What is Emergency Lighting?
Emergency lighting switches on automatically in the event of a fire or power failure to mark escape routes for people. It’s mandatory in offices, hospitals, public buildings, schools...... to keep people safe.
HOW DOES EMERGENCY LIGHTING WORK?
A central or self-contained battery system is often found in buildings. In larger and more complex buildings, it is common to use a central battery system, as battery maintenance is greatly simplified and the overall price of the system is cheaper compared to self-contained lights.
SINGLE BATTERY SYSTEMS
Self-contained lights are usually normal fluorescent or LED lights. The battery, which is built in the fixture of the light, is constantly being charged. In the event of a power failure, the battery takes over the power supply and must guarantee continued functionality for at least 30 minutes.
CENTRAL BATTERY SYSTEMS
Emergency lights which are in a central battery system are fed in via stationary accumulators. The accumulators are located in specially protected and well-ventilated distribution cabinets, which in turn must be located in fire-resistant rooms.
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A SINGLE AND CENTRAL BATTERY SYSTEM
SELF-CONTAINED LIGHTS:
Self-contained lights are specially designed for smaller buildings. Underground car parks belonging to apartment buildings can therefore be equipped with emergency lighting at low cost. Maintenance and testing can also be carried out by a caretaker and the owner is not tied to a service technician.
However, maintenance is also one of the disadvantages of self-contained lights, because the emergency lights have to be checked monthly to ensure they are working properly.
CENTRAL BATTERY SYSTEM :
A clear advantage of the central battery system is maintenance. Since the accumulators are all in the same place, the maintenance of the accumulators is shortened enormously. In addition, the emergency lighting center can be integrated into a building management system so that any faults or alarms can be passed on to the building management center.
Should a lamp fail, it can be replaced relatively inexpensively and reintegrated into the circuit without additional costs for the batteries.
However, the central battery system is only suitable for larger buildings. Maintenance must be carried out by a service technician. The owner of the system is then usually bound to a service contract. The purchase price of the entire system can vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the building.
CONCLUSION
Emergency lighting can be a lifesaver in emergency situations. Shopping malls often don't have windows, so there are far fewer accidents when there's a power outage.
