Emergency Exit Lighting Testing & Maintenance Service

Emergency lights, exit signs, and panic doors are some of the most important safety devices in your business. While fire alarm systems communicate an emergency and fire sprinklers extinguish fires, exit and emergency lights are designed to guide you and your employees to safety in the event of an emergency. Emergency and exit path lighting are required in all commercial buildings and are specifically designed to save lives. In the event of a power failure or other service interruption, your employees will utilize the emergency and exit lights to get to safety.

Impact Fire offers life safety programs in accordance with NFPA Life Safety Code 101. The fire code requires that your illumination work for a minimum of 90 minutes when called to do so. Documents indicating that this test has been completed are required along with a monthly quick check of your units. At Impact Fire, the majority of our customers perform this quick check themselves and have us perform the 90 minute test and deliver the proper documentation that will help ensure you that your lighting will work when you need it most. We inspect and service the emergency exit lighting and panic alarm devices at each location independent of, or bundled with, our excellent annual fire extinguisher maintenance program.

Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting

Scope: Fire safety is a consideration given to many aspects of your daily life. Many of these aspects are inherent in the overall design and construction of your environment. This information discusses the fire safety issues related to exit signs and emergency lighting. The requirements discussed apply to new construction and, in the extent applicable, existing facilities. This information is based on the 2009 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC), the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Purpose: Fire safety awareness, preparation and prevention are your best defense against a fire. The information provided in this information packet is intended to improve your awareness of the fire safety features that you will encounter in various occupancies. Awareness of these features leads to identification when items may need fixing, maintenance, or corrective action.

Definitions

Exit signage and emergency lighting are critical items that may be required to be installed within your building. The proper type and placement of these features is a major factor when considering the building occupants life safety needs during emergency egress.

When exit signs are required, and/or when they are installed voluntarily, they shall be illuminated at all times; either internally or externally.

Exit Sign Placement

Where exit signs are required, exit and exit access doors shall be marked by an approved exit sign readily visible from any direction of egress travel. The path of egress travel to exits and within exits shall be marked by readily visible exit signs to clearly indicate the direction of egress travel in cases where the exit or the path of egress travel is not immediately visible to the occupants. Intervening means of egress doors within exits shall be marked by exit signs. Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway is more than 100 feet or the listed viewing distance for the sign, whichever, is less, from the nearest visible exit sign. Exceptions: Exit signs are not required in rooms or areas that require one exit or exit access. Main exterior exit doors or gates that are obviously and clearly identifiable as exits need not have exit signs where approved by the fire code official. Exit signs are not required in occupancies in Group U and individual sleeping units or dwelling units in Group R-1, R-2 or R-3. 2 Exit signs are not required in dayrooms, sleeping rooms or dormitories in occupancies in Group I- 3. In occupancies in Group A-4 and A-5, exit signs are not required on the seating side of vomitories or openings into seating areas where exit signs are provided in the concourse that are readily apparent from the vomitories. Egress lighting is provided to identify each vomitory or opening within the seating area in an emergency.

Low Level Exit Signs

New Hotels Where exit signs are required in Group R-1 occupancies by Section 1013.1 of the 2015 International Fire Code, additional low-level exit signs shall be provided in all areas serving guest rooms in Group R-1 occupancies and shall comply with Section 1013.5. Placement of Low Level Exit Signs The bottom of the sign shall not be less than 10-inches nor more than 12-inches above the floor level. The sign shall be flush mounted to the door or wall. Where mounted on the wall, the edge of the sign shall be within 4-inches of the door frame on the latch side. Exit signs shall be internally or externally illuminated at all times. csfd_placement_of_low_level_exit_signs_graphic.jpg As indicated, in new or renovated Group R-1 occupancies, these additional “low level” exit signs will be required. These signs are to be located near the floor level or in the clean air space where occupants may have to crawl out of a building in the event of fire and smoke conditions.

All exit signs – regardless of their placement – shall comply with the exact same code applications for illumination, night-lights, and emergency power.

"Not and Exit" Signs

The use of “NOT AN EXIT” signage is prohibited! This is because in the event of a fire and/or emergency, the only word that registers to people is “EXIT”.

Exit Sign Emergency Power

The power supply for a means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises’ electrical supply. In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas: Aisles and unenclosed egress stairways in rooms and spaces that require two or more means of egress. Corridors, exit enclosures and exit passageways in buildings required to have two or more exits. Exterior egress components at other than their levels of exit discharge until exit discharge is accomplished for buildings required to have two or more exits. Interior exit discharge elements, as permitted in Section 1027.1 in buildings required to have two or more exits. Exterior landings as required by Section 1008.1.6 for exit discharge doorways in buildings required to have two or more exits. The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Chapter 27 of the International Building Code. Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is at least an average of 1 foot-candle (11 lux) and a minimum at any point of 0.1 foot-candle (1 lux) measured along the path of egress at floor level. Illumination levels shall be permitted to decline to 0.6 foot candle (6 lux) average and a minimum at any point of 0.06 foot candle (0.6 lux) at the end of the emergency lighting time duration. A maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded.

