4.

0 Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting is lighting for an emergency situation when the main power
supply fails. The loss of mains could be the result of a fire, power cut or local
circuit failure and the normal lighting supplies fail. This may lead to sudden
darkness and a possible danger to the occupants, either through physical danger
or panic.
When the electricity supply fails and the lights go out, it is essential that
emergency lighting is automatically activated to provide adequate illumination
for normal activities to continue and for the safe evacuation of the building.
Instant illumination is required when the supply fails and for this reason only,
fluorescent or tungsten light sources are used.

Legislation & Standards Affecting Emergency Lighting

British Standards: General Series and Codes of Practice
BS 5266: Pt 1: 2005 Code of Practice for the emergency lighting of premises
other than cinemas and certain other specified premises used for entertainment.
CP 1007: 1955 Maintained lighting for cinemas (replaced by BS 5266-1 2005)
BS EN 60598-2-22: 1998 Specification for luminaires for emergency lighting
BS 5499: Pt 1: 1990 (1955) Specification for self-luminous fire safety signs
BS 5499: Pt 3: 1990 Specification for internally-illuminated fire safety signs.
BS EN 50171 1999 centrally powered systems

British and Harmonised European Standards

Electrical installation of buildings HD 384 Chapter 56
Specification for luminaires for emergency lighting EN 60598-2-22:
Lighting applications emergency lighting EN 1838
Central power supply systems EN 50171
Emergency escape lighting systems EN 50172
Measurement and presentation of photometric data for lamps and luminaires EN
13032-3

European Directives and Recommendations

Workplace Directive (89/654 EEC)
Construction Products Directive (89/106 EEC)
Safety Signs Directive (92/58 EEC)
Fire Safety in Hotels Recommendation - Requirements for Europe (86/666 EEC)

Design Objective
When the supply to any part of the normal lighting fails, the requirements of BS
5266 and EN 1838 apply and escape lighting is required to fulfil the following
functions:(I)

Show clearly and unambiguously the escape routes.

(II)

Provide illumination along such routes to allow safe movement towards

and through the exits.

(III)

Ensure that fire alarm call points and fire fighting equipment provided
along escape routes can be readily located.

(IV)

Allow operations concerned with safety measures to continue.

Specific Forms of Emergency Lighting

Emergency Escape Lighting
That part of emergency lighting provided to enable safe exit in the event of
failure of the normal supply. (This type of emergency lighting forms part of the
fire protection system of a building)
Standby Lighting
That part of emergency lighting provided to enable normal activities to continue
in the event of failure of the normal mains supply.(This lighting does not provide

fire protection unless it meets the same equipment, design and installation
requirements as Emergency Escape Lighting systems.
This type of lighting enables normal activities to continue substantially
unchanged when a mains power failure occurs. When standby lighting is used for
emergency escape lighting purposes it shall comply with the relevant
requirements for emergency lighting. Where a standby lighting level lower than
the minimum normal lighting is employed, the lighting is to be used only to shut
down or terminate processes.
Escape Route Lighting
That part of emergency lighting provided to enable safe exit for building
occupants by providing appropriate visual conditions and direction finding on
escape routes and in special areas/locations, and to ensure that fire fighting and
safety equipment can be readily located and used.(e.g.. corridors and stairs)
When the supply to the normal lighting or parts of the normal lighting to
occupied premises fails, escape lighting is required to fulfill the following
functions:
To indicate clearly and unambiguously the escape routes;
To provide illumination along such routes to allow safe movement towards and
through the exits provided; and
To ensure that fire alarm call points and firefighting equipment provided along
escape routes can be readily located.
Escape lighting is required not only on complete failure of the supply to the
normal lighting but also on a localized failure if such a failure would present a
hazard, e.g. a single sub-circuit on stairways.

The safe movement of persons along escape routes towards and through the
exits provided to a place of safety depends upon the illumination and the ability
to see hazards, changes of level and direction.

