Emergency lighting is essential in case of a power outage. A certain lighting level should be available to guide people out of the building in an emergency.
The UK requires emergency lighting under the Fire Prevention (Workplace) Regulations 1997.
This article explains the different types of emergency lighting and how to choose the best emergency lighting solution for your building.
Serviced and Un Serviced lights.
Emergency lighting falls into two categories: maintained and unmaintained. These categories determine when emergency lighting is turned on.
It is important to consider the advantages of both options when deciding on a building.
Emergency lights with permanent lights offer added flexibility. It can be programmed to turn on before and during power outages. Fixed emergency lights are used to avoid complete darkness and are typically used in cinemas and theaters. An unmaintained emergency light is inflexible. Active only when a power failure is detected. The only source of energy for the standby light is a battery charged from the main power.
However, unmaintained emergency lights are the most popular option because they are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
However, a constant current is required to maintain the charge. This function must be balanced against the safety of the building’s occupants. Unmaintained lights indicate emergency exits only in an emergency and show building residents where the exit is.
LED and standard bulkhead
Another big difference in emergency lights is how they work. Traditional standard bulkheads work like regular light bulbs, but LED lights use more modern technology.
Many emergency lights are still standard bulkheads. Although the technology is outdated, it still contributes significantly to building safety.
The age of their technology makes standard bulkheads very inexpensive. Plus, it’s easy to clean. Regular testing and cleaning are sufficient to keep these lights in top condition.
However, standard bulkheads are far from perfect. They are inefficient and can be expensive to run. They can also contain harmful chemicals and are difficult to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner. There are also light bulbs that need to be replaced periodically. To avoid an emergency lighting failure, bulbs should be replaced as soon as they appear to be fading.
LEDs are a greener solution to your emergency lighting needs. They are highly efficient and contain no toxic chemicals like mercury.
WithYou don’t have to worry about charging bulbs with LED emergency lights. Most LED lights last 10,000 to 50,000 hours.
The benefits of LED lighting can save building managers thousands of pounds in electricity costs annually. They also last much longer and don’t need to be replaced often.
LED technology is being used more and more frequently. Much easier to obtain than standard bulkheads. It also doesn’t get significantly more expensive. A typical emergency exit light costs between £30 and £50, depending on the quality and brightness of the emergency light.
What kind of emergency lighting does my building need?
There is no 100% correct solution for choosing emergency lighting. Many factors need to be considered.
From a safe and environmental point of view, maintenance-free LED emergency lighting is, of course, the best option for most buildings. It’s a little expensive to boot, and it’s always on, so it consumes power when you use it.
Replacing standard bulkheads with LEDs is not feasible in all buildings. Therefore, when deciding which emergency lighting to install, priority should be given to solutions that provide maximum safety for building occupants.