The choice between central and decentralized emergency lighting not only determines the safety in your building, but also the amount of work and costs you will incur for maintenance later on. In short, decentralized emergency lighting is often useful in smaller or dynamic properties, while central emergency lighting is particularly strong in larger buildings, warm areas, and projects with many or hard-to-reach fixtures.
Which option fits best depends mainly on ease of installation, management, and the total costs over the lifespan of the installation. For basic explanations and regulations, read everything about emergency lightinghere.
The most important differences at a glance
With decentralized emergency lighting, each fixture has its own battery. If the mains power fails, the fixture switches over independently. With central emergency lighting, multiple fixtures are powered from a single central emergency power supply, usually a battery cabinet.That enables centralized management, but often requires more careful design and different cabling.
| Feature | Decentralized | Centralized |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency power supply | Battery in each fixture | One central power supply for multiple fixtures |
| Installation | Often simpler and faster | Usually requires more design and cabling work |
| Maintenance | Inspection per fixture | More centrally manageable |
| Expansion | Generally flexible | More dependent on the central infrastructure |
| Failure impact | Issue typically affects a single fixture | Failure can affect larger areas |
When decentralized emergency lighting is often the best choice
Decentralized emergency lighting is often a logical solution in small to medium-sized buildings, renovations, and properties where the layout changes regularly.You can expand relatively easily without directly adjusting a central facility. Installation is also often more accessible because each fixture operates independently. If one battery fails, a larger part of the system is usually not immediately shut down. For autonomous solutions you will find suitable emergency light fixtures.
When central emergency lighting can be smarter
Central emergency lighting is often interesting in larger buildings with many fixtures, high ceilings, or hard-to-reach mounting points. A central system can also be an advantage in warm environments, because the batteries are not located in each individual fixture and therefore suffer less from elevated temperatures. In addition, central monitoring is practical when management, periodic inspection, and maintenance need to be carried out as efficiently as possible from a single point. This also applies to the availability and replacement of emergency batteries.
What you should mainly pay attention to in practice
Installation and cabling
Decentralized systems are usually faster to install. Centralized systems often require separate cabling and a more rigorous design process.
Maintenance and inspection
With decentralized systems, you check and replace batteries per luminaire. With centralized systems, a significant part of emergency lighting maintenance is located in the central power supply. For management and periodic inspection, work is in practice often carried out in accordance with NEN-EN 50172.
Lifecycle costs
Decentralized often has lower initial costs. Centralized can be more cost-effective in the long run if you have many luminaires or if maintenance at height or in hard-to-reach places is expensive.
Frequently asked questions about central and decentralized emergency lighting
What is the difference between central and decentralized emergency lighting?
The core difference is the location of the emergency power supply. With decentralized emergency lighting, the battery is located in the fixture itself. With central emergency lighting, multiple fixtures are powered from a single central emergency power supply.
Where should you place emergency lighting?
Emergency lighting is typically placed near escape routes, emergency exits, stairs, changes in direction, level differences, and near safety equipment such as fire extinguishers or first aid points. The exact placement depends on the building and the risks involved. See also emergency lighting advice and solutions.
What are the requirements for emergency lighting according to the Building Decree?
That term is still frequently used, but nowadays the focus is primarily on the Buildings Living Environment Decree and relevant standards. In this context, NEN-EN 50172 plays an important role in the management and inspection of emergency lighting.
What types of emergency lighting are available?
The most common types are escape route indication and emergency lighting for safe orientation along escape routes or in open spaces. Both versions can be centralized or decentralized.
Unsure which solution suits your building or project? LedLoket is happy to assist you with expert technical advice and a wide range of LED emergency lighting with fast delivery from our own stock.