Defined Escape Routes & Response Times

For routes that are permanently unobstructed and up to 2 m wide, the horizontal
luminance at floor level on the centre line of the escape route should be not less
than 0.2 lx but preferably 1 lx. For points of emphasis the minimum horizontal
luminance at the floor along the centre line of the escape route should be not
less than 1 lx. In addition, for escape routes up to 2 m wide, 50% of the route
width should be lit to a minimum of 0.1 lx
The above paragraph contains the detail of the UK A deviation given in BS EN
1838:1999. Without the A deviation the approved standard for defined escape
routes up to 2 metres in width should be not less than 1 lx. This standard should
be used when routes cannot be maintained permanently unobstructed.
The emergency lighting should be provided within 5 seconds of the failure of the
normal lighting supply, but at the discretion of the enforcing authority this period
may be extended to a maximum of 15 seconds in premises likely to be occupied
for the most part by persons who are familiar with them and the escape routes.
Wider escape routes can be treated as a number of 2 metre wide bands.
To assist dispersal and to enable final exits to be negotiated safely the
luminance in the area immediately external to fire exits should not be
significantly lower than that immediately inside the exit.
Except in very special circumstances, and then normally only when they are
fitted with their own emergency operating power supply, lifts cannot be

considered as escape routes. However, lifts do present a problem because the

experience of being confined in the dark within a small space for an indefinite
period is not only unpleasant, but may cause harm to those who are nervous or
suffer from claustrophobia. An emergency lighting luminaire should therefore be
fitted in a lift car in which persons may travel. Such luminaires should preferably
be of the self-contained type.
Moving stairways and walkways should be illuminated as if they were part of an
escape route. Toilet facilities exceeding 8 m2 gross area and facilities of less
than 8 m2 without borrowed light should be provided with escape lighting
complying as if they were part of an escape route.
Emergency lighting should be provided in all motor generator rooms, control
rooms, plant rooms, switch rooms and adjacent to main control equipment
associated with the provision of normal and emergency lighting to the premises.
The pedestrian escape routes from covered and multi-storey car park areas
should be easily identifiable and should be provided with emergency lighting.
Open Area (or Anti-Panic Area) Lighting
That part of emergency escape lighting provided to reduce the likelihood of
panic and to enable safe movement of occupants towards escape routes by
providing appropriate visual conditions and direction finding.(e.g. large rooms)
This type of lighting is also provided to avoid panic and provides illumination.
The horizontal luminance shall be not less than 0,5 lx at the floor level of the
empty core area which excludes a border of 0.5 m of the perimeter of the area.
The anti-panic area lighting shall reach 50% of the required luminance within 5
seconds and the full-required luminance within 60 seconds.
High Risk Task Area Lighting

That part of emergency lighting provided to ensure the safety of people involved
in a potentially dangerous process or situation and to enable proper shut down
procedures to be carried out for the safety of other occupants of the
premises.(e.g. to protect persons from dangerous machinery).
This provides illumination for the safety of people involved in potentially
dangerous processes or situations and to enable proper shut down procedures
for the safety of the operator and other occupants of the premises
In areas of high risk the maintained luminance on the reference plane shall be
not less than 10% of the required maintained luminance for that task, however it
shall be not less than 15 lx. It shall be free of harmful stroboscopic effects.
High-risk

task

area

lighting

shall

provide

the

full-required

luminance

permanently or within 0.5 seconds depending upon application.

Types Of Operation
Maintained Operation
With maintained operation the emergency lighting system is energised
continuously, using the normal supply source when available, employing the
same lamps to provide at least the minimum specified luminance from an
emergency supply whenever the normal supply in interrupted.
The effect of this method of operation is continually to prove the wiring and
lamps, but not the battery. Any failure should be noted at normal times and
defective lamps can be replaced before an emergency arises.
A maintained mode of operation may be achieved using a prime mover driven
generator as the emergency lighting power source, provided that it can be run
up and put on load in the required time. In such circumstances, failure of the

