Emergency Lighting Design

Emergency lighting is a lighting system for industrial, administrative and commercial facilities that is necessary to organize the evacuation of workers in the event of fires, man-made accidents and other life-threatening situations. It is used in situations where it is necessary to ensure the safe exit of people from buildings, as well as to illuminate evacuation routes and emergency exits.

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The presence of an emergency lighting system is one of the requirements for organizing lighting in industrial and administrative buildings. Emergency lighting starts automatically when the power supply system is out of power and is used as a light source at such facilities as medical, child care facilities, and industrial enterprises. Emergency lighting, along with working lighting, is designed separately and makes up a section in the engineering estimate documentation. Emergency lighting is needed primarily to reduce the level of injury to people during evacuation in locations:

Evacuation exits.
Places where evacuation routes intersect.
Places where fire extinguishing equipment is located (hoses, fire extinguishers).
Open areas and large premises.
Industrial premises, parking lots, engine rooms, elevators.

What should an emergency lighting project include?

An emergency lighting project is a package of documents, drawings and instructions that must include a number of key elements that will ensure its effectiveness and compliance with regulatory requirements. Below is a list of the main components that must be included in the project:

Definition of the main goals of the project and the tasks it must solve. Description of the facility, its purpose, dimensions, architectural features and other characteristics.
List of current regulations and standards that govern emergency lighting requirements (e.g. SNiP, GOST, etc.). Indication of minimum permissible illumination levels for various zones and types of premises.
Facility analysis: drawings or diagrams showing the layout of premises, evacuation routes, exits and high-risk areas. Analysis of potential threats and evacuation scenarios.
Light fixture layout. Detailed drawings indicating the location of emergency lights, their types and quantities. Description of selected lights, power sources (batteries, generators) and other system elements. Calculation of system capacity, including backup power supply.
Calculations and modeling of illumination levels using specialized software. Tables and graphs showing the achieved illumination levels in different zones.
Description of automatic control systems, if provided (e.g. luminaire condition monitoring systems).
Description of measures to ensure the system's resistance to external influences (fire, flooding, etc.).
Recommendations for system installation, including connection diagrams. Documentation for users, including instructions for servicing and testing the system's functionality.
Recommendations for regular checks, testing, and replacement of system components. Suggestions for the frequency of checks and inspections.

Types of emergency lighting

Emergency lighting is divided into several main types depending on its purpose and functionality. Here are the main categories:

Escape lighting: ensures the visibility of escape routes, exits and stairways, installed along escape routes and at exits from premises.
Signal lighting: used to indicate hazardous areas, equipment or warning signs, may include flashing or colored lights to attract attention.
Long-term emergency lighting: designed for long-term use in the event of a power outage, usually powered by backup sources such as batteries.
Regulatory lighting: provides illumination of rooms where a minimum level of illumination is required to perform certain tasks (for example, in medical facilities).
Backup lighting: acts as a substitute for main lighting in the event of a power outage, but is not necessarily associated with an evacuation, can be used in offices, industrial premises and other places. All specified types of emergency lighting are designed separately and specified on the general electrical diagram of the facility in the design documentation.

Standards for the design of emergency lighting

The choice of installation locations, luminaires, technical parameters of the system, rules for combining emergency and regular lighting are regulated by regulatory documents. The organization of emergency lighting at industrial, administrative and commercial real estate facilities is regulated by a number of regulatory documents, standards and rules.

Here are the main regulatory documents:

SP 52.13330.2011 “Fire protection systems. Emergency lighting and safety signs” defines the requirements for the design, installation and operation of emergency lighting systems.
GOST R 51251-99 “Emergency lighting systems. General technical requirements” establishes general requirements for emergency lighting systems.
GOST 12.1.046-2009 “Emergency Lighting Systems. Illumination Standards” — contains requirements for illumination levels depending on the type of premises.
SanPiN 2.2.2/2.4.1340-03 “Sanitary and Epidemiological Requirements for the Organization of Lighting in Premises” — includes requirements for lighting, including emergency lighting.

Rules for the Design of Emergency Lighting

The design of emergency lighting is an important aspect of ensuring safety at real estate facilities. When designing emergency lighting, many factors and rules must be taken into account.

Illumination levels

Minimum illumination levels for different types of premises:

For main escape routes - at least 1 lux.
For places where people may be - up to 5 lux.
In places where it is necessary to ensure safe movement (stairs, passages) - up to 10 lux.

Energy independence

Emergency lighting systems must be autonomous and operate from backup power sources, such as batteries or generators. The duration of emergency lighting must be at least 1 hour after the main power supply is disconnected.

Main stages of emergency lighting design

Emergency lighting design includes several key stages, each of which is important to ensure the safety and efficiency of the system:

Determining specific requirements for a particular facility (industrial premises, offices, retail space, etc.).
Surveying and assessing the facility to determine its size, layout, availability of windows and natural light sources. Identifying potential hazards and locations where emergency lighting may be required (exits, stairs, corridors).
Dividing the premises into zones depending on their purpose and risk level. Determining the locations of emergency luminaires to ensure sufficient lighting of evacuation routes and critical areas.
Calculating the required illumination level for each zone based on standard values. Taking into account the reflectivity of surfaces and other factors affecting the illumination level.
Selection of suitable luminaires taking into account their characteristics, such as power, lamp type and operating modes. Taking into account the requirements for autonomy, switch-on time and other functional parameters.
Development of a layout diagram for emergency luminaires and other system elements. Indication of all necessary electrical connections and backup power sources on the diagram.
Development of technical documentation, preparation of a project indicating all parameters, diagrams and calculations. Preparation of specifications for equipment and materials required for the installation of the system.
Design of emergency lighting control systems, if necessary (for example, automatic switching on when the main power is disconnected).

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