October/November/December 2022 I 39
Emergency Lighting with PoE
Emergency lighting plays a very important role in build-
ing safety. Many installers encounter mains-independent
emergency lighting every day in ceilings, on walls, or
above doors in various public buildings, factories, cam-
puses, or company offices. In emergency situations, when
the power fails, emergency lighting provides sufficient
orientation for building evacuation. Escape routes are
reliably marked. If the regular mains-dependent lighting
switches off, it can otherwise get dark very quickly with
obvious detrimental consequences.
To be independent of the mains in an emergency
situation, emergency lighting is provided by recharge-
able batteries or a power generator. From the time of the
power failure, it must be possible to supply the emergency
lighting independently of the mains for at least three
hours according to British Standard (BS) 5266 or 90
minutes according to Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) 924.
It is also important that the lighting is switched on
immediately at an average level of 1.0 foot-candle (fc)
and minimum level of 0.1 fc. The maximum to minimum
illumination level ratio must be 40:1 or less according
to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101
standard. Emergency lighting components, such as signs
with illuminated pedestrians or spotlights for corridors
and open spaces, are easy to implement via plug-and-play
data cable networks.
Emergency lighting today mostly works with LED
and rechargeable batteries. With LED emergency lighting,
energy efficiency is a major advantage; the luminaire
is activated for longer due to a more efficient use
of the battery.
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MOMENTUM GOING.
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RCDD CERTIFICATION
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the lighting becomes intelligent.
