Some Truths About Emergency Lighting

Both residential and commercial buildings require emergency light batteries for the sake of its residents and workers. This type of lighting is a must for any building to have in most countries because construction laws have been established in this regard, for the safety of everyone concerned. When a sudden power disruption takes place, these lights would help people to stay put or depart from the building in one piece.

Exit lights and emergency lighting are absolutely two different things. They are both intended for emergency purposes which makes them almost the same but the emergency ones have more utility than just the exits. Unlike exit lights that are arranged on a particular location, emergency lights, on the other hand, are arranged all throughout the building and in areas where they will be most useful.+

Emergency lighting is further imperative in areas that are somewhat more precarious like factories, excavations and rigs, in which careful work must be observed and where considerable amount of harmful materials are stacked. Rural and urbanized residential buildings also necessitate provisions for emergency lighting particularly in sections where there are staircases and in the balcony. What do you think will happen if in the event of a sudden power blackout, everybody will be heading towards the staircases in efforts to exit the building quickly? In order to thwart any possible mishap, the use of these lights will turn out very valuable.

These lights are both unchanging and transportable.These lights can be fixed and movable at the same time. The permanent lights are those that are installed in balconies, stairwells and exit ways. Again, the emergency lighting at the exit signs paths is not identical to the exit lights. Exit lights have to be lighted at all times, but emergency lights are only lit when they have to be used. The mobile emergency lights are handy in giving you immediate help during a sudden power interruption or when you might have to follow another person in the shadows. These mobile lighting are generally lightweight and can be carried effortlessly as you move along from one location onto another. They are ideal items to carry along with you during an excursion trip or when camping out.

One essential characteristic that a good emergency lighting unit must have is extended battery life as compared to a standard lighting system. There is no exact date that you can say as to when the light would be needed for actual use. Hence, the lighting to be used for this purpose should be something that has an enduring battery life since this is very crucial. While setting up these lights, be certain that you put them in sectors where they can easily be accessed. It is supposed to be fixed in a particular manner that the minute you need to switch them on, you will be able to do without any difficulty.

With the present trend in gadgets and electrical devices, we have an increasing need for a steady supply of power. A power failure can possibly happen any minute. Thus, the need for emergency lighting at home and in the office could not be underestimated. It can be a movable item or fixed one, but it has to be definitely the proper device that will make your life a little less difficult during times of undesirable circumstances.

Emergency Lighting – Does The Structure Have What It Needs

Commercial facilities are dictated by law to strictly implement the standard requirements on emergency lighting. It is necessary to have lighting that will automatically come on in case of sudden interruption of power so that the route to emergency exit sign within the building will be visible. What if a building suddenly went into absolute darkness and how terrible it would be for people not being able to find their way easily towards the exits? During an unforeseen circumstance, this would absolutely be terrifying. All commercial establishments must install exit lighting and emergency lighting because in the case of an emergency, they will prove very useful in saving people’s lives.

Exit lights everywhere in a commercial building is considerably practical. Exit lights are the ones we see on top of the exit doors that are constantly illuminated purposely for emergency situations. They are very visible signboards which anyone could easily figure out what they are indicating. Along with these battery backup exit sign and lights, a properly fitted emergency lighting system is also very essential. The passageway as well as the stairways, in particular, must have sufficient lighting because these are the places that most people will be lining up. Staircases are critical places to be in, especially during unforeseen circumstances and must be given extra attention in the process of installing emergency lighting. The emergency lights must be scheduled for testing every now and then. Ideally, testing of all lights within a building should be performed every quarter especially the exit lights and stairway lights.

In order to ensure that the emergency lights will work as they are supposed to and give off sufficient lighting, these lights must be installed in accordance to prescribed regulations. The safest way to get your exact lighting requirements is to buy them from trustworthy merchants. You can also ask them about the regulations that you need to comply with. In general, it is best to purchase very brilliant emergency lights. Even if they will consume more electricity, they will definitely prove handy in times of emergency.

For esthetic purposes, the lighting should complement the building’s design and color. The best examples in this regard would be buildings and rooms that contain art collections. In this regard, you might like to choose lights in a tint that will match the wall on which they are mounted to. As an illustration, a white wall or ceiling should also have lights that are inside white casings.

Other than the hallway and stairway, the rest of the building must have proper exit and emergency lighting, too. These are places that could be occupied by a number of people at the time of an emergency. An emergency light that automatically switches on will make the exit door immediately visible for the inhabitants inside.

Eco-Friendly Exit Signs – Why Use Them Instead

The more we increase our knowledge about the ever growing threats of technology to the environment, particularly radioactive tritium technology, which is used in the manufacture of many of the battery backup exit sign all over the country, the more we become ashamed of ourselves for not giving this idea any consideration at all. We could actually switch to healthier choices for our structure’s exit signage and emergency lighting.

Each tritium exit sign emits a certain isotope in gas form which conveys light and radioactive substance through beta rays. Every sign is provided by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with its own registration number who keeps track of them, at the same time. The governing body that has long been on the tail of tritium and has started stepping up their campaign. In fact, the state of New Jersey and the U.S Department of Defense have prohibited the use of tritium exit signage in their buildings and this practice is starting to spread out to cities and States.

Add to this the dilemma of having to dispose these exit signs in the most appropriate manner. A lot of retail companies are beginning to understand the legal implications involved if they totally disregarded this matter. Just the management of these emergency light battery signs is already a great responsibility, plus the disposal must be performed under the supervision of somebody who is licensed to handle hazardous substances. Many business owners have been penalized for disposing their old or broken tritium signs into the trash cans, confident that the FBI and the NRC will not find out about their carelessness.

