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Subject: Emergency Generators in Condo Projects?

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dchestney
Posts:1261

02/05/2010 7:18 AM	Alert
A specific question recently posed leads me to ask a more general one: If you now live in (or in the past lived in) a high-rise condo building (or even if you have certain knowledge about such a building), does/did it have an emergency generator that turns on whenever there is a power failure? And what electrical services does it activate? Does the building code here require that there be such a generator, and under what conditions?

wilson
Posts:1704

02/05/2010 1:42 PM	Alert
dchestney, Assuming that SD is using the International Building Code without a bunch of odd amendments, all room/spaces requiring two or more exits need exit signage and emergency egress illumnation. Those usually have built-in battery backup, but could be powered by a generator. When you get to high-rsie structures (defined by IBC as over 75 feet tall), a number of other requirements come into play. Stair towers need pressurization to keep out smoke. Elevators may be used as an accessible means of egress. Current code requires a room in a highrise that can be used as a fire command center. These type of systems need to be powered by a generator. Some systems need power by a standby generator and others may need power from an emergency generator. Buildings need to comply with the codes in effect when the building was built. Since codes have changed over the years, you may see different applications in buildings of different ages. Standby or emergency generators must power the essential systems they are deisgned to provide. If they power other items, they must be able to shed the non-critical loads and prioritize the critical loads. Often the generator will be only sized for the critical systems because of cost and fuel storage demands. Never or rarely would a generator be sized and wired to serve individual condo units. It is prohibitively expensive.

wilson
Posts:1704

02/06/2010 8:53 PM	Alert
.........does your sprinkler system have an electric fire pump? Your building maintenance staff should be able to tell you what is hooked up to your standby generator. If you have access to building drawings, the electrical drawings will have a one-line diagram that shows how the electrical distribution is set up and what loads are fed by the generator. Look for the generator and the automatic transfer switch.

dchestney
Posts:1261

02/07/2010 7:18 AM	Alert
Thank you, Wilson. I posted this topic/question to find out what the situation is in other high rise condos in SD. So far, no info posted.

wilson
Posts:1704

02/07/2010 6:58 PM	Alert
Not surprising. Most people woudn't know or necessarily care to know what those systems are.

jmail_3451
Posts:25

02/07/2010 11:02 PM	Alert
Here at Alicante we have generator that powers hall lights, garage lights, and elevator. It ran about thirty longer then the power black out. I found it odd that it did not power garage gate. I also check out Altas which is only 6 stories so maybe not a high rise? No generator just two - four hours worth of backup lights. No elevator power. No idea what would happen of you where in the elevator when the power went out.

cbr600f4i
Posts:160

02/11/2010 1:13 PM	Alert
Luckily power is stable in CA but it would be nice to have backup power via generators, esp in you're in the elevator or toilet.

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