Don’t Get Stuck in the Dark

KNOW THE CODE

Standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the International Building Code (IBC) must be followed when installing and maintaining exit signs and emergency lighting in a commercial or industrial building. Emergency lighting must also meet Underwriters Laboratories UL 924 standard. On top of industry regulations, state and local governing authorities may have additional standards that must be met to be up to code. Check the lighting requirements of these governing institutions to avoid violations and possible fines for non-compliance.

THE LIFE SAFETY CODE

First established by the NFPA in 1913, the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) is the most widely recognized source for strategies to protect occupants of a building. It considers building construction, protection and occupancy features to minimize the outcome of fire or other hazardous conditions. It covers life safety in both new and existing buildings.

In relation to lighting, the Life Safety Code mandates that all commercial buildings have clear and visible emergency exit lighting and signage that will allow safe departure of people within the building during an emergency.

Several crucial requirements initiated by the Life Safety code include:

• Emergency lights must be installed in all stairs, aisles, corridors and passageways that lead to an exit.
• Emergency exit signage must be illuminated and visible from all directions leading to the exit.
• Emergency lighting and exit signs must provide emergency illumination for a minimum of 90 minutes after power has been interrupted.
• A minimum level of emergency illumination (initially 1 foot-candle) must be present along the path of egress to allow safe passage from a building during a loss of normal lighting.
• Emergency systems must be tested when initially installed to confirm they stay lit for at least 30 seconds and must have ongoing scheduled testing and documentation to ensure systems are ready for emergency use.

OSHA, in its standard 1910.35, determined that those employers following the exit-route provisions of NFPA 101 meet OSHA requirements and thus adopted the Life Safety code guidelines. The IBC also supports many of the same requirements as the Life Safety Code as it pertains to fire prevention in new construction and renovation projects. However, it specifically requires emergency lighting in areas not designated as paths of egress, such as fire pump rooms and fire command centers.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING SOLUTIONS

While every emergency lighting solution has common elements and code requirements to be met, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each system is unique to the design style and structure of the space, to the needs of those populating the building and to the budget available to install a suitable system for the facility. An array of emergency lighting products are available to tailor your system to your specific application.

Emergency exit signs are required for public and commercial buildings. They are generally placed atop exit doors or along paths of egress pointing the way to an exit. A variety of unit styles are available EXRG Red by Lithonia Lighting including architectural, industrial, harsh location and exit/ emergency light combos. Check your local regulations for specifications on lettering size, viewing distance and color. Other performance options include internal battery power or self-testing capabilities.

Emergency lighting units are stand-alone units strategically mounted on walls or ceilings to effectively light up the paths of egress. When power loss occurs, the unit activates to supply illumination via its internal battery. Units generally contain a test switch and charge indicator for physical testing and visual inspection, but some models include automatic self-testing programming.

Remote lighting heads provide added functionality to particular battery-powered exit signs and emergency lights to areas where battery power isn’t viable, such as extremely high or low temperature areas or outdoor egress paths. Remotes do not contain batteries, making them cost effective options. Some remotes are compatible with self-testing/self diagnostic emergency lights and exit signs.

Emergency LED drivers and ballasts allow a facility to use its existing fixtures, such as troffers or panels, as both general and emergency lighting. They supply battery back-up to existing fixtures, letting them deliver emergency egress lighting where needed and at proper illumination levels. Wired in conjunction with the normal LED driver and board, the emergency driver kicks in if normal power cuts off.

Inverter systems deliver auxiliary AC power to designated fixtures to operate at full brightness in an emergency. Their capabilities allow them to run virtually any type of lighting (LED, fluorescent, incandescent, etc.) with load sizes from 25W to 50KVA. Inverters allow you to supply emergency power to a single fixture, a designated emergency circuit or a building’s entire lighting system making them beneficial to facilities of most any size and category.

Automatic Load Control Relays (ALCR) are control devices that allow the use of energy-saving controls on emergency lighting without compromising their performance in case of power loss. ALCR override switch, dimmer, sensor or other control settings when normal power is lost, enabling an auxiliary inverter or generator to power them on at full output. They can be embedded at the fixture level or can control a complete emergency circuit. They can be used with any lighting technology and with networked or non-networked lighting systems.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING TAKEAWAYS

• Emergency signs and lighting are regulated by a variety of industry, state and local regulations. Know them to properly light exit paths and avoid violations and possible fines.
• Design of your emergency lighting system needs to also take into consideration the needs of those occupying the building and how people specifically move throughout the space.
• Your facility’s design features such as architecture, size, ambiance, functionality and more influence the choice of the best emergency lighting solution for your needs.
• A variety of emergency lighting solutions are available to work in combination to meet your facility’s specific needs and your available budget.