CSE Pure Power - Fall 2008 - (Page 24)

❯❯ PURE POWER // FALL 2008 24 emergency lighting ADVANTAGES OF A UPS SYSTEM Before moving forward with a UPS solution for emergency lighting, it’s imperative to understand the most conducive environments for a successful deployment. Some characteristics include: ✹ No deﬁned egress path: Facilities that do not have a deﬁned egress path, such as open ofﬁces with moveable partitions, large manufacturing spaces or warehouses, and outdoor courtyards, are best suited for a UPS system. A UPS system provides more power to the emergency lighting, resulting in higher lumen output for a longer period of time. Standard battery packs for T-8 lamps provide a level of reduced lighting at around 300 lumens. (In certain cases, higher output can be provided at an increased cost.) Lumen output during the code-required 90 min may not be a linear reduction to 60%. For some products, it declines during the ﬁrst 10 to 15 min to about 70% and then continues to drop to the minimum code level. UPS systems provide full output for the 90-min duration and may be an advantage for larger areas and some occupancy types. ✹ High ceilings: Typically, facilities that do not have any deﬁned egress paths may also have high ceilings. Emergency lighting units and ﬂuorescent battery packs are often not ideal for these applications. As shown by the system installed at the Hunter Douglas manufacturing facility (See sidebar “Lowering costs”), required routing testing and maintenance is more efﬁcient with a single ﬂoormounted UPS system than a series of ﬂuorescent battery packs at the 30-ft ceiling height. ✹ Cold climate: For outdoor lighting or large food storage coolers and freezers, temperature can become a problem for battery systems because ideal battery temperature is 78 F. While some emergency lighting units and ﬂuorescent battery packs are now rated for 0 F where small resistive heaters have been included, a UPS system may still provide the best solution. The UPS system can be located inside the facility or in a separate, temperature-controlled area. Lamp type is not restricted, and full lumen output is maintained. ✹ Testing requirements: NPFA 101, Life Safety Code, states that functional tests of emergency lighting equipment are required at 30-day intervals for not less than 30 sec, and annually for not less than 90 min for a batterypowered system. Written records of visual inspections and tests are to be kept by the owner for inspection by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Where ﬂuorescent battery packs are used or emergency lighting units are installed, the individual units may need to be individually tested with the test button, or the circuits that feed them may need to be tripped so that the units can be checked. This can take signiﬁcant time and record keeping in a larger complex. By using a UPS system, the lights are directly powered and lamp replacement will fall under routine maintenance. ✹ Signiﬁcant exterior lighting needs: Facilities that require a signiﬁcant amount of exterior emergency lighting, such as large apartment complexes, senior living centers, school buildings, and parking garages, are another application ideally suited for a UPS system. For the number of lights needed, it is not ideal to use individual ﬂuorescent battery packs. Some building operators also have avoided using generators because of the added hassles of environmental regulations, restricted hours of operation, fuel storage permits, testing, and record Lowering costs Hunter Douglas, a window treatment manufacturer, installed a Liebert NX UPS system from Emerson Network Power in its West Sacramento, Calif., manufacturing facility. The facility featured a 30-ft ceiling and used Lithonia I-beam ﬁxtures with T-5 lamps to provide high-quality, energy-efﬁcient lighting. The emergency lighting was designed for a minimum of 1 foot-candle to ensure safe exiting. An analysis conducted at the start of the project showed that using ﬂuorescent battery packs would have been more expensive to install, maintain, and test than a ﬂoor-mounted UPS system. Exceeding requirements Progressive Baptist Church in Stockton, Calif., installed emergency lighting supported by Emerson Network Power’s Liebert NX UPS system. The general illumination in the facility was provided by ﬂuorescent down lights with two 42 W compact ﬂuorescent lamps and dimming ballasts. A lighting automatic transfer switch was used to switch between a theatrical dimmer and the UPS system upon power failure. This exceeded the present code requirement for emergency lighting, which was important because of the higher occupancy of the facility during services. In comparison with ﬂuorescent battery packs, installation cost was in favor of the UPS system. Also, because of the need for dimming control, additional wiring would have been required if ﬂuorescent battery packs had been used. www.purepowermagazine.com

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CSE Pure Power - Fall 2008 In the News Commissioning CHP Enhancing Emergency Lighting Data Centers for Uncle Sam Handling a Nuisance Trip Sustainable Projects and Partnerships New Products Ad Index

CSE Pure Power - Fall 2008

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