Article IX — Emergency Standby Power Systems

An on-site emergency standby power generating system consisting of one or more approved generators for every highrise building shall be installed in one or more of the following locations:

A. Indoors. Every room or area in which a combustion engine or gas turbine is installed for generating standby and emergency power shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a minimum of two-hour fire resistive construction.

1. Openings. Windows, louvered openings and any other openings shall be located on exterior walls only. When such openings are located below openings in another story or less than ten (10) feet from any opening on the same building, they shall be protected by a fire assembly having a minimum of one and one-half hour fire resistive rating. Such fire assemblies shall be fixed, automatic or self-closing.

2. The generator shall not be located above the first floor.

3. The generator may be placed in an underground vault provided provisions are made to prevent flooding from surface and/or ground water. Drains within the vault shall be designed to prevent any backflow into the vault.

Exception: Generators may be permitted in above ground parking structures with proper vehicle access.

B. Outdoors. When combustion engines and gas turbine generators are located outdoors, they shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet from the building and a minimum of ten (10) feet from the property.

Exception: The distance from the building may be reduced to five feet where there are no openings on the building within ten (10) feet of the generator.

C. Generators shall be located for easy access of load bank test equipment.

• D. Rooms or areas used for power generating systems shall not be used for any other purpose. Where locations are available to vehicle access, they shall be suitably protected.

• E. Power-generating systems shall not be located within fifty (50) feet of the fire control room. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1266, 15.15.1501)

The system shall be equipped with suitable means for automatically starting the generator set upon failure of the normal electrical supply system(s). The system shall automatically transfer all functions required by this title at full power in the required time. All transfer switches shall be of the approved four wire, four pole type when used to transfer a four wire system.

• A. Emergency electrical systems shall be automatically transferred and be at full power within ten (10) seconds, and include the following loads:

1. Lighting circuits as follows:

• a. In the fire control room;

• b. Main electrical switchboard or distribution room or area;

• c. Fire pump room;

• d. Fire equipment storage rooms;

• e. Any other area as deemed necessary by the authority having jurisdiction.

2. Emergency receptacles shall be installed in exit corridors. In addition to the locations listed above, emergency power supplied one hundred twenty (120) volt, twenty (20) amp receptacles shall be located in corridors within ten (10) feet of entry to exit stairways (not over one hundred (100) feet apart), and areas where smoke removal machinery and controls are located. These receptacles shall be red in color, and shall meet the fire department's specifications. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1267, 15.15.1502)

An on-site fuel supply for the standby and emergency generator(s) shall be of sufficient size for at least an eight hour full operation demand. It shall be contained in an approved tank that is located in an area approved by the authority having jurisdiction. When fuel supply falls below the required amount, a supervised trouble signal shall be initiated in the fire control room. The type of fuel shall be labeled at the fill stem. Overfill alarms are required when fill stem is remote from tank location. Filling of fuel supplies shall be done from the exterior of the building only. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1268, 15.15.1503)

Controls shall be established in the fire control room which will enable the generator to be manually started when the control switch, at the generator, is left in other than "REMOTE" or "AUTOMATIC" mode. See Section 15.100.460(B)(3) of this chapter. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1269, 15.15.1504)

The standby and emergency power generating system(s) shall be of ample capacity to provide full power to all required loads at the same time. There shall be no load diversities permitted. Possible future tenant improvement loads shall also be included.

• A. Load demands shall be figured at one hundred twenty-five (125) percent of all required elevator motors (one each bank);

• B. One hundred twenty-five (125) percent of the largest required motor load;

• C. One hundred twenty-five (125) percent of all lighting load and one hundred (100) percent of all other required loads. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1270, 15.15.1505)

Energy management or load shedding control systems shall be so wired that in the event that a building is in the alarm mode these systems shall be automatically switched to their full operating capacity. These controls shall not be capable of turning off or overriding any required life safety systems. (Prior code §§ 9.28.1271, 15.15.1506)