Emergency Lighting Technical Information

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Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting is a secondary type of lighting that provides adequate illumination by immediately activating the lighting system in buildings for any reason.


Emergency Lighting on Escape Routes

In case of an emergency such as fire and earthquake, the roads determined to evacuate the building are called escape routes. The escape route is all continuous and unobstructed roads from any point of a building to the last exit door that goes out of the ground level building. According to this definition, the escape route includes exits from rooms and other independent places, corridors on each floor, floor exits, stairs reaching the ground floor, roads leading from the stairhead to the last exit of the building on the ground floor and the last exit. Fire escapes are also part of the escape route. Elevators cannot be accepted as escape routes.


Escape routes Emergency Lighting Standards

For escape routes up to 2 meters wide, the emergency lighting level must be at least 1 lux at any point above the floor level along the center line of the escape route.

At the end of the emergency lighting period, the emergency lighting level should not drop to a level lower than 0.5 lux.

The ratio between the least and the most illuminated points along the center line of the escape route should not be more than 1/40.

Escape routes wider than 2 meters should be considered as 2 meter escape routes next to each other or they should be designed according to the emergency lighting criteria.

50% of the emergency lighting level specified in the criteria should be provided within 5 seconds and all within 60 seconds.

Emergency lighting duration should be 1 hour for buildings with a load of up to 200 people, and 2 hours for 200 people or more.


Outdoor Emergency Lighting Standards

Areas providing access to escape routes, areas larger than 60 m and assembly areas fall into the open space class.

In open areas, the lighting intensity above the floor level should be at least 0.5 lux. 0.5 mt perimeter of the area is not included in this scope.

The ratio between the least and the most illuminated points should not be more than 1/40 in open areas.

50% of the emergency lighting level specified in the criteria should be provided within 5 seconds and all within 60 seconds.

Emergency lighting period should be 1 hour for buildings with a load of up to 200 people, and 2 hours for 200 people or more.


Emergency Lighting Standards in High Risk Workplaces and Hazardous Areas

In case of power cut, the devices that are shut down and deactivated, moving machines, chemical baths, boilers, energy distribution, production and industrial process control rooms, first aid room etc. places fall into the high-risk workplace and hazardous area class

In areas with high risk of danger, the emergency lighting level should be at least 15 lux in the work area and not less than 10% of the normal lighting level.

The ratio between the least and the most illuminated points in such areas should not be more than 1/10.

Propeller, lathe, etc. The stroboscopic effect should not occur, causing the moving machines to appear as if they are standing still.

The emergency lighting level specified in the criteria should be provided within 0.5 s and should continue as long as the risk continues.

Mercury steam or metal halide etc. used for lighting. discharge lamps come into play late. In areas where these types of lamps are used, emergency lighting fixtures should be deactivated after 10-15 minutes with delay.