Replies

1. 
   PeteVa | Jan 19, 2006 02:51am | #1

   I think you also need to look into your local and state regulations for public building access, egress and fire issues on an occupied building. There are probably switches but in a central, controlled, location. I can just see 'junior' wondering how many folks he can trip by flipping a light switch off during class change.

1. 
   davidpaul52 | Jan 19, 2006 04:41am | #2

   Thanks, Pete...make sense to me that there may be other regulations, I didn't think of that. I am used to following the NEC in my residential work, and know that there must be a switched light at every entry of a room/area. I just thought the same rule would apply to schools, offices etc.

2. 
   Tim | Jan 19, 2006 08:23pm | #3

   In Illinois, there are School Codes that apply to issues such as emergency egress lighting. Not going to be under the scope of the NFPA/NEC. For the most part, the school codes follow standard building codes, such as BOCA, but the AHJ is not the local authorities. City and county building departments have zero jurisdiction over schools, in this state.

   The lights do not have to be on at unoccupied times, but the switches don't have to be accessible in public places either. I can't quote the code sections that would explain this, but I am sure of the requirements. I performed Life Safety reviews for many of the school districts in the area when I was working for a small Engineering firm.

1. 
   DanH | Jan 19, 2006 11:15pm | #4

   Last I looked (which was before many of you were born), schools in at least some states had a number of special requirements. (Eg, at least 20 feet between boys' and girls' bathroom entrances.) Many of these are written into law, vs being in the codes.
   If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people

   happy?