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Emergency electrical systems shall be provided in buildings as follows:
(a) All high rise buildings first permitted for construction after August 2, 1975, shall be supplied by a System II emergency system that shall supply the elevator required by Section 13-76-130, all emergency and exit lights, the communication systems required by Section 13-76-050, the fire command panel required by Section 13-76-030, and the fire alarm system required by Section 13-76-040. The System II emergency system shall conform with all applicable provisions of Title 14E.
(c) Emergency generators, fire pumps and their controls are to be in a separate two-hour-fire-rated pump room which also may contain the domestic booster pumps. In addition, the electrical controls are to be encased in drip proof enclosures.
(d) All main electric service equipment shall be installed in vaults or approved outdoor locations. The main electric service vaults and main service switch rooms shall be enclosed with three-hour-fire-rated construction. Distribution switchboard rooms shall be enclosed with two-hour-fire-rated construction.
(e) All electric service vaults and main service switchboard rooms located on the lowest level shall be equipped with a sump pump connected to the emergency electrical supply.
(f) All electric risers and shafts serving elevators, emergency and exit lights, voice communication systems and smoke control fans are to be enclosed with two-hour construction and are to include continuous three-inch-high water stops on all sides. Mineral insulated cable having a two-hour fire resistive classification from a recognized third-party electrical testing laboratory shall be acceptable in retrofit work, provided that distribution panels and control panels are enclosed with construction providing two-hour protection.
(g) All existing and newly constructed buildings used in whole or in part for residential occupancy which are more than 80 feet above grade, shall provide an auxiliary source of current supply from either an approved, on-site generator in accordance with Title 14E, an approved central battery system, or approved unit battery fixtures in accordance with Title 14E to supply all required emergency lights throughout the building. The fuel source for on-site generators installed in buildings over 80 feet in height and under 400 feet in height may be natural gas or diesel fuel. The fuel for on- site generators installed in buildings over 400 feet in height shall be diesel, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13-76-080(b). Complete plans shall be submitted to the department of buildings for review and approval before any work is started on the installation of such systems. All buildings which conform to the requirements of this subsection at the time this subsection is enacted shall not be required to provide plans as required herein. All buildings required by this section to provide an auxiliary source of current supply for required emergency lighting shall comply no later than July 1, 1999.
(Prior code § 62.1-8; Amend Coun. J. 10-2-95, p. 8026; Amend Coun. J. 2-5-98, p. 61780, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-9-16, p. 36266, § 16; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 23)