EM lights vs. Egress lights
- Thread starter jkim780
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mikederuby
Member
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
Emergency Lights will come on when there is a loss of building power. Egress lights are fixtures or portion of fixtures that remain on during normal operation when all other lighting is switched off.
Emergency Lights will come on when there is a loss of building power. Egress lights are fixtures or portion of fixtures that remain on during normal operation when all other lighting is switched off.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
The NEC covers the wiring to the EM lights.
The building code covers when they are required.
Ryan Jackson is the person who knows the building code. If he doesn't pick up this post send him a PM.
The NEC covers the wiring to the EM lights.
The building code covers when they are required.
Ryan Jackson is the person who knows the building code. If he doesn't pick up this post send him a PM.
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
Tom thanks for the PM.
I will be using the 2000 IBC (International Building Code) for this, since I don't have the 2003 here at home. Be mindfult taht nothing relevent changed between the two, however.
Means of egress illumination is found in section 1003.2.11, and it states
Section 1003.2.11.1 goes on to say that such illumination shall be 1 foot candle measured at the floor level.
What this is saying is that anytime anybody is in the building, there must be lights that provide a minimum amount of illumination. This is just your typical lighting...not emergancy. The intent here is designing enough light, so that under non-emrgancy conditions a person can egress from a building easily.
Section 1003.2.11.2 goes on to state that such illumination needs to be supplied from an emergancy source (article 700, not 701) in a few different areas. These areas are basically limitted to the areas that, due to occupacny type and occupant load, require two exits.
Summary: All areas need 1 foot candle of light. Areas that require two exits need emergancy illumination.
Does that make sense?
Tom thanks for the PM.
I will be using the 2000 IBC (International Building Code) for this, since I don't have the 2003 here at home. Be mindfult taht nothing relevent changed between the two, however.
Means of egress illumination is found in section 1003.2.11, and it states
There are a couple of exceptions that aren't worth getting into.
Section 1003.2.11.1 goes on to say that such illumination shall be 1 foot candle measured at the floor level.
What this is saying is that anytime anybody is in the building, there must be lights that provide a minimum amount of illumination. This is just your typical lighting...not emergancy. The intent here is designing enough light, so that under non-emrgancy conditions a person can egress from a building easily.
Section 1003.2.11.2 goes on to state that such illumination needs to be supplied from an emergancy source (article 700, not 701) in a few different areas. These areas are basically limitted to the areas that, due to occupacny type and occupant load, require two exits.
Summary: All areas need 1 foot candle of light. Areas that require two exits need emergancy illumination.
Does that make sense?
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
a good example is stairwell lights. Basically, they must be wired directly to the breaker and the stairwell not contain any switches where they can be conviently turned off.
When we do stores we always wire "nitelights"
one or spuratic that is not switched.
Serves 2 purposes. The occupants can easily exit the building upon closing and if a burgular alarm goes off and police respond, there is lumination for them to see inside for any movement before they enter.
a good example is stairwell lights. Basically, they must be wired directly to the breaker and the stairwell not contain any switches where they can be conviently turned off.
When we do stores we always wire "nitelights"
one or spuratic that is not switched.
Serves 2 purposes. The occupants can easily exit the building upon closing and if a burgular alarm goes off and police respond, there is lumination for them to see inside for any movement before they enter.
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
Thanks for your responses, gentlemen.
Ryan, three questions for you.
(3) In commercial buildings, all spaces are pretty much access to exits, then all spaces need to be illuminated all the time?
Thanks for your responses, gentlemen.
Ryan, three questions for you.
(1) Does that mean you can turn your egress lights off when the building is not occupied?
(2) Does that mean that egress lights should be EM lights if you are in rooms or spaces where require two or more exit?
(3) In commercial buildings, all spaces are pretty much access to exits, then all spaces need to be illuminated all the time?
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
1) Yes, you may turn the lights off when you leave.
2) Yes, any room large enough to require two or more exits must have lights that turn on automatically in the event of power failure. That is not to say that every light turns on...just enough to provide 1 foot candle.
3) You are exactly right. A means of egress is a system made up of three components:
a) the exit access. basically anywhere inside of the building, other than an exit.
b) the exit. The most common type of exit is a protected stairway enclosure, or a protected exit accessway (such as a rated corridor, sort of).
c) The exit discharge. The area between the exit and the right of way. Typically the right of way would be a street, so this means that if my building requires two exits, I need emergancy lighting outside of the building as well as inside.
Edited for coherency
[ May 09, 2005, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: ryan_618 ]
1) Yes, you may turn the lights off when you leave.
2) Yes, any room large enough to require two or more exits must have lights that turn on automatically in the event of power failure. That is not to say that every light turns on...just enough to provide 1 foot candle.
3) You are exactly right. A means of egress is a system made up of three components:
a) the exit access. basically anywhere inside of the building, other than an exit.
b) the exit. The most common type of exit is a protected stairway enclosure, or a protected exit accessway (such as a rated corridor, sort of).
c) The exit discharge. The area between the exit and the right of way. Typically the right of way would be a street, so this means that if my building requires two exits, I need emergancy lighting outside of the building as well as inside.
Edited for coherency
[ May 09, 2005, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: ryan_618 ]
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: EM lights vs. Egress lights
My pleasure. I hope that helps clear it up for you
My pleasure. I hope that helps clear it up for you
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