Tritium is very unstable and dangerous that manufacturers have been required to close shop for as long as the cleanup was being done, which is usually very extensive. As a matter of fact, there is not a single tritium exit sign producer left in the States because of serious environmental issues. The only remaining manufacturer in North America is in Canada, which has been shut down several times due to environmental safety infringements.

Apparently, the call to do away with tritium exit signs deserve no argument; on the other hand, people may not have the idea regarding their appropriate replacements. Incandescent lighting likewise bring a number of difficulties which includes the need to replace bulbs, fixture and wiring every now and then. They consume so much electricity since they have to be on for twenty four hours everyday and need to be supported by either battery or generator sets to guarantee they will actually function in case of an emergency.

As of now, the best alternative is the use of photoluminescent exit signage. These type of exit signs consume no energy, are a hundred percent reusable with a life span of twenty five years for some and don’t need constant maintenance. They pick up and store ambient light for utilization when an emergency takes place, and are detectable in darkness up to a hundred feet or in gloomy circumstances. They are, at the same time, characterized to be indestructible, even by bomb explosions, just in case you are considering such an option for your units. What’s more, these signs are less costly, have various models, and will considerably decrease your building’s carbon footprint by about one half of a million pounds of carbon dioxide over their life span.

The Necessity Of Emergency And Exit Lighting In Buildings & Offices

Anybody who is involved in architectural projects for office and residential purposes, should buy exit signs and provide emergency exits and exit lighting as part of the safety measures. The primary reason for installing emergency lights is to provide adequate lighting that will assist people in finding their way safely out of a building in times of emergency.

You certainly must have seen that every building and office are provided with emergency exit stairways and lights, so you will know which route to follow.

These staircases and exit lights are intended for emergency situations particularly if the building or nearby structures goes on fire. We are aware that when this happens, and if is not extinguished in time, the neighboring facilities could go on fire as well. And this is a very tragic situation which could cause damage both to property and life.

These exits are also crucial in times of natural calamities such as an earthquake. These exits are very important in such a situation as people might just dash out in fright and will not be properly able to identify which route to take.

In times of disasters that are very likely accompanied by sudden loss of electricity, the emergency lighting will prove very helpful. These emergency lights will light the way so the occupants are directed towards the exit without hurting themselves. In case of a sudden loss of electricity even without any calamity at all, emergency lights are still necessary so that people will not be held back and they should be able to carry on with their routine. Ideally emergency lights and battery backup exit signs are placed on stairways and pathways to facilitate safe passage during blackouts.

It is also a law that builders and owners are bound to. You should keep in mind that you cannot start construction without the necessary building permit which you have to secure from the proper authority.

Practically, all hotels and commercial buildings have emergency exit lights that are always on in order to serve its purpose effectively.

Safety is everyone’s concern. The provision for building emergency exits and emergency lights are enforced by law to address this issue. Hence, these rules are not supposed to be taken for granted. If the law states that exit and emergency lighting should be installed in commercial buildings and establishments, so be it! In fact, even if it is not mandated by law, common sense would dictate any builder and building owner to install these emergency facilities for safety purposes. After all, when it concerns your safety and every one else’s, each one has a role to play and that would involve looking out for each other particularly if you have a building and human lives are always at stake.

The Difference Between Exit Lights & Emergency Lights?

In the absence of emergency light battery's, an otherwise secure building becomes a danger zone for the people inside who won't be able to find their way out easily. That is why the government has imposed stringent regulations for the compliance of emergency exit lights to ensure that everybody will be safe and secure. This is a well-known fact among building owners and their property managers, although, they seldom make any attempt to test their exit lighting system after it has been installed.

The choices for exit and emergency lights are plenty, and some versions of exit signs are already fitted with lights which means that a single equipment can achieve both objectives. Although some areas like the passageways, offices and other quarters without an exit will still require emergency lights. One of the very vital places in the event of an emergency are the stairways, given that it will lead the way out for occupants on the upper level. A staircase is already dangerous in itself; much more if it is not properly illuminated during the dark hours, which is why it must be given due consideration. Building administrators are supposed to examine the emergency lights on the staircases at least bi-annually; still, those who are more concerned about safety would perform the test regularly every 3 months.

A lot of people are probably asking about the distinction between an emergency exit sign and an exit light. If you are to consider their shared function which is to provide easy exit in the event of an emergency, then, there really is no significant difference between these two, at all. This applies to fires, power shortages, natural calamities and any other event which is likely to cause blackouts and hinder visibility.

In purchasing exit lights, you should look into some of the essential aspects that include, form, esthetics,manufacturing standards and brilliance.  Most of all, you should make sure that the lights adhere to building codes that apply to your area, so you need to get acquainted with certain legalities  Perhaps, you prefer to have lights in a color and form that will complement the design of the building at the same time.  In other words, if your structure is painted in white then you should go for emergency lights in white housing if you want them to blend well with your walls and ceilings. The extent of brightness that the exit lights will be able to generate is another important factor for consideration. Generally, emergency lights with a minimal output capacity is only suitable for smaller spaces, which means that if you have a wide area to cover, you will have to install a few extra units of these lights. The fact that people have a tendency to panic in emergency situations, which makes it even harder for them to find their way out, it becomes more sensible to purchase emergency lights having higher outputs which are more capable in leading them towards the exit.

Finally, let’s keep in mind that emergency lights and exit lights must be around because of a significant purpose. There may come a time that you will be thankful for having them around. We don’t wish to use them very soon but at least they’re always ready to be of service anytime.