Essentially, emergency systems are lifelines for people, and Art.

700 is all about keeping

those lifelines from breaking. The Article's main goal is to keep the emergency operation as
reliable as possible. One way to do that is to use inherently safe actuation devices, such as
valves that fail safe to a predetermined position upon loss of power. Another is to limit
what qualifies as an emergency load, so the emergency system powers only what is needed
to save human life (Fig. 1 below).

<b>Fig. 1.</b> Art. 700 applies to the installation, operation and maintenance of emergency systems for illumination
and/or power within 10 seconds of the interruption of the normal electrical supply.

Emergency systems are, by definition, legally required. A facility may need to meet certain
emergency system requirements as a condition of obtaining a permit to operate. The
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) determines whether or not an emergency system is
necessary for a given facility. The AHJ also determines specific emergency system
requirements, based on intended use and operations.
Sometimes, an emergency system simply provides power for exit lighting (or the
illumination of exit signs) when there's a fire or loss of power. The purpose of an emergency
system isn't to provide power for normal business operations it's to provide lighting and
controls essential for human life. For specific locations that require emergency lighting, see
NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, or the locally adopted building code.
Emergency power systems may also provide power to maintain fire detection and alarm
systems, elevators, fire pumps, public safety communications systems, industrial processes
where current interruption would produce serious life safety or health hazards, and similar
functions.

In an emergency, it's difficult to control loads administratively. Thus, the emergency system
must be able to supply all emergency loads simultaneously. When the emergency power
source also supplies standby power or other nonemergency loads, the emergency loads take
priority over the other loads. Consequently, the system may drop other loads to support the
emergency loads.
Equipment approval. The AHJ must approve all equipment used for the emergency
system [700.3]. This means the AHJ can reject an installation of Listed equipment and can
approve the use of non-Listed equipment. But due to litigation risk, approval of unlisted
equipment is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.
Equipment testing. Emergency power system testing consists of acceptance testing and
operational testing [700.4]. To ensure the emergency power system meets or exceeds the
installation specification, the AHJ must conduct (or witness) an acceptance test of the
emergency system upon completion and periodically afterward [700.4(B)].
Periodic testing helps ensure the systems are in proper operating condition. Running the
emergency power system under load is a generally accepted method of testing. In fact, you
must provide a means for testing all emergency lighting and power systems during
maximum load.
But the AHJ also presents maintenance requirements. For example, the AHJ must require
periodic maintenance of batteries. The AHJ might not spell out the specific maintenance
steps, but may refer to manufacturers' maintenance recommendations. Don't think in terms
of what maintenance you can get by with not doing. Think in terms of what maintenance
will prevent a failure of the emergency system. It is unwise to expect a court to split fine
hairs in language when the intent is as clear as it is here.
You must keep records of all required testing [700.4(A) and (B)] and maintenance
[700.4(C)]. The NEC doesn't specify a record retention period. Today, records are normally
electronic, and storage is cheap. So, few facilities have any compelling reason to delete
records regardless of age.
Power sources. An emergency system power source must have adequate capacity to safely
carry all emergency loads expected to operate simultaneously [700.5]. If an alternate power
source has adequate capacity, you can use it to supply emergency loads [Art. 700], legally
required standby loads [Art. 701], and optional standby system loads [Art. 702]. But if the
alternate power source lacks adequate capacity to carry the entire load, it must have

automatic selective load pickup and load shedding to ensure adequate power in this order
of priority:

Emergency circuits

Legally required standby circuits

Optional standby circuits.

A temporary alternate source of power must be available whenever the emergency generator
is out of service for more than a few hours [700.5(B)]. Transfer equipment must be
automatic, identified for emergency use, and approved by the AHJ [700.6]. Transfer
equipment must supply only emergency loads (Fig. 2 below). You must
usemultiple transfer switches where a single generator supplies emergency loads and other
loads.

<b>Fig 2.</b> The alternate power source is permitted to supply other loads in addition to emergency loads;
however, the transfer switch for emergency loads can only supply emergency loads.

