2992

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 846

ANY BUILDING FOR COMMERCIAL, MERCANTILE, INDUSTRIAL,
STORAGE, OFFICE, OR SIMILAR PURPOSES IS REQUIRED WHERE THE
BUILDING IS AT LEAST FOUR STORIES, EXCLUDING ATTICS, AND
BASEMENTS, AND BELOW GROUND LEVEL FLOORS, OCCUPANY EVENING
OCCUPANCY IS MORE THAN 25 PERSONS.

(4) THE SERVICE WIRING AND THE INDIVIDUAL

CIRCUITS OF THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM SHALL BE INDEPENDENT OF THE
REGULAR ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM.

(5) (4) THE CONTROL OF THE EMERGENCY SOURCE OF
ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND POWER SHALL BE FULLY AUTOMATIC AND
NOT DEPENDENT ON ANY MANUAL OPERATION OF ANY SWITCH OR

DEVICE. THIS AUTOMATIC CONTROL SHALL OPERATE THE EMERGENCY

SOURCE IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE NORMAL POWER SUPPLY
WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ILLUMINATION LEVEL TO FALL BELOW THE
MINIMUM REQUIRED BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE
STATE FIRE COMMISSION. ALL EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS SHALL
BE CONTROLLED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION WITHIN 20
SECONDS AFTER THE NORMAL SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER HAS
FAILED.

(4) INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF EMERGENCY
LIGHTING AND POWER SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA 101 (THE
NATIONAL LIFE SAFETY CODE) AND NFPA 70 (THE NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE).

(E) THE EMERGENCY ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION MAY BE POWERED BY GENERATORS,
BATTERY PACKS, OR OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES AT THE DISCRETION OF
THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE.

(E) (F) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS
ARTICLE, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION APPLY IN BALTIMORE
CITY. IN BALTIMORE CITY, THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT SHALL
ENFORCE THESE PROVISIONS AND ANY APPEALS CONCERNING THESE
PROVISIONS SHALL BE MADE TO THE CITY FIRE BOARD.

(F) (G) ANY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PENALTY PROVISIONS OF § 13
OF THIS ARTICLE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1980 January 1, 1981.

Approved May 27, 1980.

CHAPTER 847
(House Bill 270)
AN ACT concerning