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March 5, 2009 A Penton Media Publication Vol. VII No. 5

CONTENTS
700.9 Wiring for Emergency Power Systems

What's Wrong Here?

Code Q&A

Code Quiz

Electric West 2009


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    Top 2008 Code Changes
    700.9 Wiring for Emergency Power Systems By Mike Holt
     The rules on "emergency circuits independent of all other wiring" when a single generator supplies emergency, legally required, and/or optional loads were further clarified in the 2008 NEC.

    (B) Wiring. To ensure that a fault on the normal wiring circuits will not affect the performance of emergency wiring or equipment, all wiring to emergency loads shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring, except:

    1. Wiring in transfer equipment.
    2. Luminaires supplied from two sources of power.
    3. Junction box attached to luminaires supplied from two sources of power.
    4. Wiring within a common junction box attached to unit equipment, containing only the branch circuit supplying the unit equipment and the emergency circuit supplied by the unit equipment.
    5. Wiring from an emergency source is permitted to supply any combination of emergency, legally required, or optional loads in accordance with the following:
      (a) From separate vertical switchboard sections or from individual disconnects mounted in separate enclosures.
      (b) By single or multiple feeders without overcurrent protection at the source.
      (c) Legally required and optional standby circuits shall not originate from the same vertical switchboard section, panelboard enclosure, or disconnect as emergency circuits.
    A new subsection (5) was added to clarify that separation of the circuits served by a generator source for emergency, legally required, and optional circuits may be accomplished by running feeders from a single generator to individual overcurrent protective devices or to a distribution switchboard that separates emergency circuits in different vertical sections from other loads.
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    Code Challenge
    What's Wrong Here?
    By Joe Tedesco
     Think you know how this installation violates the NEC? Visit EC&M's Web site to see the answer.
    Hint: Fender bender
    Code Q&A
    By Mike Holt
     Q. What are the NEC lighting and switching requirements for stairways?

    Visit EC&M's Web site to see the answer.
    Code Quiz
    By Steven Owen
     When installing coaxial cables beyond the point of grounding, when is it permissible to support coaxial cables by means of attachment to a conduit or other raceway?

    1. In a commercial garage (oil change) pit where a camera is installed, and only experienced technicians work in the pit.
    2. In any commercial location where public access is restricted, and only experienced technicians work in these areas.
    3. Only where it is necessary to support coaxial cables because no other method of support is readily available.
    4. Excluding exception(s), it is not permitted per Art. 820 installation requirements.

    Visit EC&M's Web site for the answer and explanation.

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    Shows and Events



    Electric West 2009
    The Electric West Show, to be held March 18-20, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in conjunction with the Power Quality Reliability Conference, is the perfect place to brush up on the latest NEC topics – and earn continuing education credits in the process. Geared toward electrical contractors, consulting & specifying engineers, electricians, and plant facility personnel, there’s something for everyone at the Electric Show. The biggest electrical marketplace in the western United States, this event attracts 250 exhibiting companies and more than 6,000 attendees every year. Here's a preview of some of the NEC seminars planned for next year's event:
    • One- and Two-Family Dwelling Unit Electrical Systems
    • Changes to the 2008 NEC
    • Swimming Pools and Similar Installations (NEC Article 680)
    • Introduction to the 2009 NFPA 70E
    For more information, visit our Web site.

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    Click here today to find up-to-date UL Listed products at the UL Code Correlation Database.

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