Emergency lighting is an independent element of the central lighting system, the main purpose of which is to ensure visibility and normal orientation of people on objects during its breakdown or shutdown. In addition, it is indispensable for all kinds of disasters of man-made and natural origin. In this regard, all public and industrial enterprises must be equipped with such a system without fail.
Varieties of emergency lighting systems
In general, such a system as emergency lighting is usually divided into two main varieties: backup and evacuation. The main function of the first of these is to provide such an amount of light that is necessary to maintain the performance of enterprises related to the social sphere of activity, as well as those institutions, even a temporary stop of which can lead to detrimental consequences. For example, this can include medical and social facilities, as well as companies engaged in various types of hazardous production. Here, in each of the rooms, at least twoauxiliary lamps.
As for the second system, this is evacuation lighting, which is necessary to ensure the emergency completion of all urgent types of work. In addition, it is designed to help evacuate the personnel of the enterprise in the event of a disaster or threat to human life. Installation of evacuation fixtures and lamps is always carried out on the way of a safe exit at a distance that provides the smallest degree of illumination in the center of the corridor.
Emergency lighting system design
Design and control of emergency lighting should be carried out taking into account not only the purpose and architecture of the building itself, but also the characteristics of the territories adjacent to it. After a thorough analysis of the design documentation, it is necessary to determine and designate the location of the fixtures. As a result of the installation of these elements, the highest efficiency of their work should be ensured, taking into account the functional purpose of the room. In this case, it is imperative to take into account the service life for which each emergency lighting lamp is designed, as well as its power sources. It should be noted that in order to avoid significant financial costs for the repair or installation of a new system in the future, it is important to scrupulously treat this issue at the design stage.
Installation
The installation of the emergency and central lighting system in most cases is carried out in parallel, but not together. The fact is thatit is desirable that their power lines are not laid at all at the location of the main electrical wiring. According to the legislation in force in our country, emergency lighting control must be carried out from the premises itself, distribution or group points, from substations or other places that only service personnel have access to. In any case, it is recommended that there are no on/off switches for lights in the hallways.
As for their installation locations, they must be present above all emergency exit doors and safety signs, near fire fighting tools and panic buttons, on flights of stairs, in tunnels and on evacuation routes.
Maintenance
Emergency lighting, regardless of its type, is a system that is not used often and intensively. At the same time, in the event of an emergency need for its use, the operation of each of the elements must be trouble-free. In this regard, it is recommended that specialists conduct constant checks not only of the equipment itself, but also of communication networks. Only in this case it is possible to speak with confidence about the correct functioning of the entire system.
Choice of fixtures
Each emergency lighting fixture must be selected, first of all, taking into account all regulatory documents that provide for requirements for them in terms of electrical and fire safety. Reliability is also important.devices, since it is not known under what conditions they may happen to function. The housings of such lamps must be made of high quality materials. With regard to power sources, in most cases, emergency lighting fixtures with a battery are used at various facilities. As practice shows, without additional recharging, these devices can operate for a period of time ranging from one to three hours. Along with this, options with other power sources have recently begun to appear.
Types of fixtures
The luminaires used in the emergency lighting system are usually divided into three main groups depending on their functioning. The first of these includes permanent devices. Their distinguishing characteristic is that the operation of the lamp continues even when disconnected from the mains. The second type is non-permanent lamps. Their lamps turn on only if the main lighting system fails. The third category includes combined appliances. Their design provides for the installation of two or more lamps. At the same time, one of them provides emergency lighting, while the rest operate from a common network.
Autonomous lighting systems
Traditional incandescent lamps are not very efficient, and their use in various facilities is very expensive. As a result, this leads to the constant emergence of new technologies and ideas in this area. One of the most interesting among them was autonomous lighting, which functions by converting solar and wind energy. The main advantage of such systems is the absence of the need for laying electrical lines. In addition, they do not require constant maintenance. As practice shows, the most effective use of such systems is on dangerous sections of highways (bridges, interchanges, railway crossings). Also, from year to year, they appear more and more in many enterprises.
The autonomous lighting system itself is a high pole on which a solar panel, a wind generator and an LED lamp are mounted. During the day, solar and wind energy is converted into electricity, which is stored in batteries installed in a special box at the foot of the pole, and can be used at any time.