normal supply would automatically start up the generator and switch the input to
the lighting circuits from the normal supply to the generator output.
Where batteries are used, either as the sole source of emergency lighting
supplies or as back up to a generator, there are two methods of achieving
maintained operation:
Maintained floating systems. In this mode of operation the battery charger is
fed from the normal supply and connected in parallel with the battery and the
emergency lighting loads. If the normal supply fails the battery will continue to
supply the emergency lighting and no changeover switch or similar device is
required.
Maintained changeover systems. In this mode of operation the emergency
lighting system and the battery charger are separately connected to the normal
supply and no load is connected to the battery. If the normal supply is
interrupted, an automatic changeover device is actuated to connect the
emergency lighting system to the battery. Automatic changeover contactors
complying with BS 764 or an equivalent standard of electrical performance are
recommended for this application.
Non-Maintained Operation
In this mode of operation the emergency lighting lamps are not normally
energised. An automatic monitoring and switching system is provided to switch
on the emergency lighting if the normal supply is interrupted.
If separate lamps are required to provide normal lighting and emergency lighting
in the same place, these lamps may either be housed in separate luminaires or
may be combined in single sustained luminaires. Such sustained luminaires may
also contain a separate charger, battery and control circuit for use with noncentralised battery systems.

Some manufacturers refer to their luminaires as Sustained. In such units there

are two or more lamps, at least one is energised from the emergency supply and
the remainder from the normal supply. If the emergency lamp is only illuminated
in a mains failure condition then they should be referred to as non-maintained
units.
Initial Considerations
Emergency lighting is an essential part of the building services installation.
To ensure the system is well designed and as reliable as possible, planning is
important through all phases of the project, from considering legal requirements
to final commissioning and maintenance.

Consultation between all interested

parties at an early stage of the design cannot be over emphasised to avoid

expensive modifications to the completed system. Considerable legislation and
associated standards exist covering the various types of premises that involve
the need to incorporate emergency lighting.
The first stage of system design is to gather the information needed on the
project, normally by consultation with the Regulatory Authority and the user.
This should cover legislative and likely operational requirements, and customer
preferences.

Legislative Requirements
There is a considerable amount of legislation affecting Emergency Lighting
The major items are:The purpose of the installation is to ensure that lighting is provided promptly,
automatically and for a suitable time in a specific area when normal power
supply to the lighting fails. The purpose of the installation is to ensure that:-

The means of escape can be safely and effectively used.

Activities in particularly hazardous workplaces can be safely terminated.

Emergency actions can be effectively carried out at appropriate locations

in the workplace.

Specific emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs in

accordance with the

national regulations.

Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with

emergency lighting

of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails.

Essential Pre-Design Information

Before designing an emergency lighting scheme the following information needs
to be determined from the site drawings or from the specifier:

The duration of the emergency lighting:

Three hour duration is required in places of entertainment and for
sleeping risk.
Three hour duration is required if evacuation is not immediate, or early
re-occupation is may occur.
One hour duration may be acceptable, in some premises, if evacuation is
immediate and re-occupation is delayed until the system has recharged.

Emergency lighting of the maintained type should be used in areas in

which the normal lighting can be dimmed and in common areas within
where a build-up of smoke could reduce

the effectiveness of normal

lighting. Maintained lighting which combines both emergency and normal

lighting functions may also be desirable for aesthetic or economic

reasons.

The exit signs always need to be illuminated to be visible at all times

when the premises are

occupied. Because of the difficulties of ensuring

that the normal lighting will adequately do this

maintained

signs

required in licensed and entertainment venues and they should be

are

used

in any premises which are used by people who are unfamiliar with its
layout.

Building plans need to be obtained showing the location of the fire alarm
call point positions, the positions of fire fighting equipment, and fire and
safety signs.

Emergency escape routes should be established, and potential hazards

investigated.

Open areas larger than 60m floor area or areas identified by the risk
assessment as requiring lighting.

High risk task areas should be identified and normal lighting levels
established.

Determine the need for external illumination outside final exit doors and
on a route to a place of safety.

Other areas that need illumination, although not part of the escape route,
should be located, e.g. lifts, moving stairways and walkways, plant rooms
and toilet accommodation over 8m gross area.

For central systems, a low fire risk location for the battery units and cable
runs should be established.

For non-maintained applications the area covered by the final circuit of

the normal lighting has to be determined, as self-contained luminaires
must be fed from that final circuit and it must be monitored by the central
system.

Standby lighting requirements should be established, if activities need to

continue during a failure of the normal lighting supply.

The customers preference and operating considerations should be

ascertained,

Appropriate testing systems and maintenance procedures must be

determined

Any hazards identified by the risk assessment must be covered.

