Reinventing Emergency Lighting

Ravi Kolhe | 9/06/2013 | | |
Emergency lighting is the lighting system that is required in case there is an emergency like a fire or bombing or any other such event. In an emergency, the main power supply is the first thing that either shuts off automatically or is shut down manually to minimize the spread of fire etc. The emergency lighting is required in areas which can be used by people of all ages to exit from the premises. The purpose of these lights is to give illumination in times of emergencies so that exiting becomes safe and quick.

Types of Emergency Lighting Systems

There are basically three categories in which most of the emergency lighting schemes fall. These categories are as follows:

1. Non-maintained: the emergency lights that fall in this category illuminate only in case of a mains failure.

2. Maintained: the maintained emergency lights are those that illuminate not only during a mains failure but at all times. Under this system, the same lamps are used in both situations, normal and emergency.

3. Sustained: the sustained emergency light system is a combination of the non-maintained system and the maintained system. The emergency lights under the system have two sets of lamps or two lamps as required. One of these lamps or sets of lamps operates on the mains supply while the other operates from the battery supply in case the mains supply fail.

Existing and New Emergency Lighting Technologies

Fluorescent_Lamps
Fluorescent Lamps: fluorescent lamps have long been used as emergency lights in most buildings. These lamps are cost effective, provide wider illumination and consume less energy. However, as compared to some of the newer techniques available today, fluorescent lamps take longer to light up and are not as energy efficient as other techniques.

Photoluminescent Technology: this is one of the latest techniques used in emergency lighting. The technique involves charging of the lamps when they are actually in use. The best thing about the technique is that it does not rely on an electric or a battery source when required in case of an emergency as it already charges the lamps when they are used in the normal course. The photoluminescent lamps are not there to illuminate a space but provide the individuals and the people around an idea of the space around them, in case of an emergency.

LED: the light emitting diode technique is increasingly being used in emergency lights as the energy consumption quotient of LED lamps is the lowest. They are highly cost effective and provide uniform lighting. The LED lights enjoy a long life and therefore they justify the costs, which might be slightly higher than the conventional methods of emergency lighting.

LED emergency lighting
UL924 LED emergency lighting: an addition to the already existing LED emergency lighting system is the UL924 system in which the existing LED fixtures are connected with additional small profile LED drivers and battery packs. The purpose of these battery packs and drivers is that, in case of a power outage, the modules connected get a constant supply of current. This technique provides capability to the non-LED fixtures to act as emergency LED lights.

P4 Fastel Technology: launched by the P4 Limited Co. of the UK, the Fastel technology delivers state-of-the-art emergency lighting for buildings, commercial or private. The technology works well for stand-alone lights, ones that are monitored through the internet or the PC, those that have self-contained luminaries or are addressed by the central battery systems. Reliability, cost effectiveness and full compliance with the emergency lighting regulations are the benchmark features of the P4 Fastel technology. The technology provides an extensive range of conversion services under which any mains luminaires may be converted to act as emergency lights.

Areas for Emergency Light Units

Areas for Emergency Light
Emergency light units must be such installed that they clearly guide the occupants of the premises, the exit routes that lead to the final exit. For places that are not exact exit points, signs should be put up indicating the way to the exit. For this reason, individual stairways, corridor intersections, changes in levels and directions, lifts, toilet areas and the outside of every final exit should be duly lit with a sign.

Emergency lighting systems form to be an integral part of all types of buildings and they must conform to the regulations applicable in the particular country.

About the Author:
Michael Clark is the writer of this article. He writes for a number of sites including a site that offers led emergency light bars and other emergency lights. The site is very popular for its emergency lights and high quality emergency light bars.

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