Legally Required Standby Systems

NYC Admin. Code tit. 28, ch. 11, art. New York City Amendments to the 2020 National Electrical Code., art. 701

in effect

NYC Electrical Code § 701.1

Section 701.1 Section 701.1 – Add a new Informational Note No. 4 at the end of Section 701.1 to read as follows: Informational Note No. 4: See New York City Building Code Chapter 27, Electrical, for additional requirements including load type, transfer equipment location, power source enclosure fire rating, fuel types, and additional requirements.

NYC Electrical Code § 701.3

Section 701.3 Section 701.3 – Revise Section 701.3 to read as follows: (A) Conduct or Witness Test. Inspection and testing requirements shall be performed in accordance with New York City Building Code Chapter 17. (B) Tested Periodically. Systems shall be periodically tested in accordance with the schedule and requirements set forth in the New York City Fire Code to ensure the systems are maintained in proper operating condition. (C) Maintenance. Legally required standby system equipment shall be maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions and industry standards. (D) Written Record. A written record of such tests and maintenance shall be kept on premises. (E) Testing Under Load. Means for testing legally required standby systems under load shall be provided. Informational Note: For information on testing and maintenance of legally required standby systems, see New York City Fire Code and its amended referenced standard NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems.

NYC Electrical Code § 701.5

Section 701.5 Section 701.5 – Add new Sections 701.5(E) and 701.5(F) to read as follows: (E) Manual Operation. Means shall be provided to manually operate the switch without hazard to personnel. (F) Permanent Connections for Portable Generators. Where a permanent connection is made for a portable generator, a disconnecting means and overcurrent protection shall be provided at the point of connection for the portable generator. Capacity shall not exceed the capacity of the permanent installation.

NYC Electrical Code § 701.6

Section 701.6 Section 701.6 – Revise the opening paragraph in Section 701.6 to read as follows: 701.6 Signals. Where required by the New York City Building Code, audible and visual signal devices shall be provided for the purposes described in 701.6(A) through (D), and shall announce at a constantly attended location.

NYC Electrical Code § 701.11

Section 701.11 Section 701.11 – Add a new Section 701.11 to read as follows: 701.11 Generator Supply Conductors without Overcurrent Protection. (A) Conductors Ampacity. See 445.13 of this code. (B) Installation of Generator Conductors. Conductors from the generator output terminal to the first overcurrent device shall be installed in accordance with 230.6. (C) Overcurrent Devices. The number of overcurrent devices supplied by the generator shall not be limited.

NYC Electrical Code § 701.12

Section 701.12 Section 701.12 – Add an Informational Note at the end of Section 701.12(C) to read as follows: Informational Note: See Chapter 27 of the New York City Building Code, New York City Fire Code, and Articles 480 and 706 for additional requirements for storage batteries. Section 701.12 – Revise Section 701.12(D)(2) to read as follows: (2) Internal Combustion Engines as Prime Mover. Where internal combustion engines are used as the prime mover, an on-site fuel supply shall be provided with an on-premises fuel supply sufficient for not less than 6 hours of full-demand operation of the system. Where power is needed for the operation of the fuel transfer pumps to deliver fuel to a generator set day tank, the pumps shall be connected to the legally required standby power system. Informational Note: Operational requirements in other codes and regulations may specify fuel supplies that support longer durations of operation for some occupancies. See Articles 517 and 708. Section 701.12 – Revise Exception in Section 701.12(D)(3) to read as follows: Exception: Legally required standby generators relying on natural gas as a fuel supply where allowed by the New York City Building Code shall not be required to maintain an on-site fuel supply. Section 701.12 – Add a new Section 701.12(D)(6) to read as follows: (6) Grounding of Temporary Generators Connected to Building Wiring System. Temporary generators used to supply building wiring systems shall comply with 250.35(A) for separately derived systems or 250.35(B) for non-separately derived systems. Section 701.12 – Revise Section 701.12(F) to read as follows: (F) DELETED. Section 701.12 – Revise Section 701.12(G) to read as follows: (G) DELETED. Section 701.12 – Revise Section 701.12(H) to read as follows: (H) Fuel Cell System. Fuel cell systems used as a source of power for legally required standby systems shall be of suitable rating and capacity to supply and maintain the total load for not less than 6 hours of full-demand operation. Installation of a fuel cell system shall meet the requirements of Parts II through VIII of Article 692. Where a single fuel cell system serves as the normal supply for the building or group of buildings concerned, it shall not serve as the sole source of power for the legally required standby system. Section 701.12 – Revise Section 701.12(I) to read as follows: (I) DC Microgrid Systems. Microgrid systems shall not be permitted unless approved by the AHJ. Sources connected to a DC microgrid system shall be permitted where the system is capable of being isolated from all sources that are not legally required. A DC microgrid system used as a source of power for legally required systems shall be of suitable rating and capacity to supply and maintain the total legally required load for not less than 6 hours of full-demand operation. Where a DC microgrid system source serves as the normal supply for the building or group of buildings concerned, it shall not serve as the sole source of power for the legally required standby system.

NYC Electrical Code § 701.31

Section 701.31 Section 701.31 – Revise Section 701.31 to read as follows: 701.31 Ground Fault Protection of Equipment. The alternate source for legally required standby systems shall not be permitted to have ground fault protection for equipment with automatic disconnecting means. Ground fault indication of the legally required standby source shall be provided pursuant to 701.6(D).

NYC Electrical Code § 701.32

Section 701.32 Section 701.32 – Revise Section 701.32 to read as follows: 701.32 Coordination of Overcurrent Protective Devices. Overcurrent protective devices shall be coordinated in accordance with (A) or (B). Selective coordination shall be selected by a licensed professional engineer or other qualified person engaged primarily in the design, installation, or maintenance of electrical systems. The selection shall be documented and made available to those authorized to design, install, inspect, maintain, and operate the system. (A) New Legally Required Standby Systems. Legally required standby system(s) overcurrent devices shall be selectively coordinated with all supply-side overcurrent protective devices. (B) Modifications to Previously Approved Legally Required Standby Systems. Legally required standby system(s) overcurrent devices shall have limited level coordination with all supply-side overcurrent protective devices. Exception to (A) and (B): Selective coordination shall not be required between 2 overcurrent devices located in series if no loads are connected in parallel with the downstream device.

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-232746Fetched: 10/24/2026