Emergency lighting, which is battery-operated, turns on automatically when a building’s electricity goes out. Smoke and darkness caused by power outages may drastically diminish visibility in an emergency. Crucial for at least 90 minutes, emergency and exit lights illuminate the way out of the building. For this reason, with the exception of class 1 structures, all buildings in Australia are required by the NCC E4D2 to have an emergency lighting system. All aspects of emergency lighting systems, including their design, installation, maintenance, and products, are defined by these standards. Every six months, all emergency lighting must be inspected and serviced to make sure it meets the requirements of the AS/NZS 2293 standard.
Importance of Emergency Lighting
You may have seen the lit exit signs at a dark movie theater the last time you were there. If a business facility wants to be safe and up to code, it needs an emergency lighting system, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is critical to check and fix your emergency lights so that occupants of your business building can locate the exits in the event of an emergency.
- Efficient and Risk-Free Exits
People often rush to find the nearest exits as soon as the fire alarm sounds. The quicker individuals can perceive the exits, the faster they can get out of here. People must be able to leave the building quickly enough to avoid smoke inhalation or the fire spreading if there is a fire. Make sure your building’s emergency lights are operational at all times to ensure the safety of your tenants.
- OSHA Regulations
To ensure the safety of business buildings, the OSHA regulates emergency lighting and other fire prevention equipment. Adherence to OSHA standards is essential for maintaining a safe and code-compliant structure. If you would want an inspection or repair done to the emergency exit lights in your building, we suggest calling a fire protection contractor.
- Well-lighted stairs
You definitely don’t want people trapped in the stairwells in the event of a power outage. During a power outage, stairwells provide an additional hazard since individuals are more prone to tripping and falling. In the event of a power loss, having clearly marked exits is crucial for the safety of all those in the building. To ensure a safe and secure evacuation in the event of a power failure, these exit signs are engineered to remain lighted.
- People’s Reactions during Emergencies
In times of crisis, people naturally want to know what they can do to protect themselves. People can easily find their way in the event of an emergency when there is enough illumination in the halls and stairwells. Be mindful that many of your store’s or similar commercial building’s tenants will not be acquainted with the layout if you are the owner of such a structure.
- Emergency Personnel Roles
Put up emergency exit signs so firemen can easily get through your building if a fire were to break out. Seeing your business facility for the first time via smoke makes first responders unfamiliar with its layout. Fortunately, firemen are able to conduct their jobs despite the smoke and darkness thanks to illuminated escape signs. In order to enter your building and search for survivors, search and rescue crews must have unobstructed visibility of the emergency exits.
Types of emergency lighting
- Standard Emergency Lighting System
In this kind of emergency lighting system, each emergency and exit light is equipped with an internal battery that powers the light in case of a power loss. Because of its ease of installation and cheap infrastructure expenses, this lighting system is widely used in Australia. To make sure the battery can discharge for at least 90 minutes; however, they should be checked and maintained regularly.
- Centralized Emergency Lighting System
All of the exit and emergency lights in a building are connected to a single backup power source in a centralized emergency lighting system. Every emergency light must be able to be powered for at least 90 minutes; therefore, this power source has to be checked and maintained. Typically, these systems need costly infrastructure, including wiring that is fireproof and a chamber that is fireproof to store the power source.
90-Minute Emergency Lighting Test
In case of an emergency, having emergency lights helps ensure that people can safely exit the building. Ensuring that your emergency lights are operational for a minimum of 1.5 hours is a requirement of building safety requirements. Make sure your emergency lights can handle any crisis by doing the 90-minute test.
Safety with AGM Electrical Supplies
Every building must have some kind of emergency lighting. Do not spend any time installing the same if you have not done so before. Local governments, educational institutions, and commerce all rely on a group of hardworking experts to ensure their smooth operation. So, the best managers know that employing outstanding building caretakers is essential for staying on top of things. No one wants an unexpected interruption to their daily routine more than a company owner or a school administration. The absence of a fire marshal is one possible source of such disturbance. In addition, to ensure the quality, efficacy, functionality, and long operation of the LEDs, picks the finest luminaires from leading commercial lighting businesses like AGM Electrical Supplies.