Design of New Installations

System design to meet BS 5266 Pt. 1: 2005

Stage 1 - Design Procedure

Locate luminaires at points of emphasis.

These are mandatory locations to

cover specific hazards and to highlight safety equipment and signs. The
luminaires act as beacons over parts of the escape route that may be dangerous
at low levels of illumination and also highlight other safety equipment that may
need to be operated.

This procedure should be performed regardless of what part of the building is

considered and whether the area is an emergency escape route or defined as an
open area.

Only when this is accomplished should the type of luminaire or its light output be
considered.

A
H

Near Stairs or any other Change of Level

The luminaires must be located so each tread receives direct light.
Generally at least two luminaires will be needed to provide the 1 lux minimum
level on the centre of each tread (even old designs to 0.2 lux needed the higher
level on the treads unless contrasting colour stair nosings were fitted)
The spacing from luminaire A is reduced as the height being reduced as the
points illuminated rise up the stairs so the cosine correction factor reduces the
light.

The spacing from fitting B may be reduced as although the cosine correction
improves in comparison with the floor level as the treads descend at some point
the effect of increased distance from the luminaire will outweigh this.
Other changes of level that can cause tripping hazards it low light levels must
also be illuminated

Near Changes of Direction and Intersections of Corridors

At any position that the escape route changes direction or if it intersects a
corridor the luminaires act as beacons to indicate the route and also provide the
most illumination were two streams of escaping occupants could be joining.

Signs should be located

between 2 and 2.5 metres
above the floor. If for any
reason this is not possible the
fire authority should be
consulted to ensure that the
meaning of the sign is still
acceptable

Illuminate Exit and other Safety Signs

While this normally relates to exit direction and first aid signs the risk
assessment may indicate that other safety signs such as a radioactive warning
also need emergency illumination.
Exit signs should not be used in the photometric calculations unless their
characteristic has been tested and authenticated data is available.

Outside and Near to Exits

The safety of occupants must be protected until they are away from the
influence of the building. If the area outside the building has hazards in darkness
such as a river bank the risk assessment should determine if further emergency
luminaires are needed till a place of safety can be reached.
If street lighting is available and adequate it may be used with the agreement of
the fire authority.

2m

Near Fire Fighting Equipment and Call Points

The luminaire must be sited within 2 metres (measured horizontally) of any
extinguishers, hose reels, fire alarm control or repeater panels and fire call
points. The chain shaded parts of the diagram show the positions that the
luminaire covers for this purpose.
By locating the luminaire in proximity to the fire safety equipment it acts as a
beacon directing the eye to the safety equipment. It also ensures that the fire
equipment which may have instruction on it for its safe use is gets the maximum
illumination by being under the luminaire.

2m.
Near First Aid Post
This category was introduced in the 1999 edition of BS 5266-1 and recognises
that if the normal lighting supply fails but there is no fire requiring immediate
evacuation then access to and use of other safety equipment must be
maintained.
Stage 2 - The Location and illumination of Exit Signs

Section 5.6 of BS 5266 and EN 1838 state that:Signs are required at all exits, emergency exits and escape routes, such that
the position of any exit or route to it is easily recognised and followed in an
emergency. Where direct sight of an exit or emergency exit is not possible and
doubt may exist as to its position, a directional sign (or series of signs) should
be provided, placed such that a person moving towards it will be progressed
towards an exit or emergency exit.

The Format of Signs

BS 2560
Old format of sign green words only
out of a white background
These signs should all have been
replaced by the 24th of December
1998 but some are still in existence

BS 5499 -1 format has the addition of a

running man pictogram and was an
interim move towards the full pictogram
sign is acceptable on existing buildings
provided the meaning is still clear

Signs Directive Format

The European and British legislative format
with a full pictogram only sign its use is
defined in the HSE guidance document

The following advice is based on the Health and Safety Executive guidance on
the Regulations (L64):

BS 2560 SIGNS
These signs should have been replaced by 24 December 1998. ICEL
recommends that care should be taken as the new pictogram formats with larger

areas of green colour will significantly reduce luminaire light output and
installations may require additional emergency illumination to compensate.

