Rich, I believe that the reason CO's are exempted from many of the building codes is the amount of work we put in to ensure that the products are safe and reliable. The sprinkler exemption comes from the fire spread requirement in GR-63. Basically, if the fire has been demonstrated to be completely contained by the individual systems, there is no need for building fire protection devices. The use of 48V systems has the benefit of being SELV (in addition to the ability to have battery backups), so licensed electricians are not required (or something to that extent). And so on and so forth...
It basically all stems from the fact that the NEBS requirements greatly exceed normal building and safety requirements - thus allowing the exemptions from many building codes. Regards, Dave Heald -----Original Message----- From: richard.pa...@exgate.tek.com [mailto:richard.pa...@exgate.tek.com] Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 6:29 PM To: emc-p...@ieee.org Subject: NEBS questions Hello Group: I am glad to see the recent NEBS related discussions. I find them interesting and relevant. So while I am thinking about NEBS, I thought I'd ask a couple of questions. I would like to understand more clearly the relationship between Central Offices and local building codes. I understand that the NEC basically exempts CO's. And that would mean that any local AHJ adopting the NEC unchanged would have the same exemption. But I am wondering how the CO's themselves view the local building codes. Maybe they just ignore them, but perhaps they voluntarily try to meet them ? Of course there's a lot of the actual requirements that are covered by the NEBS requirements, but it would seem like some things (mains service entrance ?) may not be covered. Also, where exactly is the line that divides the exempt CO area from where the local codes are applicable ? As I think about it now, I don't recall the specific wording of the NEC's exemption, but It would seem that it would include any requirement for using "Listed" equipment or components. Although GR1089 does seem to require Listing for AC mains connected equipment, do some companies require Listing for equipment connected to the CO DC supply ? The benefit of your experience and thoughtful comments will be appreciated. Thanks Richard Payne Tektronix, Inc. Product Safety Engineering Tel: 503 627-1820 Fax: 503 627-3838 email: richard.pa...@tektronix.com ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Dave Heald: davehe...@attbi.com For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://ieeepstc.mindcruiser.com/ Click on "browse" and then "emc-pstc mailing list" ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Dave Heald: davehe...@attbi.com For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://ieeepstc.mindcruiser.com/ Click on "browse" and then "emc-pstc mailing list"