Emergency Lighting Installations
Emergency lighting is vital to help people escape from a building when necessary. It highlights the escape route and essential fire equipment en route permitting safe evacuation. Emergi-Lite Safety Systems will now discuss requirements for designing emergency lighting systems.
Exit Signs
Any point on, or leading to, an escape route must have an exit sign so that there is no ambiguity in the direction of escape. BS5499 format pictograms and European format pictograms are acceptable within the UK Signs and Signal Regulations. Text only signs are obsolete and must be replaced. Exit signboards can be used, providing that an adjacent emergency luminaire illuminates the board adequately. A more effective way of emphasising the way out is to use internally illuminated exit signs, such as the Emergi-Lite Navigator, Mistral, Horizon, Silver-Lite or Corniche Ranges.
Escape Routes
It is essential that people can move safely along an escape route in an emergency. There are often minor hazards such as steps that should be illuminated. It is not unusual for an object (trolleys, boxes, suitcases) to be left on the escape route, in which case the lighting should be sufficient [a minimum of 1 lux on the escape route] for people to see the obstruction and avoid it.
Open Areas
Where an escape route leads through an open area, then illumination of 0.5 Lux minimum should be provided.
Points of Emphasis
The following places have been identified at which emergency luminaires should be located:
1). Near Stairs
2). Near changes of level
3). Near changes of direction
4). Near the intersection of corridors
5). Near an exit door
6). Near each piece of fire-fighting equipment or manual call points
7). Near each First Aid point