Emergency lighting: requirements, duration, lux levels and choosing fittings

Short answer: Emergency lighting comes on during a power failure, powered by its own battery or a central battery system, so people can leave a building safely. Fire regulations in most countries — including Turkey's Regulation on the Fire Protection of Buildings — require emergency lighting and exit signs on escape routes and in certain buildings. Under the European standard EN 1838, escape routes need at least 1 lux on the centre line and open areas (anti-panic) at least 0.5 lux, and the system must run for at least 1 hour (1–3 hours in most buildings).

Types of emergency lighting

• Escape route lighting: lights corridors, stairs and the way to the exits; at least 1 lux.
• Open area (anti-panic) lighting: in areas over 60 m², so people can reach an escape route; at least 0.5 lux.
• High-risk task area lighting: so dangerous machinery can be shut down safely; at least 10% of normal illuminance and 15 lux.
• Exit signs: illuminated "Exit" signs with arrows above doors and at changes of direction.

Where must fittings go?

The standard calls for fittings at every exit door, on stairs so each tread gets direct light, at changes of level and direction, at corridor intersections, at fire-fighting equipment and fire alarm call points, at first-aid points and at the exit to the outside assembly point.

Maintained and non-maintained

• Maintained: on all the time and continues on battery during a failure. Used where people gather (cinemas, theatres, shopping centres) and for exit signs.
• Non-maintained: lights only when the power fails. Common in corridors and stairwells.

Fitting options

• Self-contained emergency fittings: ceiling or wall types with their own battery and charger; practical in small and medium buildings.
• Emergency conversion kits: added to a normal LED panel, batten or weatherproof fitting; during a failure the same fitting stays on at low output, keeping the ceiling layout unchanged.
• Central battery system: in large buildings all emergency fittings are supplied from one battery unit, with central maintenance and testing.
• Self-test fittings run tests automatically and indicate faults with a light.

Duration and battery

Most buildings require at least 1 hour; tall and crowded buildings, hotels and hospitals often use 2–3 hours. Batteries lose capacity with age, so size them with an ageing margin and replace them at the interval the manufacturer recommends.

Maintenance and testing

• A short functional test monthly (checking the fitting lights during a simulated failure).
• A full-duration test yearly (checking the battery lasts the rated time).
• Records of all tests, which fire inspections ask for.

Exact requirements depend on the building class and fire design; design and approval are the responsibility of a qualified engineer. Local rules apply.

In Bursa, ENGN supplies and installs emergency and exit fittings and emergency conversion kits.

• → Emergency and sensor lighting
• → Weatherproof and high bay lights
• → 600×600 LED panel wattage
• → LED batten lights
• → Industrial lighting