To warn emergency response personnel, a sign must indicate the type and location of onsite emergency power sources [700.8(A)]. This sign must be placed at the service-entrance
equipment.
Upon loss of normal power, emergency power must be available within 10 seconds [700.12].
The emergency power source must be one of the following:

Storage battery. Storage batteries must be of suitable rating and capacity to supply and
maintain the total load for 90 minutes. Voltage applied to the load can't fall below 87.5% of
normal.
Generator set. A generator acceptable to the AHJ and sized per 700.5 must automatically
start the prime mover when the normal service fails. Where internal combustion engines are
prime movers, an on-site fuel supply must provide not less than 2 hours of full-demand
operation of the system. If an outdoor-housed generator has a readily accessible disconnect
within sight (and within 50 feet) of the structure, an additional disconnect isn't required at
the structure for the generator feeder conductors that serve or pass through the structure.

<b> Fig. 3.</b> All boxes and enclosures containing emergency circuits must be permanently marked so they will
be readily identifiable as part of the emergency circuit system.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS). UPSs must comply with the applicable
requirements for storage batteries and generator sets.
Separate service. You can use an additional service as the emergency power source, if it's
installed per Art. 230 and is acceptable to the AHJ. Tapping ahead of the normal service
equipment doesn't qualify as the required emergency source of power (Fig. 3above). To
minimize the possibility of simultaneous interruption of emergency supply, the additional
service must be:

Served by a separate service drop or lateral.

Electrically and physically separated from all other service conductors.

Unit equipment. Individual unit equipment (battery packs) must have:

Rechargeable battery and charging means.

Provisions for one or more lamps mounted on the equipment, or terminals for
remote lamps (or both).

Relaying device arranged to energize the lamps automatically upon failure of the
supply to the unit equipment.
Emergency lighting battery pack equipment (ELBE) must be permanently fixed in place.
You can use flexible cord-and-plug connection (twist lock not required) for ELBE designed
for this purpose, if the cord doesn't exceed 3 feet.
The branch-circuit wiring that supplies ELBE must be the same branch-circuit wiring that
supplies the normal lighting in the area. The reason for this is to maintain a charge on the
batteries.
However, you must connect the ELBE ahead of any local switches. Otherwise, the
emergency lighting can be rendered useless by simply turning off the local lighting.
The branch circuit that feeds the ELBE must be clearly identified at the distribution panel
[700.12(F)].
Design and install emergency lighting systems so the failure of any individual lighting
element will not leave any space requiring emergency illumination [700.16] in total
darkness. This means a single remote head is never sufficient you need at least two
lighting heads for any area.
Circuits. Emergency circuits must supply no loads other than those required for
emergency use [700.15].

<b>Fig. 4.</b> Permanently mark all boxes and enclosures for emergency circuits as components of an emergency
system.

Permanently mark all boxes and enclosures (including transfer switches, generators, and
power panels) for emergency circuits as components of an emergency system [700.9] (Fig.
4 right). A Code violation in this area can impede fire and rescue operations.
Keep all wiring from emergency sources to emergency loads entirely independent of all
other wiring and equipment. Why? To ensure a fault on the normal wiring circuits will not
affect the performance of emergency wiring or equipment. Art. 700 does permit some
exceptions:

Wiring in transfer equipment enclosures.

Luminaires supplied from two sources of power.

A common junction box attached to luminaires supplied from two sources of power.
You can install two or more emergency circuits in the same raceway, cable, box, or cabinet.
Design and locate emergency wiring circuits so as to minimize the hazards that might cause
failure due to flooding, fire, icing, vandalism, and other adverse conditions.
Overcurrent protection devices for emergency power systems must be selectively
coordinated with all supply-side overcurrent protective devices [700.27]. See the definition
of Selective Coordination in Art. 100. Designing a selectively coordinated system should

be left to the system designer. The branch-circuit overcurrent protection devices for
emergency circuits must be accessible to authorized persons only [700.25].
In the alternate power source for emergency systems, you don't have to provide groundfault protection of equipment. But you must provide ground-fault indication [700.7(D)] and
[700.26].
By thinking of emergency power systems as lifelines for people, you can quickly cut through
the fog of misperception that commonly accompanies the design, installation, and
maintenance of these systems. In contrast, a standard backup power system is a lifeline for
processes and equipment. Keeping this difference in mind will help you conform to Art. 700
in an efficient and effective manner.