A centralized emergency solution can help enable more situation-specific lighting responses. In a fire, users might program lighting to go on to a dimmed level rather than full-on, which can make egress through smoke difficult.
Are the emergency fixtures integrated with the general lighting zones or are they on their own control zones? Will the emergency lighting be integrated with the fire alarm system? Is emergency lighting expected to always go to full-on or does the facilities team want to specify different fixture responses for power outage versus fire alarm versus an active shooter or other crisis scenario? In the latter scenarios, for example, it may be desirable to force the lights off to delay intruders. Next, make sure to consider several additional factors and understand the client’s expectations.
In this case, the fixtures are fed by a “normal/emergency” feed, which automatically switches between utility power and an emergency source using an automatic transfer switch (ATS). Conversely, if a centralized backup power system is in place, there is no need for battery backup at the fixture level. While these systems are simple to design and have no impact on any underlying control system, they do require additional fixtures or specialty fixtures, regular testing (manual or automatic) and an awareness of ongoing battery replacement or maintenance requirements. If the building does not have a centralized inverter or a backup generator, emergency lighting will have to be distributed, requiring dedicated emergency lights (“bug eyes”) or integral battery backup LED drivers in selected fixtures.
The desired lighting performance, fixtures being used and the design of the emergency power system all factor into the specification of the desired emergency lighting control solution.įirst, users need to understand the type of emergency power system being used. Before settling on a specific control method, it is important to identify the emergency lighting scenarios and preferred sequence of operations in the building.
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