P26-27 Emergency Lighting:Layout 1 22/07/2021 11:53 Page 26 EmergencyLighting
Emergency lighting is a legal requirement in all public, commercial and high occupancy residential buildings and can therefore generate continual sales and revenue throughout the year for wholesalers. Anthony Parkinson, technical manager at Ansell Lighting, looks at the types of available products and how to approach their installation.
equired when there is a mains power breakdown and normal illumination fails, emergency
lighting is needed to make an environment safe when there is sudden darkness. Whether due to a power cut, fire or other circumstance, the loss of mains electricity and subsequent darkness can pose real danger to a buildings’ occupants, who are unable to see hazards or a safe exit route and cause panic and confusion. Emergency Lighting is normally required to operate fully automatically and give sufficient illumination for long enough to enable all occupants to evacuate a building safely. With all that in mind wholesalers need to ensure they stock a useful and
comprehensive selection of emergency lighting and be able to advise on uses, classification and installation requirements. The term ‘emergency lighting’ covers emergency evacuation lighting as
well as standby lighting. It is powered in two different ways, either ‘self- contained’ which means it contains its own power supply or by ‘central
26 | electrical wholesaler August 2021
Wholesaler Guide R
battery source’ which means it is powered in emergency by either a Static AC/AC system or a Central Power System which is nominally 24/50V DC or 110V AC. The main advantages of self-contained systems are that initial outlay, installation and maintenance is both cheaper and faster than the alternatives, as each luminaire operates independently. Self-contained systems can also be easily extended with additional luminaires as required. Systems operated from a central battery source can be easier to maintain
Anthony Parkinson
as there is only one location to consider, eliminating the need to isolate and observe individual luminaries as is the norm with self-contained systems; battery life is also longer on these systems – anywhere between five and 25 years compared with just a few years for self-contained lights. Central battery source systems are also much less susceptible to ambient temperature and air conditions as the battery supply is housed in a protective environment. In general, the decision to use either a central battery or self-contained
system is likely to be cost-determined but no matter which power source is opted for, there are plenty of options available. In most cases a combination of the two is likely to be needed to provide complete protection during times of power failure.
ewnews.co.uk
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