Fire Code/UFC Regs?

Sun Mar 13 14:50:26 UTC 2005

At 09:08 AM 3/13/2005, Josh Vince wrote:

>Here's what APC has to say about it:
>
>http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=jTAq9iAh&p_lva=&p_faqid=1372&p_created=1010390400&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9ncmlkc29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTM4NyZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PXN1cmdlIGludG8gVVBTJnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9MyZwX3Byb2RfbHZsMT1_YW55fiZwX3Byb2RfbHZsMj1_YW55fiZwX3BhZ2U9Mg**&p_li=
>
>Sorry about the wrap...
>
>Basically, they say not to plug surge strips into the output of a UPS.
>You should use PDU's instead.

Or, more basically: Buy APC's power strips, because we think we engineered 
them correctly, and think nobody else possibly could design a decent power 
strip.

Here's a URL showing some of their rack mounted PDU products

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=30

While I like APC products, I have to wonder whether this "requirement" for 
using only "PDU" products was written by their lawyers to cover liability 
concerns when someone uses a low-quality power strip, and/or their 
marketing folks to push their own power strips.

>Josh
>
>
>On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 11:46:50 -0700, Michael Loftis <mloftis at wgops.com> wrote:
> >
> > OK this is only probably marginally operational.  Yesterday we were
> > inspected (quite thoroughly I might add.....) by the city fire inspector
> > for Missoula, MT....Now we did have a couple of things I know need fixing,
> > an emergency light with a dead battery upstairs, I'm using a long orange
> > extension cord w/o a breaker on it for my monitor at my desk.  And one
> > incidence where we had some piggy-backing going on.
> >
> > Now what I'm asking is this:  we were told that you can NOT plug in breaker
> > protected six outlet strips into battery backup units such as APCs, and we
> > were (or are) being written up for that.  My understanding is that most/all
> > (atleast APC units) are properly de-rated (per UFC) and you *can* plug in
> > additional breaker protected extension cords into these units.
> >
> > The problem is if this is not the case we'll be having to put a LOT more
> > BBUs out into our office for workstations than what we planned.  I've also
> > never seen this cited as a problem but I could just be ignorant too.
> >
> > Please reply off-list.  Sorry if anyone feels like this is a waste of time,
> > but if there is interest I will summarize on list.
> >
> > If this really is true then I can see a lot of places breaking this fire
> > code even here locally.  I'm not sure what part of the code it is but he's
> > stated that if I can get him some form of documentation from teh
> > manufacturer or something then he can make a deviation.  With a 2200VA unit
> > only having 4-6 outlets on it I can't see *not* using additional power
> > strip off the back of it.
> >
> > Thanks guys, back to the regular NANOG channel...
> >
> > --
> > GPG/PGP --> 0xE736BD7E 5144 6A2D 977A 6651 DFBE 1462 E351 88B9 E736 BD7E
> >