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Monday, November 7, 2016
Question:
Re: CQD answer published Wednesday, October 19, 2016 -Emergency lighting Track
1. Regarding your response to the question from yesterday (Tuesday, October 18th, 2016), it is accurate, but not quite complete. If the two circuits, one normal and one emergency, in the dual track lighting enclosure are separated by a barrier or are in two separate enclosures in the track, then it would comply with the intent of 700.10(B). Just wanted to make sure the answer is as complete as possible. Thanks, Tom Stoll, PE, LC
2. Hello, Regarding your answer to the question on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, please elaborate on why using dual circuit track lighting for both normal and emergency lighting would not comply with 700.10(B). NEC 700.10(B) reads: “…Wiring from an emergency source or emergency source distribution overcurrent protection to emergency loads shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment, unless otherwise permitted in 700.10(B) (1) through (5): (2) Wiring supplied from two sources in exit or emergency luminaires” Based on the NEC 2014 quote above and having determined that the definition of article 100 includes track lighting, using dual circuit track lighting for both normal and emergency lighting isn’t any different than having a 2x4 troffer with some lamps on normal power and some lamps on emergency power. I have met some people who argue that lighting track is raceway, which would make this application not compliant, but I don’t see that anywhere in the NEC. Thanks. Pathros Cardenas
A
Answer:
Pathros and Tom thanks for your follow up questions and comments. The words "entirely separate" are used in 700.10(B). The provisions of 700.10(B) (1) through (5) allow emergency and non-emergency wiring to be in the same equipment under the described conditions. Examples are in transfer switches, in exit or emergency luminaires, or in a common junction box attached to them, or in switchboards or switchgear. Those situations seem to be quite different than using lighting track for both emergency and non-emergency circuits. But lighting track does seem to be very similar to the definition of raceway in Article 100. Submit a public input for the 2020 NEC to specifically allow lighting track to be used for emergency lighting maybe we can all learn something from the code panel's response and action.