‘ The NEC dictates
the technical
requirements
for electrical
installations
that include:
commissioning,
testing, capacity
and rating, trans-
FIGURE 2: Double-wall diesel generator FIGURE 3: Exterior diesel generator with
fer equipment
base-mounted fuel tank rated for required emer- base-mounted fuel tank. Courtesy: Design Group requirements,
gency power supply systems class. Courtesy: Facility Solutions
Design Group Facility Solutions wiring methods,
identification,
cles 700, 701 and 702 provide directions as to the criteria for the proper application of alternate
’
electrical safety of the installation, operation and power systems can be found. etc.
maintenance of emergency, standby and option-
al standby systems. That is to say, the NEC dictates NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby
the technical requirements for electrical installa- Power Systems defines the following:
tions that include: commissioning, testing, capacity “EPSS: A complete functioning emergency
and rating, transfer equipment requirements, wir- power supply system coupled to a system of
ing methods, identification, etc. conductors, disconnecting means and overcur-
These NEC articles provide guidance in gener- rent protection devices, transfer switches and
al for the emergency power supply systems (EPSS) all control, supervisory and support devices
themselves along with other NEC code articles; up to and including the load terminals of the
other codes and standards such as the Internation- transfer equipment needed for the system to
al Building Code (IBC), the NFPA 101: Life Safe- operate as a safe and reliable source of power.”
ty Code, the International Mechanical Code and Learning
International Fire Code (IFC), local building codes The terms EPSS and standby power supply systems u Objectives
and amendments, federal and military codes and include but are not limited to:
standards, the Environmental Protection Agency, • Determine the proper
classification of loads
FM Global and other insurance company require- • Emergency power systems. requiring an alternate power
ments, to name just a few, also have specific design • Alternate power systems. source.
criteria requirements. • Standby power systems. • Learn about alternate
power source terminology
These codes and standards provide further clar- • Legally required standby systems. and code requirements of
ity on how loads within specific facilities should be • Alternate power sources. different alternate power
treated. While the NEC is the code that electrical sources and systems.
engineers reference most regularly, the designer or NFPA 110 specifies the installation, perfor- • Understand where to
look to determine the
engineer cannot rely solely on the NEC for direc- mance, maintenance and test requirements for requirements of standby
tion; in fact, there are many other sources in which EPSSs in terms of types, classes and levels for the power systems.
consulting-Specifying engineer— www.csemag.com January/February 2024
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