2010 Emergency Power Supply Systems - Generators Reminder List

8/25/11

Applicable Codes and Standards

CBC 2010, CEC 2010, CMC 2010, CFC 2010
NFPA 30 2008, NFPA 37 2006, NFPA 99 2005, NFPA 110 2005
CHK

N/A

I. Generator Connections
1. Engine Room to be separated from the remainder of the building by a 1-hr Fire
Barrier. 2-hr Fire Barrier for Level 1 Installations, NFPA 99: 4.4.1.1.8,110:7.2.1.1, I-2
occupancies over 75 ft above the lowest level of FD access, engine room separated
by 2 hr.fire barrier. CFC Sec. 604.2.14.1
2. Exterior openings shall be protected below or within 10' of building openings.
3. Interior openings allowed in other than Group I occupancy when sprinklered
throughout.
4. Generators shall not be located in a room or area used for any other purpose.

CBC 432.2.1
NFPA 37 4.1.2.1.1,

5. Occupancies shall be separated by fire barriers in accordance with CBC Table 508.4.

CBC 508.4.4

CBC 432.2.2
CBC 432.2.2.1
CBC 432.2.3

6. Engines situated to be accessible for maintenance, repair and fire fighting.

7. Detached structures shall be of noncombustible or fire-resistive construction and
located 5' min from building openings and combustible constrcuction.
8. Detached structures shall be located at least 5ft from openings in walls and at least 5
ft from structures having combustible walls. (see exceptions listed)
9. Dedicated detached structures shall have ventilation to prevent the accumulation of
flammable vapors.
10. Engines and enclosures installed on roofs shall be located at least 5 ft from openings
and from structures having combustible walls.(see exceptions listed)

NFPA 37 4.1.1.1
NFPA 37 4.1.2.2.1

11. Roof installation shall have an oil containment system consiting of a curb or dike
having a capacity the greater of the fuel system or oil system. (see chapter 6)

NFPA 37 4.1.3.2

12. Roof surface shall be noncombustible to a minimum distance of 12 in below engine

and beyond curb or dike.
13. Engines installed outdoors shall be located at least 5 ft from building openings and
combustible walls. (see exceptions listed)
14. Adequate air to be provided for cooling and to replenish engine combustion air.

NFPA 37 4.1.3.3

15. Level 1 systems shall have supply and discharge air directly to the exterior or through
a 2-hr fire rated transfer system w/o dampers
16. Energy converters shall not be located in the generator room.
17. Provisions shall be made to maintain generator room to maximum ambient air
temperature required by the EPS manufacturer.
18. When sprinklered .3/2500sqft density w/ 100sqft max sprinkler spacing is required.

NFPA 37 4.1.2.2.2
NFPA 37 4.1.2.2.3
NFPA 37 4.1.3.1

NFPA 37 4.1.4
NFPA 37 4.1.1.2 NFPA
99 4.4.1.1.12.2
NFPA 99 4.4.1.1.12.2
NFPA 99 4.4.1.1.8.1
NFPA 99 4.4.1.1.12.1

NFPA 37 11.4.5.1

CHK

N/A

II. Generator Protection

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

No combustible materials permitted in room.

Title 19 Sec. 3.19(f)

Monitoring of secondary containment.

Protected by fire sprinklers if H-3 Occupancy.
Diesel engines in hazard locations shall have a shut down on fuel and air.
Water jacket heater provided or room heated.
Remote annunciation at location readily observed by personnel.
Remote audible & visible alarm at continuously monitored location.
Heated enclosure or battery heater provided for outdoor enclosures.
Automatic battery charger provided.
Panel - control functions per 5.6.5.1
Normal power service equipment not permitted in generator room where service
equipment is >150 volts or 1000 amperes.
12. Equipment located to minimize damage resulting from flooding, sewer backup,
vandalism, tampering, or sabotage. (see A7.1.2, A7.2.3, A7.2.4)
13. Generators readily accessible for repair, maintenance, cleaning, or replacement.

