The National Electrical Code includes a revised requirement in Section 210.70 for switches and wall-mounted control devices used in lighting circuits. Previously, battery power was sufficient; however, that is now disallowed unless there is adequate backup power for the battery, which is usually not the case.

The exact 2023 NEC language states: “210.70 Lighting Outlets Required. Lighting outlets shall be installed where specified in 210.70(A), (B), and (C). The switch or wall-mounted control device shall not rely exclusively on a battery unless a means is provided for automatically energizing the lighting outlets upon battery failure.”

Section 210.70 applies to living spaces, such as homes, apartments and hotel guest rooms, and is intended to allow inhabitants’ ability to safely exit a building during an emergency. Dead batteries would disallow emergency lights from turning on.

EnOcean Alliance, an association of companies and interests whose main business focus is construction and technology, has come up with a solution for the change. The organization is dedicated to developing new technology solutions that are sustainable and require minimal maintenance in their radio standard ISO/IEC 14543-3-10/11.

This new standard calls for different configurations that enable a constant power source that backs up the battery power source used for switching and control components. Specifically, devices “derive their energy from their environment using miniaturized energy harvesters and ultra-low power wireless technology,” according to a May 2023 press release. This is made possible through a very small component that converts kinetic energy (e.g., pushing a light switch on or off) to electrical energy, which provides sufficient backup power to the switches and is thus Code-compliant. By pushing a button on the switch, a low-energy radio telegram command is sent to a matched receiver module, such as a lamp receptacle, without more external power. Sensors accompanying the new switches also can harvest energy from other environmental sources such as temperature differentials, ambient room light and available magnetic fields.

The net result is a great example of how an association of member firms worked collaboratively to adapt to a solution that affected many of their members.