BS 5499: PT 1: 1990
These signs - already installed - are of a similar pattern to the Signs Directive
and are considered to comply with the regulations and do not need to be
replaced.
Exit and safety sign - Maximum Viewing Distances
Viewing distances are given in EN 1838 as 200 x H for internally illuminated
signs, and 100 x H for externally illuminated signs where H is the height of the
pictogram.

Illumination Requirements for Safety Signs

EN 1838 section 5 also details the illumination conditions for a sign to be clearly
visible for the distances specified above. These values are checked by BSI and

ICEL registration for internally(self) illuminated signs

but if the sign is not

approved or is externally illuminated the following values must be achieved

The colours must conform to ISO 3864 (white figures with green background for
Exit and first aid signs

Minimum luminance of any part

of the signboard 2 cd/m2

The

ratio

minimum

of

maximum

luminance

of

to
any

area of either colour of the

sign shall not be greater than
10:1

The

ratio

of

luminance

between white and the colour

shall be between 5:1 and 10:1

Stage 3 - Additional Emergency Lighting

Additional emergency lighting should be provided at these locations:

(I)

Lift cars. Although they may be part of the escape route in exceptional
circumstances, they may present a problem if the public are trapped in
them in the event of a supply failure.

(II)

Toilet facilities and other similar areas exceeding 8m floor area or with
no borrowed light and all toilets for the disabled.

(III)

Escalators, to enable users to get off them safely.

(IV)

Motor generator, control or plant rooms require battery supplied

emergency lighting to help any maintenance or operating personnel.

(V)

Covered car parks along the normal pedestrian routes.

Stage 4 - Illuminance Requirements for Escape Routes

In addition to luminaires at the points of emphasis, it may be necessary to

provide extra luminaires to ensure that minimum light (illuminance) levels are
met along the whole escape route. For 2m wide escape routes, the illuminance is
specified along the centre line with 50% of that illuminance over the 1 metre
wide central band. Wider routes should be treated as open areas or as multiple
routes.

Illuminance Requirements
The European standard EN 1838 requires 1 lux along the centre line of escape
routes including those with minor obstructions such as hotel trolleys. The UK
has a National Exception, which recommends 1 lux but accepts 0.2 lux along the
centre line for permanently unobstructed escape routes, with the points of
emphasis illuminated to 1 lux. BS 5266: Pt 1: 1988 has been amended to reflect
this requirement.
BS 5266 and EN 50172 recommend using a larger number of low power
luminaires rather than a few high power units. Each compartment of the escape

route should be lit by at least two luminaires thus, if a luminaire fails, the route
will not be plunged into darkness.

ESCAPE ROUTES BS EN 1838 Requirements

4.2.1 For escape routes up to 2m in width, the horizontal illuminances on the

floor along the centre line of an escape route shall not be less than 1 lux
and the central band consisting of not less than half of the width of the
route shall be illuminated to a minimum of 50% of that value.

Note: However If it is certain that the route will be permanently unobstructed

the old level of 0.2 lux can be used for escape routes except for stairs and
changes of level which must be to 1 Lux.

1 Lux to wall

0.5 + 0.5 = 1 Lux

Transverse spacing
to wall

Transverse spacing
between fittings

Stage 5 - Illuminance Levels for Open Areas

Emergency lighting is required for:-

Open areas larger than 60m

Areas of any size with an escape route passing through them.

Any areas that the risk assessment has identified as requiring emergency
illumination for example such as a school chemistry laboratory where
students handling acids would be at risk if plunged into darkness

OPEN AREAS BS EN 1838 Requirements

The standard BS EN 1838 (BS 5266-7) requires 0.5 lux minimum anywhere in
the central core of the floor area. This core area excludes the 0.5m to the
perimeter of the area.
The shadowing effects of movable objects in the core area are all so excluded.

Wall of room

0.5 meter border excluded from requirements

Central core requiring 0.5 Lux minimum

Spacing Tables (See stage 4) provide simple and accurate data for the design of
open areas.
They assume a regular layout and give the distances from wall and between
fittings

Isolux
Contours

Axial to Wall

2 Lux
0.5 Lux

Axial spacing

0.2 Lux

Transverse
To Wall

Transverse spacing

Use of ICEL Authenticated Spacing Tables to Design Open Areas to 0.5 Lux

Open areas 0.5 Lux minimum in central core

Transverse Transverse Axial to
to wall

to

Axial

Axial
to wall

transverse

2.5

8.5

7.4

2.3

Stage 6 - High Risk Task Area Lighting

BS 5266 requires that higher levels of emergency lighting are provided in areas
of particular risk, although no values are defined.

