Should illumination in electrical equipment rooms be solely automatic?

Illumination in electrical equipment rooms should not be solely automatic for several important reasons. While automatic lighting can enhance convenience and energy efficiency—turning on lights when movement is detected or during certain operational hours—it is also crucial to maintain a manual control option. This allows personnel to ensure adequate visibility during maintenance or emergencies, particularly when there may be a need for consistent, controlled lighting when automatic systems either fail to activate or do so at inappropriate times.

Relying exclusively on automatic systems can lead to situations where important tasks require more immediate or consistent lighting than what the automatic system would provide. Additionally, manual controls allow for adjustments based on specific needs or circumstances that may not align with the automated settings. Thus, the flexibility of having both automatic and manual lighting options supports safety and operational efficacy in electrical equipment rooms.