Emergency Lighting

Emergency Lighting provides the lighting required for use when the supply to normal lighting fails to enable the safe exit from a building. In the event of mains failure, the luminaires provide instant lighting for a minimum of three hours.

where to site luminaires

BS 5266 / Part1 1999 provides detailed guidance on where luminaires should be installed and the minimum levels of illumination for escape routes and open areas, together with the minimum period of lumination duration of the luminaire after failure of normal lighting. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) regulations 1996, requires that adequate provision of exit and safety signs be provided and which are to be illuminated by emergency lighting.

A Near stairs and near changes of level.
B Near, within 2 metres of fire fighting equipment and alarm call points.
C Near each intersection of corridors.
D Near each change of direction.
E To illuminate exit doors and safety signs.
F Outside and near to each final exit.

G Both outside and within lifts.
H Toilets and facility areas of greater than 8m2.
I Moving stairways and walkways.
J Pedestrian escape routes from covered and multi-storey car parks.
K Open floor areas greater than 60m2.
L Moving or hazardous machinery, generator, control and plant rooms.