CFC 2704.2.2.5
CFC 3405.3.7.3
NFPA 37 9.2.2
NFPA 99 4.4.1.1.11
NFPA 99 4.4.1.1.17
NFPA 99 4.4.1.1.17
NFPA 110 5.3.1
NFPA 110 5.6.4.6
NFPA 110 5.6.5.1
NFPA 110 7.2.4,
7.11.1,7.2.1.2
NFPA 110 7.2.4

14. Siesmic Certification Pre-approval per 1708A.4 (8/23/11)

CBC Sec. 1708A

2010 Emergency Power Supply

Page 1 of 3

CEC 430.14,NFPA 110

7.2.6

CHK

N/A

2010 Emergency Power Supply Systems - Generators Reminder List

8/25/11

III. Generator Fuel Supply

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Minimum fuel supply of 24 hrs. for acute care hospital. (Min 72hrs for NPC-5)
Minimum fuel supply of 6 hrs. for SNF, Psych, ICF.
Minimum fuel supply of 4 hrs. for ambulatory surgery clinics.
Liquid fuel shall feed to engines by pumps only.
Fuel supply for exclusive use of EPSS or separate draw down.
Fuel tanks shall be sized to accommodate the specific EPS class
Low-fuel sensing switch required for the main fuel supply tank(s).
Flexible hoses for cooling system provided.
Exhaust piping shall be connected to the prime mover by means of a flexible
connector.
10. Flexible electrical conduit connections provided.
CHK

N/A

Provisions shall be made for pressure testing of piping.

Protected from corrosion and galvanic action.
Supports protected by 2-hr fire rating or other approved means.
Approved metallic or nonmetallic flex connectors permitted to protect the piping. CFC
Sec. 3403.6.9, 3403.9.1, 3403.6.9.10
5. Valves shall be provided to control normal flow and shut off flow for breaks.
6. Fuel piping shall be of compatible metal to minimize electrolysis and be properly
sized.
7. Galvanized fuel lines shall not be used. CFC Sec. 3403.6.2, 3403.6.5
8. Approved flexible fuel lines shall be used between the prime mover and the fuel
piping.
9. EPS piping shall be designed to minimize damage from earthquakes.NFPA 110
7.11.5
10. Check piping per CFC Sec. 2703.2.2.2
(locations prohibited)
N/A

NFPA 110 7.12.4

IV. Generator Fuel Supply/Return Piping

1.
2.
3.
4.

CHK

CEC 700-12(B)(2)Exc.1
CEC 700-12(B)(2)Exc.2
CEC 700-12(B)(2)Exc.3
NFPA 37 6.9
NFPA 110 5.5.1, 5.5.1.1
NFPA 110 5.5.3
NFPA 110 5.5.2
NFPA 110 7.8.5
NFPA 110 7.10.3

CFC 3403.6.3
CFC 3403.6.5
CFC 3403.6.8
NFPA 37 6.8.2.1
CFC Sec.3403.6.6
CFC Sec.3403.6.5
NFPA 110 7.9.3.1
NFPA 110 7.9.3.2
CFC 2703.2.8
NFPA 704 Sec. 6.2

V. Generator Day Tanks

1. Required when fuel pump lift (suction head) is not adequate.
2. Liquid storage room (H3) >1000 sq ft must have at least 25% of perimeter on an
exterior wall. Note Exceptions.
3. Liquid storage room must be separated from adjacent occupancies as required for H3 occupancies.
4. Signage in accordance with NFPA 704 >100 gal.
5. Fabrication & construction of tanks complies with NFPA 30.
6. Vents to exterior not <12 ft above ground level and 5' from openings/lot lines.
7.
Connections made and broken shall be located outside 5' from openings/lot lines.
8. Supports and connections structurally designed per CBC and NFPA 30 4.3.1.
9. Tanks inside buildings required to have means to prevent overflow.
10. Drainage control or diking required for aboveground tanks located outside.
11. Drainage control or diking not required for listed secondary containment tanks.
(Secondary containment tanks permitted)
12. Monitoring of secondary containment required.
13. Shall not be located near or be allowed to obstruct the rout of egress route.
14. Liquid storage room/warehouse required when Max Allowed Quantity exceeded.
15. Sprinkler protection required when MAQ exceeded (120 gal for Class II).
16. Spill control and secondary containment when container exceeds 55 gal or aggregate
capacity exceeds 1000 gal.
17. Spill control and secondary containment when tank located inside structure or roof of
structure. CFC 3403.4
18. Tank required to be in dedicated room when >660 gal. See 6.3.5;6.3.6 *
19. Max aggregate 660 gal capacity of all day tanks connected to one generator.
20. Tanks required to be in dedicated room when aggregate quantity >1320 gal.**
21. Fuel tank supplied by pumps shall have (1)overflow line piped to source tank or
collection (2) overflow alarm (3) high-level automatic shutoff
* RetrictedUse&ConnectionCFC603.3.2.2Generatorsinstalledper603.3.2.4
** MAQNotapplicableforgeneratorsfuelperCFC603.3.2.3

