Lighting Guide 12 Emergency lighting has been written not only for use when design work is to be undertaken but also to assist engineers in evaluating existing premises against current standards and requirements of legislation.
In the United Kingdom, nearly all premises need to be risk assessed with an Emergency Lighting Risk Assessment developed so that the emergency lighting system compensates for risks to occupants in the event of failure of the normal lighting electrical supply for the particular project circumstances.
This Lighting Guide gives information on how to comply with the relevant standards and produce documentation so that the operator of the building can demonstrate compliance with safety legislation.
Emergency lighting is not a complex lighting design problem, but it is a difficult design management problem. Premises must be compliant to the latest emergency lighting requirements throughout their occupied life.
Design duties include: to gather information, coordinate, inform/educate and manage the design team and installer to provide the responsible person (client) with a compliant emergency lighting system which is optimal to the needs of the client and is a fully functional life safety system for the use of the premises.
For many years there has been confusion with multiple definitions of emergency lighting terms and the introduction of slang terms that could have multiple meanings, this guide is taking the standpoint that it is the British Standards Institution’s role to define the terminology that all emergency lighting practitioners should use.
As emergency lighting is a life safety system, it is vital that clear and unambiguous terminology is used for all life safety systems. It should be noted that in this version of the guide the definitions defined by the BSI have been used throughout.
The guidance in this document is written primarily for buildings located within the United Kingdom but not internationally. It should be noted that there are minor variations for Northern Ireland and Scotland. However, the principles for emergency lighting are universal and can be applied to other locations if the appropriate local conditions, standards and regulations are respected. The document was written by a committee of the Society of Light and Lighting.