The European standard EN 1838 says that the average horizontal illuminance on
the reference plane (note that this is not necessarily the floor) should be as high
as the task demands in areas of high risk. It should not be less than 10% of the
normal illuminance, or 15 lux, whichever is the greater. It should be provided
within 0.5 seconds and continue for as long as the hazard exists.

This can

normally only be achieved by a tungsten or a permanently illuminated maintained

fluorescent lamp source.

The required illuminance can often be achieved by careful location of emergency

luminaires at the hazard and may not require additional fittings.

Stage 7 - Choice of Appropriate Emergency Lighting Systems

DURATION
See earlier section on Essential Pre-Design Information.

TYPE OF SYSTEM
The type of system used depends on the size and function of the premises. See
section 9 of BS 5266: Pt. 1: 2005

Stage 8 - Design Control Procedures

The illuminance of the installation depends as much on the light distribution as it

does on the light output available from the chosen luminaire.

Consequently,

luminaire types specified for a particular design must not be changed without a
re-appraisal of the photometric design.

Testing and Log Book

The system should include adequate facilities for testing and recording the
system condition. These need to be appropriate for the specific site. It might
be feasible to perform a full discharge test of the installation in an office block
by isolating the total supply.

This would be inappropriate and potentially

dangerous, in a hotel occupied 24 hours a day.

A test system able to operate alternate fittings would be more suitable to

eliminate the risk of having all the luminaires discharged while the building is
occupied.

The Old BS 5266-1 1999 Test Regime called for:-

A function test for a short period once a month to check that the luminaire is
working.
A discharge duration test -when self-contained fittings are new this test is for
one third of their rated capacity every six months (this hopefully retains some
battery capacity if immediately after the test there is a mains failure) After the
fittings are three years old and approaching their four year minimum design
battery life the test should be done annually for the full rated duration.

BS 5266-1 2005 Aligns with the Testing Shown in BS EN 50172/BS 5266 pt 8

A function test for a short period once a month to check that the luminaire is
working.
A discharge duration test Annually for full rated discharge.

Note: The risks that any tests will materially discharge the battery must be
minimised either by ensuring the building will be empty during test and
recharge or alternate fittings should be tested.

Automatic Testing Systems

HD 62034. Details requirements to automatically test emergency lighting to the
schedules in EN 50172, consist of the following major forms:

1.

Individually controlled self-contained luminaires which have built in

timing, testing and indication functions these can be set to provide the test
annually either all luminaires operating simultaneously if it is known that

the premises will be empty or with alternate interleaved luminaires at

least 24 hours apart so that in premises that may be occupied during test
or recharge no compartments will be in totally reliant on the luminaires
under test.
These systems require inspection and recording of test indication after
each monthly test.
2.

Self-contained luminaires controlled by a panel and giving indication

through that panel these systems are normally provided with a number of
test circuits which can be used to ensure 24 hour timing separation if
needed.
These systems normally collate test results at the panel and often can
diagnose any faults found they may also be provided with automatic print
out.

3.

Central battery systems from a panel these systems control the test and
check the operation of the slave luminaires. If they are used in
installations that may be occupied they must either have dual battery
systems supply interleaved luminaires, have facilities to manually initiate
the test at safe times or to conduct a shorter discharge while checking the
battery voltage to a higher limit than for the full discharge

Stage 9 - Maintenance

Essential servicing should be defined to ensure that the system remains at full
operational status.

This would normally be performed as part of the testing

routine, but for consumable items, such as replacement lamps, spares should be
provided for immediate use.

Relevant Standards

a EN 60598-2-22 Luminaire product standard

b Open area lighting EN1838

c Other areas EN 1838

d Signage
e Duration and mode of operation BS 5266-1
f

Escape route lighting EN 1838

g Wiring HD 384
h Central system EN 50172
I

Automatic test system EN 62034