Emergency & Exit Lighting
Emergency & Exit Lighting
Emergency and exit lights are an integral part of every fire protection solution. They are most critical in ensuring that all occupants find safe exit during an emergency. As such, there are a variety of local, state, and national codes that require all commercial, industrial, institutional, and certain multifamily residential facilities to have appropriate means of egress marked with readily-visible signs.
In certain cases, the means of egress must also have emergency lighting provided as an additional safety precaution. The following National Fire Protection Association and OSHA publications serve as the basis for detail for detailing minimum lighting requirements:
NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code Sections 7.8 and 7.9
FPA 70 –National Electrical Code
SHA 29 CRF 1910.35 – 1910-38
The 4 basic requirements for compliance are:
Appropriate emergency and exit lighting installed
Monthly Inspection
Annual Testing and Maintenance
Record Keeping
Appropriate Emergency and Exit Lighting Installed
A facility owner is required to provide appropriate emergency and exit lighting based on type of facility, classification of occupancy, and means of egress. Secure Fire & Safety will tour the facility and recommend any equipment that might be needed to ensure compliance with all applicable codes.
Monthly Inspection
A facility owner is required to have all emergency and exit lights inspected monthly, including a 30-second functional test on all battery-powered fixtures. The inspection includes the following:
Testing the integrity of the lights and batteries with attest button for 30 seconds
Replacing burnt-out bulbs and dysfunctional batteries
Checking each light for physical damage that could hinder its operation
Aligning beams and tightening, if necessary
Checking AC and charge lamps, if applicable
Annual Maintenance
All battery-powered emergency and exit lights must be maintained annually per code requirement and manufactures standards. This maintenance included includes the following:
A 90-minute full function test
Checking batteries and lenses for sulfation and corrosion
Cleaning unit and lenses
Adjusting beams for proper alignment
Checking charging system voltage
Checking battery voltage output
Replacing burnt-out bulbs and dysfunctional batteries
Our technicians will also remove all discarded batteries from facility and dispose of them in an appropriate manner.
Record Keeping
Current and accurate records must be kept relating to all inspection and maintenance activity. Secure Fire & Safety will maintain a survey of all emergency and exit lights in a facility, types of fixtures, battery types, locations and maintenance dates. An inspection label will also be placed on the fixtures as documentation of work performed.
Please give our professionals a call at 414-257-4222, or use our contact form to email us your area of interest, and we will contact you directly.