BS EN 1838 : 2013 - Lighting Applications - Emergency Lighting

Emergency  escape  lighting is  to  enable  safe  exit  from  a  location  in  the  event  of failure of the normal supply. 

To ensure that emergency escape lighting operates when it is required to meet legal requirements, it shall be installed, tested and maintained in accordance with EN  60598-2-22, EN 50172 and EN 62034.

The  emergency  lighting  scheme  design  should  be  based  on  worst  conditions  (e.g.  minimum  light  output, maximum glare  limits)  of  the  luminaires  during  operating  life  and  should  be  based  only  on  direct  light  from luminaires.  

To  provide  visibility  for  evacuation  purposes  lighting  is  required  in  the  volume  of  the  space.  Signs  that  are provided  at  all  exits  intended  to  be  used  in  an  emergency  and  along  escape  routes  shall  be  illuminated  to clearly
indicate the route of escape to a place of safety. Luminaires for lighting and the escape route safety signs should be mounted at least 2 m above the floor.

Where possible, the safety sign should be mounted not higher than 20° above the horizontal view according to the maximum viewing distance of the sign.
Where direct sight of an emergency exit is not possible, an illuminated directional sign or signs  shall be provided to lead towards the emergency exit.

An  escape  lighting  luminaire  conforming  to  EN  60598-2- 22  shall provide  appropriate  illuminance near each exit door and at positions where it is necessary to emphasize potential danger or safety equipment. 
In the new 2013 version of the guide, the Illumination of the points of emphasis have been clarified and improved and the external illumination has been clarified as an extension needed to lead to a place of safety. Illumination of fire alarm call points and first aid posts are now consistent, regardless of their location.


The point of emphasis are following:

• near each exit door intended to be used in an emergency

• near stairs so that each flight of stairs receives direct light

• near  any other change in level

Externally illuminated escape route safety signs, escape route direction signs and other safety signs needing to be illuminated under emergency lighting conditions:

• at each change of direction

• at each intersection of corridors

• near to each final exit and outside the building to a place of safety

• near each first aid post so that 5lx vertical illuminance shall be provided at the first aid box

• near each piece of fire fighting equipment so that 5lx vertical illuminance shall be provided at the fire alarm call points

• near escape equipment provided for the disabled 

*For the purpose of this guide ‘near’ is normally considered to be within 2 m measured horizontally.

Level escape routes

For level horizontal escape routes the luminous intensity of the luminaires shall not exceed the values specified in table 1 within the zone 60º to 90º from the downward vertical.

Other escape routes

For all other escape routes and areas, the limiting values shall not be exceeded at all angles.

The most important figures to follow here  are:

• In order to identify safety colours the minimum value for the colour rendering index Ra from a light source shall be 40. The luminaire shall not substantially subtract from this.

• The minimum duration of the illumination of the emergency escape lighting allowed for escape purposes shall be 1 h.

• The emergency escape route lighting shall reach 50 % of the required illuminance within 5 s and 100 % required illuminance within 60 s.

Open area lighting

The horizontal illuminance shall be not less than 0,5 lx at the floor level of the empty core area which excludes a border of 0,5 m wide of the perimeter of the area.

The diversity  ratio of the minimum to the maximum illuminance (according to EN 12665) shall not be less than 1:40.

Disability glare shall be kept low by limiting the luminous intensity of the luminaires within the field of view. 

The minimum duration allowed for escape purposes shall be 1 h.

The open area lighting shall reach 50 % of the required illuminance within 5 s and 100 % required illuminance within 60 s.

High risk task area lighting

In areas of high risk the maintained illuminance on the task area plane shall be not less than 10% of the required maintained illuminance for that task, however, it shall be not less than 15 lx. It shall be free of harmful stroboscopic effects.

Disability glare shall be kept low by limiting luminous intensity of the luminaires within the field of view.

The minimum duration shall be the period for which the risk exists to people. This should be identified by the employer.

Standby lighting

When  standby  lighting  is  used  for  emergency  escape  lighting  purposes,  it  shall  conform  to  the  relevant requirements of this standard.
Where a standby lighting level lower than the minimum normal lighting is employed, the lighting is to be used only to shut down or terminate processes.