Exit and emergency lighting standards provide certainty that the goods and services are safe and trustworthy. These standards protect the merchandizers, customers, and end users. It is important that they are learned, understood and complied.
Exit and emergency lighting saves a lot of lives by ensuring a safe egress. In an emergency, occupants have mere minutes to escape and oftentimes have to escape in darkness, due to dense smoke or power outages. The emergency lights illuminate the routes to help people see clearly, avoid obstacles and move faster to the nearest exit.
Exit and emergency lighting standards
Exit signs and emergency evacuation procedures, ensure a safe and faster escape of the occupants
Even when one is familiar with the building, panic and anxiety might interfere with one's judgment making it difficult to escape. Should there be an emergency crisis, it is practical to have a mandatory evacuation procedure.
Exit signs, along with the emergency evacuation procedure, ensure a safe and faster escape of the occupants. It is essential that the signage can be easily understood.
Emergency lighting must be correctly positioned
Thus, standards for exit lights have been changed; this standard displays an arrow pointing the way and a man running in the direction of the nearest exit.
The emergency lighting must be correctly positioned to guarantee sufficient lighting is available at all times, especially during emergencies. It's important that they are connected to a lighting circuit and equipped with a permanent active power supply or an alternate in case of a power outage.
Lighting System Types
Central Point Systems
Central Point Systems are rapidly becoming obsolete, with only a few remaining in use
Central Point Systems are rapidly becoming obsolete, with only a few remaining in use. This type of system relies on a bank of batteries located in the building's central area that is connected to the Exit or Emergency Light using fire-rated cabling that would not burn or break down in the event of a fire, allowing the lights to remain operational for a sufficient period of time while people exited the building.
Because to the space necessary for a battery room, battery chargers, and the quantity of batteries, this sort of system had very few light failures. However, it was not cost-effective due to the space required for a battery room, battery chargers, and the quantity of batteries. With the advancement of Lithium-Ion batteries, this type of technology may make a reappearance.
Single Point Systems
The battery, charger, cards, and light source are all located at the same point in the form of an Exit or Emergency Light. These are the most ubiquitous in the environment and will likely remain so in the future as single-point units develop in technology. Some components can test themselves, whereas others can communicate with a central system.
Similar to other fire protection equipment, exit emergency lights must be routinely inspected, serviced, and regularly maintained by a qualified electrician. As no one can tell when it will be exactly needed, regular testing and inspection ensure that they function properly when needed.
