Emergi-Lite Emergency Lighting Product Catalogue

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Thomas & Betts Ltd., Emergi-Lite, Bruntcliffe Lane, Morley, Leeds, LS27 9LL • Tel: +44 (0)113 281 0600 •
Email: • Web:
Technical reference
General requirements for emergency
lighting (BS 5266-1, -7 and -8)
If emergency lighting is required it should:
Indicate the escape routes clearly with exit signs so
there is no doubt which is the way out
Ensure fire safety equipment such as fire alarm
call-points, fire extinguishers etc can be located
Illuminate escape routes, and open areas used in
escape routes so that obstacles can be avoided
Provide illumination for high risk task areas to
allow the processes to be shut down safely
Any point on an escape route or leading to it must
have an exit sign so that direction of travel is never in
doubt. Internally illuminated exit signs offer the most
effective method of achieving the requirement, and
have a viewing distance twice that of exit signboards -
see right. (Note: where exit signboards are installed,
these must now have 5 lux illuminance on the sign to
meet the requirements on BS 5266 / EN 1838 - for
practical purposes unachievable through use of
converted mains luminaires).
Points of emphasis
Mandatory points of emphasis have been established
where directional signage or specific illumination is
required. These are:
1. Near an exit door
2. Near changes of direction
3. Near stairs and changes of level
4. Near the intersection of a corridor
5. Near each piece of fire-fighting equipment or
manual call point
6. Near each First Aid point
Exit signs
Designated legend formats
European pictogram format
signs are acceptable, as are
ISO 7010 format signs,
although there should not
be a mixture of both within
an installation.
Text only signs are no longer
acceptable and should have
been withdrawn.
Maximum viewing distances
Exit sign boards have
a maximum viewing
distance defined as
100 x the height of
the sign (h), in
metres.
For illuminated exit
signs, the maximum
viewing distance is
defined as 200 x the
height of the sign
(h), in metres.
h 200 x h
h 100 x h