How to choose emergency lighting?

One of the most important types of investment lighting is emergency lighting. It is particularly important, for example, in the event of an emergency. It is used to increase safety and is to indicate the way of an emergency exit. Often, such lighting can save someone's health and even life.

Why do I need emergency lighting?

When designing a building where people will work or stay, we must remember about emergency luminaires. They are used, for example, during evacuation from a building - they illuminate the escape route. They are installed primarily near exits, in corridors and narrow passages, in staircases or in cellars. They are to ensure safety, create appropriate vision conditions and the ability to move freely after a power outage. Their task is also to prevent panic during an evacuation.

Requirements for emergency lighting are higher than for standard lamps. Very often they must have appropriate certificates, a valid technical inspection and meet a number of standards. Emergency luminaires must be maintained and repaired periodically. In Poland, the most important standard for emergency lighting is PN-EN 1838: 2005, it is a translation of EN 1838, which is valid in all European Union member states.

However, emergency luminaires are used not only in the workplace, in schools, restaurants or hotels. In accordance with technical and construction regulations, such lighting must be found, among others, by in theaters, cinemas and other auditoriums, conference rooms, museums or, for example, underground garages.

Types of emergency lighting

Depending on the place where such lighting is to be installed, we can distinguish several types - road lighting evacuation, open zone or high risk zones. The escape route is to ensure safe exit from the building in the event of a power cut or other life-threatening situations. Its beginning is where the person at risk is and ends where they are safe. Open area lighting, i.e. anti-panic lighting is to ensure safe passage to the escape route, it is the point from which the escape route is fully visible. On the other hand, high-risk zones are places where workers have to finish potentially dangerous work and go towards escape routes.

The design requirement for an emergency lighting installation or LED lighting is a very important point. It is worth taking care of this, not only for financial reasons in the event of a fine, but above all for security reasons. Emergency lighting can come in handy at the most unforeseen moment.