BCAB #1376 - Emergency Power Supply for Buildings, Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1)

January 18, 1995

BCAB #1376

Re: Emergency Power Supply for Buildings, Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1)

Project Description

The project in question is a ferry terminal with several separate buildings.

Power is supplied to a main transformer on the site and then supplied to each building by primary feeder system owned and maintained by the property owner. All the buildings are supplied with emergency power from a single emergency generator.

Reason for Appeal

Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1) requires an emergency power supply for the required emergency lighting that "...will continue to supply power in the event that the regular power supply to the building is interrupted...".

Appellant's Position

The appellant contends that the emergency generator need only be activated by a power failure to the main site transformer and not by failure of the primary feeder supply to any individual building on the site.

Building Official's Position

The building official maintains that the Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1) is clear in requiring emergency power in the event that the regular power supply to the building is interrupted. This interruption could be as a result of damage to the supply within the building, failure of the primary feeder system within the site or failure of the main supply from the power utility company. Based on the appellant's interpretation an emergency situation affecting only a building's power supply, such as an internal fire, could result in no emergency systems to assist evacuation and/or fire fighting measures and the building official does not consider this to meet the intent of the code.

Appeal Board Decision #1376

It is the determination of the Board that the regular power supply to the building is interpreted as the supply as it enters the building. This may be power directly from the utility, from a primary feeder or some other system such as a private power supply. If this regular power supply fails for any reason the emergency supply must take over to power the required emergency backup systems.

George R. Humphrey, Chair