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Learn about the role of emergency lighting should a threatening event occur. How it delivers peace of mind for buildings owners/operators as well as ensuring compliance.
How emergency lighting functions should power fail, and how it is vital in guiding people to safety when lighting is still present.
Right across the world, environments are becoming increasingly urbanised and intricate, with a corresponding rise in associated safety threats. The challenge is multiplied when a proportion of visitors is not familiar with layout and procedures.
This is the case in large, highly-populated, high-risk or complex premises such as railway stations, shopping centres, airports, stadia, government buildings or leisure facilities – just as it also is in smaller locations with a simpler floor plan.
Emergency lighting is a lifeline in hazardous situations created by this complicated backdrop. Emergency lighting is a lifeline in hazardous situations created by this complicated backdrop. Crucially, it enables the safe, prompt and efficient evacuation of spaces and buildings, not only in cases of blackout caused by power outage but when sunlight and mains lighting may still be available.
An effective emergency lighting system also guides people in and around enclosed and open environments, as well as helps them locate safety equipment plus refuge and assembly points. By delivering essential illumination and guiding occupants to safe locations and safety equipment, emergency lighting reduces panic and saves lives.
However, effective emergency lighting is not only essential for ensuring the peace of mind of those responsible for the safe infrastructure of public and commercial buildings – when six-figure fines and even prison are the price for getting things wrong. It’s also a legal imperative in most countries enforced both by the authorities and insurers. Emergency lighting is heavily governed and defined by product, application and installation legislation standards covering occupational safety and building regulations.
One of the most well-recognised icons of emergency lighting is the green running man pictogram design adopted as the international standard ISO 7010 in 1985. It was the winner of a Japanese fire safety association competition in the late 1970s for designer Yukio Ota and has since been adopted and adapted in many countries worldwide.
A design classic, its calm, universal simplicity transcends language barriers making it easily understood. Pictogram-based signs such as this take a cognitive approach and encourage a quicker response from people compared to written instructions.
The calm, universal simplicity of the ‘green running man’ – a design classic – transcends language barriers to make it quickly understood’
In just a fraction of a second, the shift from bright, clear mains lighting to total blackout can cause maximum panic and confusion. Exit signs can then support the safe, efficient evacuation of occupants by marking emergency exits, pathways, obstacles and changes of direction.
Escape route lighting also helps reduce panic and identify obstacles during an evacuation in non-blackout scenarios – such as a fire, terror or other security incidents – by ensuring a minimum illumination.
Not all evacuations take place following a power failure or blackout. Emergency lighting plays a vital role in supporting efficient evacuations even in sufficient lighting.
This corridor shows mains lighting under normal operation in a building.
A blackout occurs in the building and occupants require direction and light to evacuate the building.
1. Escape route safety lighting illuminates the floor and helps identify obstacles and safety equipment. It helps avoid panic by ensuring sufficient illumination.
2. Exit signs provide safe and efficient evacuation of all occupants marking emergency exits, pathways and changes of direction.
