Emergency/Exit lights height for warehouses

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cowboyjwc

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Location
Simi Valley, CA
You're required one foot candle at the floor for the entire path of travel to the exit. Now that's actually not that much light, so you may be ok.
 

jmellc

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
Occupation
Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
You're required one foot candle at the floor for the entire path of travel to the exit. Now that's actually not that much light, so you may be ok.

Isn't there something about being in line of sight along with the door or some such? If too high, a person may not see it or think to look for it.
 

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
Isn't there something about being in line of sight along with the door or some such? If too high, a person may not see it or think to look for it.
You're talking exit locator signs, not egress pathway lighting.

Look at Ron's linked forum thread.
 

tw1156

Senior Member
Location
Texas
You're required one foot candle at the floor for the entire path of travel to the exit. Now that's actually not that much light, so you may be ok.

This is a common misconception (NFPA 101 7.9.2); it's actually a 1FC average as opposed to a 1FC minimum. There is a maximum to minimum ratio of no more than 40:1, meaning, if you have a maximum of 4FC, the minimum light measured has to be 0.1FC or greater. Average light means nothing without uniformity criteria attached to it. For example, you could have a football field with all of the stadium lights directed to one end of the end zone; it would have the same 'average' light across the whole field, but it would look pretty dark on the opposite side. Now, using those same amount of lights, you equally aim them. Your average would be the same, but your uniformity ratio (maximum to minimum) would be much lower and the field would look much better. All of that to say, whenever you see only a lighting requirement, it's best to see that there is also a uniformity requirement attached to it.
 

ron

Senior Member
This is a common misconception (NFPA 101 7.9.2); it's actually a 1FC average as opposed to a 1FC minimum. There is a maximum to minimum ratio of no more than 40:1, meaning, if you have a maximum of 4FC, the minimum light measured has to be 0.1FC or greater. Average light means nothing without uniformity criteria attached to it. For example, you could have a football field with all of the stadium lights directed to one end of the end zone; it would have the same 'average' light across the whole field, but it would look pretty dark on the opposite side. Now, using those same amount of lights, you equally aim them. Your average would be the same, but your uniformity ratio (maximum to minimum) would be much lower and the field would look much better. All of that to say, whenever you see only a lighting requirement, it's best to see that there is also a uniformity requirement attached to it.
As additional info, I have found that when the AHJ makes a code reference for egress lighting levels, it is usually to the adopted building code first and if it doesn't have a reference, then they go to the life safety code (NFPA 101).
For example, most jurisdictions adopt the IBC for a building code, which has 1008.3.5 for minimum average values and acceptable ratios.
https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2018P2/chapter-10-means-of-egress
 

Malywr

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey USA
Is there any code requirements for Emergency/Exit lights height location on a warehouse? Lets say 30 feet high.

I do not know if there is requirement but I would go with manufacture specks
If you put it too high will not give you to much light on the floor or if there is smoke you will not see any light on the floor


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

raberding

Senior Member
Location
Dayton, OH
Occupation
Consulting Engineer
Exit Signs

Exit Signs

check out NFPA 101, 7.10.1.9

Egress markings (i think that's Exit Signs) not more than 6'-8" above the top edge of the opening...

So, for a 7'-0" door, that's a max of 13'-8" AFF.
 
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