Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 50 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS-BUILDINGS › EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS › Section 50.63 - Unit systems

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Limitations.
Unit battery systems shall provide the required
				  intensity of illumination for a minimum period of 1 hour.
(b)
Cabinet design.
Emergency lighting units of this class shall be compact and self-contained.
				  Batteries, relays, charging equipment and controls shall be assembled in a
				  substantial metal cabinet. The cabinet shall be well ventilated and designed so
				  that the equipment can be easily maintained. The emergency lighting load shall
				  be connected automatically to the battery in the event of power
				  failure.
(c)
Type of
				  batteries.
Lead acid batteries shall be the glass jar or the heat
				  resistant plastic jar type or other approved types assembled with 1.200-1.225
				  specific gravity, full charge electrolyte. At least one pilot cell shall
				  contain a suitable means for indicating the approximate state of charge, which
				  shall be visible from outside the unit case. Other types of batteries may be
				  approved.
(d)
Battery
				  charger.
Units shall contain a suitable dry disc type of charger
				  capable of charging the battery at a high rate and also at a suitable
				  maintenance of trickle rate. The high rate charge shall be capable of replacing
				  the maximum charge taken out in 1 hour emergency discharge period within 12
				  hours. The unit shall be designed to provide for automatic high rate charging
				  and restoration to trickle rate. After power failure or when the battery
				  becomes discharged so that the unit cannot provide 1 hour of illumination of
				  required intensity, the battery shall be charged at a high rate, until it
				  becomes fully charged at which time the charging rate shall be reduced to the
				  trickle rate. No device which could render the charger ineffective shall be
				  permitted.
(e)
Test switch.
All units shall be equipped with a suitable test switch mounted
				  outside of the cabinet and connected to simulate a power failure to the
				  unit.
(f)
Signals.
All units shall be equipped with a visual signal to indicate when the
				  battery is being charged at the high rate. Units equipped with a switch to
				  disconnect the emergency lamp load in the event of power failure when the
				  building is not occupied shall have a visual signal to indicate when the switch
				  is in the normal position and the equipment is ready to provide emergency
				  lighting.
(g)
Wiring and
				  mounting.
All units and lamps connected remote from the units shall be
				  permanently mounted. Units shall be mounted so that they may be readily tested,
				  inspected, and serviced and shall be maintained in satisfactory working
				  condition. When remote lamps are used, wiring shall be of sufficient diameter
				  to provide not less than the minimum required illumination. No switch shall be
				  used to cut off the remote lamps.
(h)
Hydrometer.
A hydrometer
				  shall be available, and the batteries shall be tested with the hydrometer at
				  least once every month. A record of tests shall be maintained and shall be
				  available for inspection.
(i)
Nameplate.
The nameplate required by §
										50.61(g)
				  (relating to general requirements) shall also contain the capacity of the
				  system in watts, rated nominal voltage and current.