Emergency lighting relays in New York are the devices that force emergency fixtures to full output when normal power is lost. In New York City specifically, the testing and inspection regime established by the NYC Fire Code goes beyond the national baseline. On top of UL924 listing, it adds its own periodic testing and record-keeping requirements, verified through Department of Buildings and Fire Department inspections.
Functional Devices, Inc. manufactures a family of UL924-listed emergency lighting relays—the ESR series—alongside its broader line of RIB® (Relay-In-a-Box®) building automation products, including models with a built-in test capability for recurring NYC inspections.
What UL924 Governs, and What New York City Adds
UL924 is the national standard for emergency lighting and power equipment. A UL924-listed automatic load control relay (ALCR) energizes an emergency lighting load when normal utility power fails, overriding anything controlling the fixture during normal operation. NEC Article 700 covers emergency systems generally, including the requirement that emergency illumination be available upon loss of normal power. A UL924-listed relay can satisfy this requirement: it monitors normal power and, upon power loss, drives the emergency load to full brightness.
On top of this, the NYC Fire Code sets a general testing and record-keeping duty for emergency lighting serving means of egress. Separately, assembly spaces—those whose Certificate of Occupancy allows 75 or more people to gather indoors—must pass Place of Assembly inspections in which emergency lighting is checked. Both of these obligations are specific to New York City, and each is covered in its own section below.
The ESR Family of Emergency Lighting Relays
Within the ESR series are two device types that fulfill the UL924-listing requirement: full ALCRs that switch an emergency fixture with the surrounding normal lighting during normal operation, then force it to full output on power loss, overriding whatever switch or dimmer was controlling it; and simpler bypass/shunt relays that bypass a local switch to force a fixture on when normal power drops, without the fuller control an ALCR provides.
Selecting the right ESR relay depends on how a fixture is controlled during normal operation. An ALCR is the correct choice when a fixture needs to switch and dim with its surrounding lighting; a bypass/shunt relay is the correct choice when the fixture simply needs to be forced on at power loss.
- The ESRN is an ALCR. It accepts 120 V–277 V inputs, supports 0–10V dimming override, allows a fire alarm panel to trigger the emergency circuit via dry contact, and includes a built-in test button and LED indicators for commissioning and inspection.
- The ESRB provides a similar set of emergency features to the ESRN but mounts inside the ballast channel, which suits retrofit work and shallow enclosures where hardware placement is constrained.
- The ESRLBC is a slim-enclosure ALCR built for linear lighting and fixture-mount applications, with an isolated relay for use with 0–10V and DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) dimming.
- For a simpler approach, the ESR2401B (120 VAC) and ESR2402B (208–277 VAC) provide 20A contact ratings and UL924 compliance. When normal power is present, the fixture is switched normally; when normal power drops, the relay forces the light on.
Emergency Lighting in New York City Place of Assembly Inspections
Assembly spaces are where New York City’s emergency lighting requirements become most stringent. Any space whose Certificate of Occupancy allows 75 or more people to gather indoors—restaurants, houses of worship, banquet halls, clubs, school assembly rooms, and similar spaces—needs a Place of Assembly Certificate of Operation. The certificate is issued after a Department of Buildings inspection.
At this Department of Buildings inspection, an Emergency Lighting Letter from the licensed electrician on record, or a TR1 form from a registered special inspector, must be on site; failure to produce it is one of the most common reasons for failing a Place of Assembly inspection. After a certificate is issued, the Fire Department inspects the space annually for this Place of Assembly permit, as well as checking that the emergency lighting is still in working order.
Testing and Inspection in New York City
Separate from the Place of Assembly process, the NYC Fire Code sets a general testing duty for emergency lighting serving means of egress. Under FC 1027.9, that lighting must be periodically inspected and tested: a monthly activation test of at least 30 seconds (FC 1027.9.1), and for battery-powered equipment an annual test on battery power of at least 90 minutes (FC 1027.9.2). Equipment with an automated self-testing and self-diagnostic feature still requires a monthly visual inspection to check for a supervisory or trouble signal. Written records should be kept for inspection.
The ESRN includes a built-in test button and LED indicators, which let an inspector or technician verify the transfer behavior without simulating a full utility outage. For installations where testing is done from a central point, the ESRN can be wired for remote testing, so the transfer can be verified without visiting each fixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a UL924 emergency lighting relay work?
A UL924 relay is installed between lighting controls and an emergency fixture. Under normal power, the fixture is switched or dimmed as usual. Upon loss of normal power, the relay overrides the controls and forces the fixture to full output from the emergency source, regardless of the position of any wall switch, dimmer, or lighting controller.
What is the difference between an ALCR and a bypass/shunt emergency lighting relay?
An automatic load control relay (ALCR) such as the ESRN switches an emergency load with the surrounding normal lighting during normal operation and forces it to full output upon loss of normal power. A bypass-shunt relay such as the ESR2401B shunts or bypasses a local switch to force a light on when normal power drops. An ALCR is specified when the fixture is controlled with the surrounding lighting during normal use; both are UL924-listed.
Which ESR model fits a linear fixture?
The ESRLBC is a slim-enclosure ALCR for linear lighting and fixture-mount locations, with an isolated relay for 0–10V and DALI dimming.
What is the difference between UL924 and UL1008 for emergency lighting?
The two listings cover different functions. A UL924 automatic load control relay bypasses the local lighting control to force an emergency fixture on when normal power is lost. A UL1008 device transfers the branch circuit load from the normal source to the emergency source. For most applications where the goal is bypassing a switch, dimmer, or occupancy sensor to force a fixture on, UL924 is the applicable listing; UL1008 applies where the design calls for a source transfer. For a full breakdown, see UL924 vs. UL1008: Emergency Lighting Standards.
What are the emergency lighting testing requirements in New York City?
Under the NYC Fire Code (FC 1027.9), emergency lighting for means of egress must be periodically inspected and tested. FC 1027.9.1 requires a monthly activation test of at least 30 seconds. This test must be conducted manually unless the equipment has an automated self-testing feature, in which case a monthly visual inspection for a supervisory or trouble signal is required instead. FC 1027.9.2 requires that battery-powered equipment be annually tested on battery power for at least 90 minutes. Written records should be kept for inspection. A relay with a built-in test button and status LED, such as the ESRN, makes each test quick to perform and verify. Confirm the requirements for your occupancy against the current NYC Fire Code.
Source UL924 Emergency Lighting Relays in New York
Functional Devices’ ESR family covers UL924 emergency lighting control across full ALCR, ballast-channel, linear-fixture, and bypass/shunt applications, with test-capable models suited to New York City’s recurring inspection cadence.
Browse the emergency lighting lineup or find an authorized Functional Devices distributor in New York.