Why should your business implement emergency lighting?

[edit] Considering energency lighting

We all hope that an emergency never occurs, but if it does, it is vital that you have the right emergency equipment in place. Your thoughts might lean towards fire alarms or extinguishers, but one life saving device that every business should consider is emergency lighting, as this can be the difference between a successful evacuation and putting your employees lives in danger.

[edit] What is emergency lighting?

When an emergency occurs, you can often find that there is a power outage and any normal lighting fails. This can be particularly hazardous in the event of a fire, as it can make escape routes extremely dark when smoke builds up, and employees, visitors and customers may not be able to find their way to safety.

Emergency lighting can therefore be put in place to operate as a back-up lighting source if the conventional methods have failed. The Building Regulation make it a legal requirement that all workplaces have sufficient emergency lighting in place in any room where the people working there may be in danger if artificial lighting were to fail.

The purpose of emergency lighting is to ensure that anyone in the building is able to evacuate safely and to make any safety features and equipment clear and visible so that they can be located and used appropriately.

When an emergency occurs, panic can set in, and when plunged into darkness, many people can become disorientated and confused, making a safe evacuation much more difficult to achieve.

Emergency lighting can help to create a calmer atmosphere and guide people to the nearest exit in a safe and timely manner, even if they are unfamiliar with the layout of the building.

As emergency lighting comes into effect quickly, it is also useful for those handling machinery, driving manufacturing vehicles and handling heavy items if there was to be a sudden power outage as it can help to avoid accidents.

[edit] Where is emergency lighting needed?

ISET UK, specialist emergency lighting suppliers commented, share their advice on placement: “There are a number of places that emergency lighting needs to be installed, and this is particularly important around all exit doors, including outside any final exits, and escape routes. It should also be located at corridor intersections, stairways, lifts and windowless rooms exceeding 8m2.”

All areas which are larger than 60m2 should also have emergency lighting fitted. Emergency lighting should be used to illuminate emergency escape signs, firefighting and safety equipment and fire alarm call points. It is also important that any equipment which would need to be shut down in the event of an emergency has emergency lighting in place.

[edit] Types of emergency lighting

You may opt to install maintained emergency lighting where it will remain lit continuously throughout any kind of power cut and tend to be favoured in public spaces such as theatres, cinemas and clubs to provide a clear and constant guide.

Alternatively, you could choose non-maintained emergency lighting which is not normally lit and is found in workplaces where artificial lighting is used when the building is occupied and will turn on as soon as power failure occurs. This can provide in the region of three hours of power, which will allow plenty of time for the safe evacuation of the building.

Whichever emergency lighting system you opt for, you should ensure it is regularly tested so that you can be confident it will work when you need it.

Providing emergency lighting can be an essential tool in ensuring everyone in your business can get to safety if the worst were to happen. It acts as an important guide, showing the most important areas and routes out of the building so that no-one is left in the dark if an emergency were to happen.

--ISETSolutions

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Building evacuation.
• Daylight lighting systems.
• Emergency lighting.
• Escape route.
• General lighting v task lighting.
• Lighting.
• Means of escape.
• Place of safety.
• Protected stairway.
• Safety signs.
• Smart office lighting.
• Wayfinding.