When the power goes out during an emergency, people need to be able to see where they are going and identify where they need to go. This is where emergency lighting and exit signs play an important role in helping people safely leave a building.
Although the two are often mentioned together, an exit sign and an emergency light do different jobs. One helps people identify and find an exit, while the other provides enough illumination to make the path to that exit visible.
For building owners, strata managers, facility managers and commercial landlords, understanding the difference matters. Having an emergency light does not necessarily mean you have adequate exit signage, and an illuminated exit sign does not replace the need for emergency lighting where it is required.
If you're responsible for a commercial building, understanding how these systems work together can help you identify potential issues before they become a larger compliance problem.
An exit sign is an illuminated sign that identifies the location of an exit and provides wayfinding assistance so people can evacuate a building or shelter during an emergency. Typically, an exit sign will be displayed above or immediately next to a required exit door.
Often depending on the layout of a building, you may also find exit signs are required along corridors, hallways, lobbies and other areas where it may not be clear where you need to travel to access an exit. The primary role of an emergency exit sign is therefore wayfinding. If the normal lighting in a building fails, people inside should still know where they need to go to safely exit the building.
Exit signs should always remain illuminated when a building is occupied and should come on during a failure of the main lighting system for a period of time sufficient for the building to be evacuated. In Australia, the National Construction Code (NCC) outlines the requirements for exit identification and refers to AS/NZS 2293.1 for the design and operation of required exit signs.
An exit sign may depict a pictorial symbolof an exit, and may also include a directional arrow where occupants mustproceed in a specific direction.
Emergency lighting is lighting that provides illumination when needed during an emergency. Instead of directing people to safety, emergency lighting lets people see where they need to go.
Emergency lighting can be used along travel routes, within corridors and passageways, up and down stairs and ramps or anywhere else where sufficient illumination is required to safely exit the building. The requirements depend on the building classification, design and usage.
This is an important distinction. Consider a dark corridor during a power outage. The exit door may well be clearly marked with an illuminated exit sign, but if the corridor is black, persons will still be unable to see obstacles in the corridor, changes in level or where they need to go.
Emergency lighting as specified in the NCC is designed to ensure adequate illumination is provided during an emergency, such as a failure of normal artificial lighting. Required emergency lighting must be installed in accordance with AS/NZS 22931.
The simplest way to understand the difference is to think about direction versus visibility.
The two systems are designed to work together rather than replace one another. An exit sign can tell someone which door leads to safety, while emergency lighting helps that person safely reach the door.
The number of exit signs required for a building depends on its layout, as well as the exits themselves. According to the NCC, required exit signs should be visible to someone approaching the exit. These are generally placed on, above, or near the specific exits and their corresponding doors.
If it’s not obvious where an exit is located to someone inside the building, direction signs may need to be used to point towards a required exit. In short, having a sign placed halfway down a hallway isn’t always going to be enough. Considering where it is, how clear its visibility is, and if it effectively directs people to the proper exit are all crucial.
Say you have a large retail space with multiple hallways branching off in different directions. A person who’s unfamiliar with that space may not know which hallway leads to an exit. Using directional exit signs can alleviate that confusion when an evacuation occurs.
Emergency lighting is required in all fire-isolated stairways, fire-isolated passageways and ramps in buildings. Emergency lighting may also be required on certain storeys of a building, in rooms, corridors, passageways and elsewhere depending on the building classification and specific layout.
Places of particular importance where normal lighting may become unavailable, making it hard to leave, include stairways. In the event of an emergency, if someone can't see where they are placing their feet as they run down the stairs, then having an easily seen exit sign may not be enough.
This is why your emergency lighting layout should be based on your building's conditions and escape routes.
Emergency lighting and exit signs are subject to requirements under the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Fire Safety Standards. AS/NZS2293.1 covers the system design, installation and operation of emergency lighting and exit signs. The NCC references this standard for required emergency lighting systems and exit signs.
The broader AS/NZS 2293 series also covers areas including the routine service and testing of emergency lighting and exit sign systems. This means compliance is not simply about installing the correct fittings when a building is constructed.
Emergency lighting needs to remain capable of performing its intended function over time.
That makes emergency lighting testing and maintenance an important part of ongoing building management. Batteries can deteriorate, fittings can become damaged, lights can fail and changes to a building can affect whether existing lighting and signage still adequately serve the evacuation plan.
An illuminated exit sign and an emergency light have different purposes. An exit sign identifies an exit, while emergency lighting provides visibility along the path of travel.
Where both are required, having one doesnot automatically satisfy the need for the other.
Emergency lighting and exit signs need to be positioned so they perform their intended function. An exit sign that is obscured by a fit-out, building alteration or other obstruction may no longer be clearly visible. Similarly, emergency lighting needs to provide adequate illumination across the relevant path of travel.
Emergency lighting equipment does not last indefinitely. Older fittings, damaged signs and degraded components can affect system performance. If an emergency light or exit sign is showing signs of damage, flickering, failing to illuminate or otherwise behaving unexpectedly, it should be assessed rather than simply left in place.
Many emergency lighting systems rely on batteries so they can continue operating when the normal power supply fails. A fitting may appear to work normally during everyday conditions but fail to operate correctly when its emergency function is actually needed. Regular testing can help identify battery and other system faults that are not obvious during normal operation.
A building can change significantly after its emergency lighting system is installed. Walls may be added, layouts may change, tenancy fit-outs may alter corridors and furniture or equipment can affect visibility. Emergency lighting and exit signage should continue to reflect how the building is currently used.
Emergency lighting testing should be carried out by a suitably qualified and competent professional who understands the relevant requirements and testing procedures. The exact scope of testing depends on the building, its systems and the applicable requirements.
Testing should not simply involve switching a fitting on and checking whether the lamp illuminates. The emergency function, batteries, fittings and overall system performance may all need to be assessed.
Regular testing can help identify faults before an emergency occurs and provide building managers with records of the condition and maintenance of their emergency lighting systems.
Emergency lighting and exit signs serve different functions, but both play an important role in creating a safe evacuation plan for your building. Exit signs help people identify where they need to go, while emergency lighting provides the visibility needed to follow the escape route.
For building owners, facility managers, strata managers and commercial landlords, keeping these systems properly installed, tested and maintained is an ongoing responsibility. Requirements can also change depending on the building's classification, layout and use.
Alexon provides emergency exit lighting services across Melbourne, including emergency lighting testing, installation, maintenance and replacement. Our team can help identify issues with existing systems and provide support with maintaining the emergency lighting and exit signage your building relies on.
If you're unsure whether your emergencylights and exit signs are working as they should, contactAlexon to arrange an inspection or request a quote.
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