National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Question:

Re: CQD answer published Tuesday, May 2, 2017 -Transfer Equipment Health Care

Paragraph 517.26 states “the life safety branch of the essential electrical system shall meet the requirements of Article 700, except as amended by Article 517”.

NFPA 99 also has qualifying statements that refer back to complying with NFPA 101 and NFPA 70-Article 700 (NFPA 99-2012; 6.4.1.1.7.3, 6.4.2.1.4)

In our office we have always considered that Life Safety Branch and Critical Branch need to comply with NFPA 70-700 and NFPA 7-701, except as amended by NFPA 70-517.

Edward M. Grafe

A

Answer:

Hey Edward thanks for your comment. In the 2011 NEC the essential electrical system was required to comply with Article 700 as stated in 517.26. The emergency system was limited to the life safety branch and critical branch as stated in 517.(B)(2).

The wording in the 2014 NEC was changed to only require the life safety branch to comply with Article 700.

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