Emergency lighting is a safety system installed to help people safely evacuate a building in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or power outage. It ensures that escape routes remain clearly visible at all times, even when the regular lighting fails. In this article, we cover the most important topics regarding emergency lighting.
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What is the purpose of emergency lighting?
Emergency lighting is essential for safety in any building.It ensures that people can find their way out safely and quickly during a power outage, emergency, or fire. When normal lighting fails, this emergency lighting switches on automatically. This keeps the escape route clearly visible and allows visitors, employees, or residents to leave the building safely.
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What types of emergency lighting are there?
There are different types of emergency lighting, each with a specific function:
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Escape route lighting
This type of lighting marks the walking route to the nearest emergency exit.It illuminates only when the normal power supply fails, so that the escape route remains immediately visible in emergency situations. -
Escape route signage
While escape route lighting only turns on during a power failure, escape route signage remains continuously illuminated. These are the familiar pictogram fixtures featuring an emergency exit symbol, clearly indicating the location of emergency exits day and night. -
Anti-panic lighting
In larger spaces, such as halls, atriums, or public areas, anti-panic lighting prevents people from panicking when the lights go out. It provides general illumination so that people can find their way calmly and safely. -
Emergency lighting for high-risk workstations
In industrial environments or areas with hazardous machinery, additional emergency lighting is mandatory.This ensures that critical work can be safely completed or shut down when the power fails, thereby preventing dangerous situations.
Whether it concerns offices, shops, schools, or industrial locations: the right combination of emergency lighting is crucial to comply with safety regulations and to protect people in emergency situations.
When should emergency lighting be on and how do you ensure proper maintenance?
Emergency lighting switches on automatically as soon as the normal power supply fails, for example in the event of a power outage or fire. At that moment, the lighting must provide sufficient visibility to guide people safely to the nearest emergency exit. In normal situations, therefore, emergency lighting does not need to be on continuously, unless you are using a maintained system.
There are two main types of emergency lighting:
- Maintained (continuous) emergency lighting stays on at all times, both during normal power supply and in an emergency situation.
- Non-maintained emergency lighting only turns on during a power outage or when the normal lighting fails.
Although emergency lighting does not need to be illuminated at all times, it is essential that the system functions properly whenever required. Regular maintenance and inspection are therefore mandatory.
According to the Building Decree (Bouwbesluit) , emergency lighting must be inspected at least once a year.During this inspection, the batteries, lamps, and the operation of the system are tested, among other things, to ensure that the lighting is reliable in emergency situations.
Requirements for emergency lighting according to the Building Decree and the importance for safety
Emergency lighting plays a crucial role in the safety of buildings and their occupants. It ensures that escape routes remain visible in the event of a power outage or fire, allowing people to leave the premises quickly and safely. According to the 2012 Building Decree, emergency lighting is mandatory in many situations and must comply with strict technical requirements to guarantee safety.
The main requirements are:
- Visibility of escape routes: emergency lighting must adequately illuminate and make visible escape routes, emergency exits, and important locations such as first aid stations.
- Emergency lighting duration: the lighting must remain illuminated for at least 60 minutes after a power failure.
- Maintenance and testing: emergency lighting systems must be periodically checked and tested in accordance with the NEN-EN 50172 standard.
- Correct placement: emergency lighting must be strategically positioned so that all emergency exits and escape routes are clearly visible, free from shadows or obstacles.
By complying with these regulations and regularly testing the emergency lighting, it is ensured that the system functions optimally in emergency situations. This reduces the risk of panic and contributes to a safe and orderly evacuation of the building.
In short
Good emergency lighting is essential for the safety of buildings and their occupants.By complying with the requirements of the Building Decree and ensuring regular inspection and maintenance, you can be certain that your lighting will function reliably when it truly matters most. Whether it concerns escape route lighting, anti-panic lighting, or lighting for high-risk workstations, a well-designed system can literally make all the difference in emergency situations.
Would you like to delve deeper into lighting for commercial applications? Be sure to take a look at our other blogs for practical tips and inspiration, or discover our extensive range of track lighting and other professional lighting solutions for businesses.
