Emergency Lighting Design

Emergency lighting design is the process to determine if emergency luminaires and exit signage are required within a premises, where they should be located and ensuring through lighting calculations that the required light levels will be achieved.

Emergency lighting is a legal requirement in almost all buildings except for dwellings in the UK. The 2 Key documents making emergency lighting a necessity are:

• The Regulatory Reform (fire Safety) Order 2005 (or RRO) mandate that the “Responsible Person” should ensure that:
• Emergency exits and routes are indicated by signs, and
• Emergency exits and routes requiring illumination are provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure to their normal lighting, and
• Emergency lighting is subject to a suitable system of maintenance.
• Building Regulations 2010 Fire Safety Approved Document B. This document also mandates the use of escape lighting in almost all buildings and situations except for private residential premises. This document also states that escape lighting must comply with BS 5266-1

Consultation and Risk Assessment / Survey

At the early stages of any design should be a consultation, and this should involve the building owner, developer, architect, contractors and the responsible person. The purpose of this consultation is to determine the following:

• Should the building be designed for immediate evacuation in the event of an emergency, or if a “Stay Put” strategy will be more suitable.
• How the different areas of the building are to be used. Offices, WC’s, workshop, plant room etc
• How many occupants are expected to be in the building at any one time.
• The number and location of escape routes

With this information an on-site survey/risk assessment should be carried out to determine any risks associated with tasks being carried out in various areas of the building and what measures are to be taken to mitigate them.

Points Of Emphasis (POE)

POE generally require a higher illuminance level compared to an open area or an escape route. These areas should be identified at the point of survey and illuminated according to BS 5266-1 Clause 5.2.8.1 as detailed below. Emergi-Safe will always accommodate POE requirements as part of our design.

BS 5266-1:2016

5.2.8.1 General

Siting and illuminance levels of emergency escape lighting luminaires should be in accordance with BS EN 1838.

Emergency escape lighting should be provided in escape routes, open areas, high risk task areas, and points of emphasis including:

1. near (see Note 1) each exit door intended to be used in an emergency;
2. near (see Note 1) stairs so that each flight of stairs receives direct light;
3. near (see Note 1) any other change in level;
4. externally illuminated escape route signs, escape route direction signs and other safety signs needing to be illuminated under emergency lighting conditions;
5. at each change of direction (see Note 2);
6. at each intersection of corridors (see Note 2);
7. near (see Note 1) to each final exit and outside the building to a place of safety;
8. near (see Note 1) each first aid point;
9. near (see Note 1) each piece of fire-fighting equipment and call point;
10. near (see Note 1) escape equipment provided for disabled people;
11. near (see Note 1) refuges and call points, including two-way communication systems and disabled toilet alarm call positions;
12. near (see Note 1) manual release controls provided to release electronically locked doors as recommended in BS 7273-4.

NOTE 1 For the purpose of this subclause, “near” is normally considered to be within 2m measured horizontally.

NOTE 2 For the purpose of this subclause, “at” means that the emergency luminaire would illuminate in both directions at the change of direction or Intersection.