Emergi-Lite Emergency Lighting Product Catalogue

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Point Establish Action
1 Establish position of fire equipment, position of hazards such as steps,
changes of direction, stairs, first aid points etc.
Provide an emergency luminaire near (within 2 m horizontally) of each of
these points of emphasis.
2 Establish designated exit doors, points on escape routes or open areas
where a sign is required to make the exit obvious.
Provide exit signs with arrows if necessary, observing the maximum viewing
distances of the exit sign type.
3 Establish the need for external escape lighting. Provide emergency luminaires so that people can proceed outside to a
place of safety.
4 Establish the escape routes and establish mounting heights of
luminaires above the floor.
Position luminaires along parts of the escape route not already illuminated
near the above points to provide 1 lux minimum along the centre line and
0.5 lux minimum in the 1 m central band. Use published data in the form
of spacing tables for the luminaires to determine the positions taking into
account the mounting height.
5 Establish the open areas used as escape routes and other open areas
larger than 60 m2 and establish mounting heights of luminaires above
the floor.
Provide 0.5 lux minimum in the core area. Use published data (as above) to
determine the positions.
6 Establish the position of lifts, escalators, toilets, control/plant rooms,
pedestrian walkways in covered car parks.
Provide emergency luminaires in all of these areas.
7 Establish the location of any first aid point or fire equipment not on an
escape route or open area.
Provide 5 lux emergency illuminance on the floor in the vicinity of the
point. This also applies for a first aid room.
8 Establish the toilet areas. Provide emergency lighting for toilets larger than 8 m2, as if they were
open areas. For toilets smaller than 8 m 2, unless illuminated by borrowed
emergency light from another area, provide at least one emergency
luminaire. Provide emergency lighting to all disabled toilets.
9 Establish any small lobbies with no borrowed light. Provide emergency lighting.
10 Establish any central power supply (if used) is in an area of low risk
away from other switchgear or plant.
Position the central power supply in its own room in fire-proof
construction.
If the building use is known :
11 Establish any need for stand-by lighting. Provide generators as required. If the response time is longer than
5 seconds, then transitional, alternative or additional emergency lighting
must be provided.
12 Establish any special needs for the occupants such as impaired mobility
or impaired sight.
Provide additional emergency lighting to reduce the risk to those people to
help them evacuate the premises. This applies to designated refuge areas
(which may require the provision of emergency voice communication).
13 Establish the location of any high risk task areas and the normal lighting
illuminance (lux) in these areas.
Provide 10% of the normal illuminance (lux) or 15 lux minimum.
14 Establish if there are any dust or dirt problems. Allow a service factor as appropriate. 0.8 is allowed for normal areas, but
for dusty environments 0.5 may be required, or alternatively instigate a
regular cleaning procedure.
15 Establish any local regulations. Provide emergency lighting to comply with the regulations.
16 Establish if there is any dimmable lighting and shopping malls. Provide maintained emergency lighting.
17 Establish whether people would be “unfamiliar” with the escape routes. Provide maintained exit signs.
18 Establish the use of the premises:
entertainment (including temporary such as licensed evening dance
at a school)
sleeping risk
residential special care
non-residential care
public access non-residential
industrial
multi-storey dwelling over 10 storeys
Recommended Minimum Duration:
3 h
3 h
3 h
1 h
1 h
1 h
3 h
Note : because the duration times are varied, it is customary in the UK to use 3 h.
Note: for points 5 and 6 the luminaires positioned near points of emphasis can be moved slightly within the 2 m horizontal tolerance to fit in with the spacing or array
of emergency luminaires in the escape route or open area.
This checklist is for guidance purposes only and does not form an exhaustive list of all requirements to standards and legislation, which should be reviewed when
undertaking emergency lighting system design.
Technical reference
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Thomas & Betts Ltd., Emergi-Lite, Bruntcliffe Lane, Morley, Leeds, LS27 9LL • Tel: +44 (0)113 281 0600 •
Email: • Web:
Checklist for emergency lighting system design