Reading time: 4 minutes
Emergency lighting in buildings ensures that people can safely exit a room, a section of a building, or an entire structure in case of an emergency. Depending on the requirements or the workplace, it may also be necessary to finish hazardous workflows beforehand. Fundamentally, emergency lighting is categorized into escape route lighting, emergency lighting for workplaces with specific hazards, and anti-panic lighting.
Laws and standards regulate the minimum requirements for emergency lighting. The key requirements for emergency lighting, as per DIN EN 1838 and the Technical Rules for Workplaces ASR A3.4/3, include:
- Uniformity: The ratio of the highest to the lowest illumination level must not exceed 40:1.
- Quick Activation: Emergency lighting must reach its full luminous performance within 15 seconds after the general lighting fails.
- Minimum Brightness: At least 1 lux of horizontal illumination on the central axis of escape and rescue routes.
- Color Rendering: Light sources must have a color rendering index (Ra) of at least 40.
As part of emergency lighting, exit signs with green-and-white pictograms as per EN ISO 7010 are installed, depicting stylized figures with arrows indicating the escape direction. These are also integral to a building's safety guidance system. Beyond these minimum standards, newer trends are improving safety, efficiency, and aesthetics. Leading providers emphasize technologies like dynamic escape route guidance, intelligent control systems, sustainable energy sources, and appealing designs.
Intelligent Emergency Lighting Systems
Emergency lighting is evolving rapidly, driven by technological innovations and the desire for greater safety, efficiency, and aesthetics. Providers of emergency lighting are leveraging cutting-edge technology in their respective fields, offering solutions that go beyond traditional emergency lighting.
Dynamic Escape Route Guidance
Traditional static exit signs can lead to confusion during emergencies such as fires. Dynamic systems, therefore, adapt escape route signage in real-time to the current danger situation. Unlike static systems, intelligent emergency lighting systems detect various hazards and conditions, such as the development of fire or smoke, often through integration with fire alarm systems. When escape routes are blocked, these systems direct the flow of people and detect panic movements as well as power outages or other technical failures. Examples include switching green arrows to warning symbols, redirecting people to alternative routes, and activating additional lights in critical areas.
Adaptive emergency lighting systems utilize various technologies, such as smoke, temperature, and motion sensors, and are often integrated with Building Management Systems (BMS). Using algorithms for hazard analysis, they manage dynamic exit signs based on technologies like LED, E-Ink, or OLED. For instance, Inotec has developed a variable-direction exit sign with E-Ink technology, which displays the last set escape-route pictogram even during power outages and can block escape routes with a red cross in dangerous situations. The CLS Fusion decentralized emergency lighting system by this vendor enables dynamic escape route guidance by simply replacing static exit signs with dynamic ones without costly maintenance measures.
The safety advantages of these systems are numerous. They increase survival chances by actively guiding people in safe directions, even if the original escape route is no longer passable. Adaptive guidance systems speed up evacuation processes by minimizing congestion or panic movements. Rescue teams benefit from better coordination as the systems provide data on people distribution and hazard zones. Furthermore, they provide high fault tolerance through the use of redundant power supplies, including batteries or solar systems, and decentralized local intelligence operations.
Adaptive emergency lighting systems find applications in various areas, such as airports and train stations, where they provide guidance systems for evacuations. In hospitals and care facilities, they assist in dynamically guiding individuals with limited mobility. Industrial facilities benefit from integration with hazardous material sensors, while tall buildings can take advantage of intelligent multi-floor management with alternative routes.
Intelligent Control and IoT Integration
Emergency lighting systems can connect centrally via a BMS, enabling real-time monitoring, automated testing, and maintenance reminders. This lighting reacts to working hours and presence, saving energy and extending its lifespan. Integrated sensors can activate emergency lighting and escape route guidance in hazardous situations. When properly integrated, AI can predict potential failures early, reducing unplanned downtimes and increasing safety.
The RP-Group offers a cloud-based solution called Lightlinx for monitoring and managing emergency lighting systems. This solution allows centralized monitoring of up to 50,000 lights and ensures automated testing and status reporting. Furthermore, the system provides solutions ranging from single-battery lights to centralized power supply systems.
The CGLine+ system by CEAG (Eaton) enables centralized control and monitoring of emergency lighting systems with intelligent status messages and Building Management System integration.
Sustainable Energy Sources
Renewable energies are increasingly used in emergency lighting. Solar-powered emergency lighting systems operate independently of the power grid and are particularly suitable for remote areas. These systems are equipped with intelligent sensors that adjust light intensity based on the environment and motion. Adaptive brightness control responds to environmental changes, such as movement or variations in light conditions. These systems can adjust their brightness and direction to ensure optimal visibility while saving energy.
Design and Aesthetics
Modern emergency lighting aims to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. For example, Zumtobel emphasizes design with its Onlite series. The exit signs are designed to seamlessly integrate into architecture while maximizing functionality.
Conclusion
Intelligent emergency lighting is no longer a "passive" safety element but an active rescue tool that operates flexibly, interconnectedly, and responsively. Providers of modern systems are setting new standards by combining functionality, design, and technology into a unified system.
