Emergency Lighting
Safety and escape route lighting is required to assist staff in the safe movement
of patients and visitors to alternative locations or to support a full evacuation in
the event of an emergency.
It should come as no surprise that some of the building occupants will almost
certainly be physically incapacitated and some of them probably mentally impaired.
Because of this, and because those undergoing treatment as out-patients (as well
as visitors) will be unfamiliar with the overall layout these premises will require
extra special consideration.
Because of the likely condition of patients hospitals do not normally fully evacuate.
Patients are generally moved to an alternative location, a process called progressive
horizontal evacuation. The patients will be systematically moved from the high risk
areas to areas of low risk while any fire is brought under control. The levels of
illumination therefore should be sufficient to allow the process of progressive
horizontal evacuation to be made easy, especially in those areas where elderly
patients may be present.
Firstly the essential locations for luminaries must be determined along the routes for
movement and escape to the exterior, then intermediate lighting points will be
required to provide adequate illuminance along the selected routes. This should be
in line with the requirements of BS5266, which calls for a minimum of 1Lux on the
centre line of a 2 meter wide escape route.
Elsewhere a minimum of 0.5 Lux should be provided to all non-designated escape
route areas requiring emergency lighting. However, that said with the majority of
users within these premises likely to be elderly, visually impaired or suffering from
some physical defect the emergency lighting
may need to be set at a much higher
level than the 0.5 Lux.
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here for examples of emergency light systems
Lift cars should also be included in the coverage, lifts installed that have
orthopaedic bed capacity should be connected directly to the essential services
supply and in addition, they should also be provided with emergency lighting to
100% of the normal service level for a minimum of 1 hour to cover the possibility
that there may be a delay before the generator can resume a normal supply service.
In all other lifts, emergency lighting should be provided to at lest 50% of the normal
service level for a minimum of 1 hour in order to alleviate any possible distress to
the passengers.
Fire muster points and dedicated refuge areas must be given special consideration
to ensure they are illuminated to a minimum of 5 Lux and are visible or stand out from
the general surrounding area. In addition to the fire muster points the following areas
should be given special consideration;
- Corridor intersections
- Changes of direction & levels
- Stairways & lift halls
- Exit doors
- Fire alarm call points
- Fire fighting equipment
- Outside final exits
Illuminate signs on the movement and escape routes should comply fully with
BS 5499 Parts 1 and 4 and BSEN 50172 in addition to the requirements of the
Signs Directive (1996).