2010 Emergency Power Supply

Page 2 of 3

NFPA 110 7.9.2

CBC 415.3
CBC 508.4.4
CFC 3404.2.3.2
CFC 3404.2.7
CFC 3404.2.7.3.3
CFC 3404.2.7.5.6
CFC 3404.2.7.7
CFC 3404.2.9.5
CFC 3404.2.10
CFC 3304.2.10, Except:
#2
CFC 2704.2.2.5
CFC 3404.3.3.3
CFC 3404.3.4.3
CFC 3404.3.4.2
CFC 2704.2.1
NFPA 37
NFPA 37
NFPA 37
NFPA 37
NFPA 37
NFPA 37

6.3.2.4
6.3.4.2
6.3.2.2
6.3.2.2
6.3.2.3
6.5.4

CHK

N/A

2010 Emergency Power Supply Systems - Generators Reminder List

8/25/11

VI. Generator Exhaust

1. Exhaust termination a minimum 25' from ventilation air inlets or windows. 10 feet
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

CHK

N/A

N/A

N/A

NFPA 37 8.2.3.1
NFPA 37 8.2.5
NFPA 37 8.3
NFPA 37 8.4
NFPA 37 8.2.2 NFPA
110 7.10.3
NFPA 110 7.10.3
NFPA 110 7.10.3.4
NFPA 110 7.10.4

Battery charger for task illumination connected to life safety branch (hospitals).
Receptacles at Gen Set connected to life safety branch (hospitals).
Generator accessories for performance connected to life safety branch .
Task illumination connected to life safety branch (SNF's).
Receptacles at Gen Set connected to life safety branch (SNF's).
Battery powered emergency lighting required.
Equipment essential to operation of generator (ventilation, fuel oil pumps, etc.)
powered by EPS.

CEC 517-32(E)
CEC 517-32(E)
CEC 517-32(F)
CEC 517-42(F)
CEC 517-42(F)
NFPA 110 7.3.1
NFPA 110 7.12.5

VIII. Exiting
1.
2.
3.
4.

CHK

CMC 407.2.1,407.2.2
NFPA 37 8.1.5

VII. Emergency Power

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

CHK

Low points in exhaust systems shall have suitable drains.NFPA 110,7.3.1

Exhaust systems shall terminate outside of structure to a safe location.
Exhaust systems shall be a metal, masonry, or factory-built chimney.
Exhaust pipes <1400degrees F shall have clearances from combustible materials as
per NFPA 37 Sec. 8.3.1.
Exhaust pipes >1400degrees F shall comply with NFPA 211
Exhaust piping shall be connected to the prime mover by means of a flexible
connector.
Exhaust shall be independently supported.
Approved thimble(s) required where exhaust passes through combustible walls or
partitions.
Exhaust system shall be designed so it does not create excessive backpressure by
proper exhaust routing, correct pipe size,connections,muffler.

Common path of travel for H-3 Occupancy > 25 ft.

Two exits required if H Occupancy with occupant load > 3.
Swing in direction of egress if H-3 Occupancy.
Panic hardware required if H-3 Occupancy.

CBC 1014.3
CBC 1015.1
CBC 1008.1.2
CBC 1008.1.10

IX. Testing
1.
2.
3.
4.

Cold start & 2-hour test with building load.

2-hour test with full load.
Cycle crank test.
All safeties required by NFPA 110 Sec. 5.6.5 and 5.6.6 shall be tested.

NFPA 110
NFPA 110
NFPA 110
NFPA 110

7.13.4.1
7.13.6
7.13.10
7.13.11

NOTE

Compliance with all items on this list does not necessarily assure compliance with all provisions of the
applicable codes and standards. This check list should be used only by persons with a comprehensive
knowledge of the applicable codes and standards.(This list is for use by OSHPD plan review staff only until
approved for outside distribution )
OSHPD Policy Intent Notices and Code Application Notices.
http://www.oshpd.state.ca.us/fdd/Regulation/index.htm
OSHPD Project Review Status
http://www.oshpd.state.ca.us/logbook/search1.asp
OSHPD Public Use Forms
http://www.oshpd.state.ca.us/fdd/Resources/forms/index.htm

2010 Emergency Power Supply

Page 3 of 3