Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part I - Department of Labor and Industry
Chapter 50 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS-BUILDINGS
EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS
Section 50.61 - General requirements

Universal Citation: 34 PA Code ยง 50.61

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024

(a) Approval. All emergency lighting systems installed to provide emergency illumination as required by this chapter shall be approved.

(b) Location. The emergency source of energy for illumination shall be a device installed within the building. Special permission may be granted by the Department to locate the emergency lighting system on the premises when not located within the building. The device shall be either an approved engine generator or approved battery system.

(c) Automatic control. The control of the emergency source shall be fully automatic and not dependent upon the manual operation of any switch or device. The emergency source shall supply power when a loss of normal source power occurs on any phase or line to a panel serving an area requiring emergency lighting due to breaker opening, fuse failure or removal, cable failure or similar conditions.

(d) Control panel functional requirement. Each emergency lighting system shall include an approved control panel for area protection. The control panel shall include low voltage sensing devices (three for three phase and one for one phase systems) capable of detecting a reduction in normal source voltage to approximately 80% of rated source voltage, coded visual indication of the space experiencing the power failure and isolated means for activating the emergency source. A break in any conductor feeding the control panel shall cause a failure indication.

(e) Control panel location. The control panel shall be of an approved type and shall be enclosed in a metal cabinet having a hinged door equipped with an effective lock and catch. The visual indicators of a failure shall be visible with or without opening the cabinet door. A nameplate affixed to the door of the cabinet shall designate the equipment as the area protection control panel. Suitable marking plates shall be provided at visual indicators to enable field marking of areas protected. The control panel shall be securely mounted in a clean dry location where it will be conspicuous and readily accessible at all times. Nonlocking type over-current devices are acceptable in all circuits to the control panel.

(f) Full illumination within 15 seconds. Emergency lighting systems shall provide full illumination within 15 seconds after normal source power failure.

(g) Nameplate. Emergency lighting systems shall be provided with a nameplate setting forth the name of the manufacturer, model number, and such other details as may be specifically mentioned in the special requirements for the different types of equipment. The nameplate shall be securely fastened to the equipment and shall not be removed.

(h) Permissible load. The total connected emergency load shall not be greater than that which the system is designed to carry for a period of 1 hour.

(i) Connection with normal supply. Except unit systems, emergency systems utilizing a device which makes the system inoperative when the building is not occupied shall be connected so that some of the normal circuits necessary for illumination, in each location requiring emergency illumination, cannot be used unless the emergency source is ready for use.

(j) Switches. No protective or disconnecting devices other than the following shall be permitted to be installed in the emergency lighting circuits:

(1) Panelboards for emergency lighting distribution may contain circuit breakers, each of which shall be equipped with a handle locking device to prevent unauthorized operation of the breaker and disconnection of the circuit. The panelboards shall be clearly marked with the legend "emergency lighting."

(2) Location disconnecting devices, such as wall switches, designed to disconnect the emergency supply from rooms which are not being used shall also disconnect the entire normal supply to the rooms, but they may not cut off the emergency source from the hallways, stairways, ramps and similar passageways leading to outside building exits.

(k) Submission and approval of plans. No device or system required by this chapter shall be installed until floor plans or sketches have been filed with and approved by the Department. The plans or sketches shall be in triplicate and shall show the proposed location of the equipment, the location of all exit or other lights connected to the emergency system and other information which the Department may request. The Department approval denotes approval only of the location of emergency fixtures throughout the building. The information required by this subsection may be included on the general building plans and submitted for approval.

(l) Testing required. Systems shall be proved with a test switch to simulate a power failure to the emergency throwover switch or equipment. A complete test of all emergency lighting systems and inspection of all circuits for satisfactory operation shall be made at least once each week, except that when buildings or rooms are used less than once a week, tests may be made within 1 hour prior to the opening of the room or building on each day of use. A record of tests shall be maintained and shall be available for inspection. No building or room within the scope of this chapter shall be used unless both regular and emergency sources of illumination are available.

(m) Interlocks required. Emergency throwover switches and equipment shall be interlocked so that no line or phase of the emergency source of supply shall be connected to a line or phase of the normal supply. Grounded neutrals may be interconnected.

(n) Transfer switch capability to withstand high-fault currents. The transfer switch or switchgear shall be capable of carrying the maximum fault current available on the load side of the transfer switch or switchgear for the time required for circuit to be cleared of the fault current by fuses or circuit breakers on the service sides of the transfer switch or switchgear. The ability of the switch to carry rated current within recognized temperature rise limits shall be unimpaired after being subjected to one operation at the maximum fault current available.

(o) Minimum intensity of illumination. Emergency lighting systems, other than unit systems utilizing floor or spot light type of distribution, shall produce and maintain for at least 1 hour a minimum intensity of illumination, measured on a horizontal plane 30 inches above the floor as follows:

(1) An intensity of 5/10 of a footcandle at exit doors, hallways, corridors, passageways, stairways, runways, ramps and the like, leading to the outside building exits.

(2) An intensity of 25/100 of a footcandle at other locations requiring emergency lighting.

(3) An intensity of 15/100 of a footcandle, with special permission from the Department, in theaters and motion picture theaters where arrangements have been made to automatically continue the performance even though a power failure has occurred.

(p) Where unit storage battery systems utilizing flood or spot light type of distribution are used, the distance between adjacent units shall not exceed 50 feet. The projectors shall be directed towards the exits and located so as to provide distribution of light over the entire floor area. Glare and sharp shadows shall be held to a minimum. The minimum total operating lamp load measured after 1 hour of battery operation shall be in accordance with the following:

(1) A rating of 1/10 watt per square foot of floor area of hallways, passageways, stairways, ramps, corridors, and the like, leading to the outside building exits.

(2) A rating of 5/100 watt per square foot at other locations requiring emergency lighting.

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 50.62 (relating to storage battery systems); 34 Pa. Code § 50.63 (relating to unit systems); and 34 Pa. Code § 50.64 (relating to internal combustion engine generator systems).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Pennsylvania may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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