FAQ

WHY ARE EMERGENCY LIGHTS USED?

Emergency lights serve the critical purpose of illuminating escape routes, ensuring the safe evacuation of building occupants during mains power failures. The Building Code of Australia requires the installation of emergency lighting systems in all building types, with the exception of standalone single residential dwellings and non-habitable structures.

HOW DO EMERGENCY LIGHTS WORK?

Emergency lighting is directly connected to the building's electrical system and often has a separate electrical circuit to ensure reliability. Each emergency light is equipped with its own dedicated battery, serving as a backup power source in the event of a power outage.

These batteries are crucial for the primary functionality of emergency lighting, but they come with a notable drawback – a shorter lifespan compared to other lighting components. Consequently, it necessitates regular testing to guarantee that the battery can provide emergency illumination for at least 90 minutes. Licensed professionals are required to conduct these tests every six months.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS?

Emergency Exit Sign Lights: Emergency exit sign lights are illuminated signs designed to guide people to the nearest exit during emergencies, such as fires, power outages, or other situations that require a quick and safe evacuation from a building or space. These signs are a critical part of an emergency evacuation plan and are typically required by building codes and safety regulations in public and commercial buildings.

Emergency Luminaire Surface Mounted Downlights: Emergency Luminaire Surface Mounted Downlights are a unique lighting solution that seamlessly merges the advantages of surface-mounted downlights with essential emergency lighting features. When faced with a power outage or emergency situation, these intelligent downlights instantly spring into action, casting a reliable and guiding illumination to ensure a secure evacuation pathway.

Emergency Spitfire Downlights: These sleek and compact downlights are a popular choice for spaces where aesthetics hold significant value. Their design makes them an ideal lighting solution for various applications, including office spaces, correctional facilities, fire passages, retail centers, aged care facilities, and hospitality environments.

DO EMERGENCY LIGHTS HAVE TO BE ON ALL THE TIME?

Emergency lighting serves a critical purpose in buildings, activating during power failures and providing illumination for 90 minutes through battery power. Strategically placed at regular intervals throughout the premises, these lights ensure that occupants can safely navigate to exits in case of emergencies.

In commercial buildings, some emergency lights activate only during emergencies, while others, like batten lights in carparks and fire stairs, remain continuously illuminated and switch to battery power during power outages.

Exit lighting, identified by green and white signs featuring a running figure, remains lit at all times and is present at every exit, including fire exits. These signs are always on, enabling people to locate exits without fail, regardless of the circumstances.

WHERE DO EMERGENCY LIGHTS NEED TO BE PLACED?

Emergency lighting serves the purpose of providing adequate illumination during mains power failures. Here are examples of where to place emergency lighting in different areas of a premises:

1) Corridors and areas with changes in direction need clear emergency lighting to help users identify escape routes and locate escape route signs.

2) Stairways and stairwells require emergency lights to ensure all steps, inclines, and declines are visible during emergencies.

3) Steps, ramps, and any uneven flooring on escape routes should be equipped with lighting to avoid posing risks to users.

4) Fire and first aid points need emergency lighting to facilitate easy location of firefighting and first aid equipment even in the event of a power failure.

5) Both external and internal exit doors must be well-lit to guide users towards the correct escape routes.

6) Escalators, though not part of escape routes, should still be illuminated during emergencies to prevent hazards.

7) Lifts and elevators must have emergency lighting in case users are in the process of using them during evacuations.

8) Toilets and all accessible areas within the premises should be equipped with emergency lighting to ensure safe navigation towards escape routes.

9) High-risk areas in the building should have sufficient emergency lighting to ensure user safety during emergencies.

10) Large open areas accessible to the public and having an escape route running through them, require emergency lighting to guide users to the nearest exit.

Emergency Lighting

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