sodium mercury vapor, and metal halide is used as the sole source of
normal illumination, the emergency lighting system shall be required 700.23 Dimmer Systems. A dimmer or relay system containing more
to operate until normal illumination has been restored. Where an than one dimmer or relay and listed for use in emergency systems
emergency system is installed, emergency illumination shall be provided shall be permitted to be used as a control device for energizing
in the area of the disconnecting means required by 225.31 and 230.70, emergency lighting circuits. Upon failure of normal power, the
as applicable, where the disconnecting means are installed indoors. dimmer or relay system shall be permitted to selectively energize
only those branch circuits required to provide minimum emergency
Exception: Where alterative means that ensure the emergency illumination. All branch circuits supplied by the dimmer or relay
lighting illumination level is maintained shall be permitted. system cabinet shall comply with the wiring methods of Article 700.

700.17. B ranch Circuits for Emergency Lighting. Branch circuits 700.24 Automatic Load Control Relay. Where emergency illumination
that supply emergency lighting shall be installed to provide is provided by one or more directly controlled luminaires that
service from a source complying with Section 700-12 respond to an external control input to bypass normal control
when the normal supply for lighting is interrupted. Such upon loss of normal power, such luminaires and external bypass
installations shall provide either one of the following: controls shall be individually listed for use in emergency systems.
(1) A
 n emergency lighting supply, independent of the normal lighting
supply, with provisions for automatically transferring the emergency 700.25 Automatic Load Control Relay. If an emergency lighting load
lights upon the event of failure of the normal lighting branch circuit is automatically energized upon loss of the normal supply, a listed
(2) T
 wo or more branch circuits supplied from separate and automatic load control relay shall be permitted to energize the load.
complete systems with independent power sources. One The load control relay shall not be used as transfer equipment.
of the two power sources and systems shall be part of the
emergency system and the other shall be permitted to be part VI. Overcurrent Protection
of the normal power source and system. Each system shall
provide sufficient power for emergency lighting purposes. 700-26. Accessibility. The branch-circuit overcurrent devices in
Unless both systems are used for regular lighting purposes and are emergency circuits shall be accessible to authorized persons only.
both kept lighted, means shall be provided for automatically energizing
either system upon failure of the other. Either or both systems shall 700-27. Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment. The alternate
be permitted to be a part of the general lighting of the protected source for emergency systems shall not be required to have ground-
occupancy if circuits supplying lights for emergency illumination fault protection of equipment with automatic disconnecting
arc installed in accordance with other sections of this article. means. Ground-fault indication of the emergency source shall be
provided in accordance with 700.6(D) if ground-fault protection of
 ircuits for Emergency Power. For branch circuits that
700.18. C equipment with automatic disconnecting means is not provided.
supply equipment classed as emergency, there shall be an Exception: Selective coordination shall not be required
emergency supply source to which the load will be transferred between two overcurrent devices located in series if no loads
automatically upon the failure of the normal supply. are connected in parallel with the downstream device.
GENER AL INFO

V. Control—Emergency Lighting Circuits National Electrical Code© 2014 National Electrical Code® is a
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