Graphics

The color and design of the lettering, arrows, and other symbols shall be in high contrast with their background. There are, however, no code requirements concerning the color of the exit signs. Words on the exit signs shall be in BLOCK letters six (6) inches in height with a minimum 3/4-inch stroke. Usually, we see red or green exit signs used. The colors, however, are not specifically designated within the code. The code allows for some latitude on this issue, however, the letter colors must be of high contrast with the background. It may be wise to contact the CSFD for our approval if your design will be different than the normal red and green exit signs seen throughout the city.

Emergency Lighting Requirements

The means of egress, including the exit discharge, shall be illuminated at all times the building space served by the means of egress is occupied. Exceptions: Occupancies in Group U. Aisle accessways in Group A Dwelling units and sleeping units in Group R-1, R-2 & R-3. Sleeping units of Group I occupancies. The means of egress illumination level shall not be less than 1-foot candle (1 1 lux) at the walking surface. Exceptions: For auditoriums, theaters, concert or opera halls and similar assembly occupancies, the illumination at the walking surface is permitted to be reduced during performances to not less than 0.2 foot candle (2.15 lux), provided that the required illumination is automatically restored upon activation of a premises’ fire alarm system where such system is provided. Foot-candles are measured using a light meter.

Illuminous Egress Path Parkings

Approved luminous egress path markings delineating the exit path shall be provided in buildings of Groups A, B, E, I, M and R-1 having occupied floors located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access in accordance with Section 1024.1 through 1024.5. Exceptions: Luminous egress path markings shall not be required on the level of exit discharge in lobbies that serve as part of the exit path in accordance with Section 1027.1, Exception 1. Luminous egress path markings shall not be required in areas of open parking garages that serve as part of the exit path in accordance with Section 1027.1, Exception 3.

Additional Exit Signs and/or Emergency Lighting

Depending on individual conditions or circumstances, the Fire Department reserves the right to require modifications to ensure an appropriate level of fire and life safety is maintained. Regardless of the occupant load, when an exit access pathway is not easily identifiable from an area of a building, additional exit signs, lights, emergency lights or markings may be required. In a building, room, or area that does not require two exits, but there are obstructions to exits or where the exits are not visually clear to the occupants, additional exit signs and/or emergency lighting units may be required.

In these cases they will be required regardless of the occupant loads.

Testing Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting

These systems are required to be fully tested. Full power drop tests will be performed by the CSFD prior to approving fire finals for occupancy. The Fire Department will require that all the systems be fully tested. A qualified person must be on-site to perform the tests. The field inspectors will not operate any of the systems. They are there to observe the tests, and are not permitted to operate the equipment.

Maintenance of the "Means of Egress"

Boynton Fire Safety Services

Home > Services / Products > Exit and Emergency Lights

Exit and Emergency Light Service and Inspections

Not all situations in Life have an Exit Strategy. But Your building should have an Escape Plan with Exit Lighting. You are in your office building and the power goes out. It’s an Emergency. There’s smoke. Visibility is limited. People are in a panic. Does your business have an Escape plan in place? Are the Exit Signs and Emergency Lights working? You know it’s a little late to find out in an Emergency.

During a Power Outage, the emergency lighting helps safely guide people out of the building. In a Fire Emergency when smoke and flames limits your vision, the emergency lighting is 100% critical to guiding you to safety. It helps in reducing injuries, preventing panic, and saving lives.

When was the last time your Exit and Emergency Lighting was inspected? Many times Exit and Emergency Light Service and Maintenance falls to the wayside. Boynton Fire Safety Service will ensure your exit and emergency lighting is properly serviced and will work in the event of an emergency.

At Boynton Fire we perform complete E-Light service and maintenance as listed in Life Safety 101. We check batteries and bulbs and make sure your lights will operate for 90 minutes.

We provide a worry free process. One less worry. One less headache.

We stock exit and emergency light replacement bulbs, replacement batteries, signage, New Exit Lights, New Emergency Lights, New Combination Exit and Emergency Lights. We also have Exit and Emergency Lights with standard options, high end options, weather-resistant options, and wet-location options.

Boynton Fire Safety Service is Your Complete Source for Exit and Emergency Lights and Exit and Emergency Light Service and Maintenance. For FAST Onsite Service Call the Experts at Boynton Fire.

Questions about Exit and Emergency Lights? Questions about Local Fire Codes? Call us!

Is it Time for Your Annual E-Light Inspection? Boynton Fire Safety Service is ready to make sure you are code compliant.