Emergency lights in premises: the low-down

Emergency lights are an essential feature of all types of public premises because they guarantee the safety of everyone using them. Businesses are required to commission the work of a qualified technician to draw up a lighting project that includes installation of emergency lights.

How emergency lights keep us safe

Emergency lighting is crucial because it can help prevent risks. In fact, emergency lights are an essential feature of evacuation procedures and shutting down certain types of tasks in a safe manner. They function when there is a conventional electricity cut or when the power supply drops below 70% (161 V AC).

Emergency lights are there to guarantee visibility when standard systems fail and they must be fitted inside premises, at entrances to buildings and along routes between busy areas and exits. Their function is to aid evacuation and provide light in important areas. This includes, for example, the areas around extinguishers and fire hose storage points, distribution boards, first-aid facility points, steps and along stairs.

Emergency luminaires must be automatic and quick-response. In other words, they must activate without the need for operator intervention and do so within 0.5 seconds following a power cut.

The regulations on emergency lights in premises

Premises of all kinds are required to install certain types of lights, including emergency lights. The latter can be broken down into evacuation, open area (anti-panic) and high-risk area lights.

Unsurprisingly, and given the importance of the matter, emergency lighting for premises is regulated and emergency luminaires must guarantee minimum levels of light.

The regulations that are applicable to different premises in Spain are indicated below:

• Electrotechnical Regulations for Low Voltage (Royal Decree 842/2002).
• Fire Safety Regulations for Industrial Buildings (Royal Decree 2267/2004).
• Safety Regulations for Refrigeration Installations (Royal Decree 138/2011).
• Minimum Requirements for Safety in Tunnels (Royal Decree 635/2006).
• Building Regulations (Royal Decree 314/2006 and Royal Decree 173/2010).
• Health and Safety in the Workplace (Royal Decree 486/1997).

Where must emergency lights be installed?

Emergency light installations are a requirement in all premises intended for public use. In Spain, depending on the characteristics of premises, there are a number of requirements in existing regulations that clearly state all legal obligations.

All premises must have their own specific technical lighting project and this must include emergency lighting. The range and types of premises vary greatly and include bullrings, racecourses, amusement parks, fairs, function rooms, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, auditoriums, stadiums, sports halls, casinos and more.

The aforementioned, and many other types of premises, must all have these types of installations and their specific characteristics will depend on factors such as seating capacity, for example. Premises also include spaces designed for meetings, work and healthcare (hospitals, clinics and health centres, for example). These all fall under the public premises umbrella. However, there are some exceptions and not all premises are classed as public premises unless their capacity extends to 50 people. This includes small health centres and clinics.

Furthermore, and importantly, when a building is public, all the areas inside the premises are included in the same category. This includes annexes, offices, backstage dressing rooms and private spaces, even if they cannot be accessed by the general public.

The types of luminaires that must be installed

Existing LED technology means that emergency systems are incredibly efficient and save light. They are perfect for the job and have excellent technical and aesthetic features.

Emergency light installations in premises must include:

Evacuation lighting

Evacuation luminaires must make it easy to see and use evacuation routes. Luminaires need to provide at least 1 Lux of light at floor level and light up fire fighting equipment storage points. They must also provide at least 5 Lux of light next to distribution boards and they must be able to function for at least an hour without the need for external power.

Open area (anti-panic)

The light from ambient or anti-panic luminaires needs to be strong enough so that people can identify and reach evacuation routes and it must light up an area that stretches beyond the immediate surroundings. These luminaires must guarantee at least 0.5 Lux of light across the entire area at a height of up to 1 metre and must have the capacity to function on battery supply for at least one hour.

High-risk areas

Certain luminaires are designed specifically for emergencies in high-risk zones. With these lights, hazardous tasks can be brought to a stop immediately and safely. They must provide at least 15 Lux of light or, where this is not possible, lighting levels equivalent to at least 10% of the normal light in that area. These lights must be able to run on batteries for long enough so that ongoing work can be brought safely to a stop.

The advantages of Secom luminaires

At Secom Iluminación, we manufacture a wide range of emergency luminaires. Since they all feature top-of-the-range LED technology, they all meet the technical, savings, efficiency and aesthetic requirements. They are tough, adaptable and have a long working life.

Secom supplies the following luminaires:

• Recessed indoor emergency luminaire.
• EMERGENCIA ERGO. Indoor luminaire.
• Indoor emergency luminaire.
• Emergency track luminaire.
• IP44 indoor emergency luminaire / IP65 outdoor emergency luminaire.
• IP20 indoor emergency luminaire / IP65 outdoor emergency luminaire. Recessed or surface light.

Secom Iluminación’s LED luminaires for emergency lighting in premises are perfect for the job. They illuminate evacuation routes, standard exits, emergency exits and safety points. As such, in an emergency situation, they guarantee maximum levels of safety and prevent accidents. They all come with the guarantees, quality and reliability of a Spanish manufacturer with over 30 years of experience in the sector.

CAN WE HELP WITH YOUR LIGHTING PROJECT? REQUEST CONSULTATION