Features to Check in Emergency Lights for Commercial Establishments

Emergency light kits are an essential feature for any residential or commercial establishment. They’re a life-saving tool in the event of power outages, natural disasters, or manufactured hazards (e.g., fire). An alternative lighting system ensures a business remains operational, even if the main power supply is not working. Emergency lights are always a must to avoid panic, guide emergency responders, and provide immediate illumination when it comes to working environments.

Emergency Lights

It’s not surprising why homeowners, business owners, and government institutions invest in emergency lighting. It comes in different types and functionality to suit a particular purpose. One example is surface-mounted lights and LED light bars for large vehicles. Even vehicles come with their own LED lights to signal emergencies.

Shopping for the best emergency light in a diverse market filled with cheap products is a difficult task. You have to ensure it’s durable enough to tackle unexpected power outages and other extreme conditions. The challenge is even more significant if you’re buying an emergency light for your commercial establishment. For that reason, we’ll discuss the qualities to look for when purchasing an emergency lighting system for your business.

Battery type

Emergency light batteries have various chemical formulations, such as nickel-cadmium (NiCad), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and sealed lead-acid (SLA). These formulations have specific charging strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics. Generally, it is recommended to pick the battery type to the manufacturer initially installed. In other cases, NiMH and NiCad batteries are interchangeable.

SLA and NiCad are the most common batteries used in emergency lights. Among the two, SLA is one of the oldest rechargeable batteries. It contains lead alloy plates that are immersed in acid. Advances in technology led to the innovation of lead-acid batteries, which paved the way for fully-sealed units that no longer require water to retain acid levels.

Emergency light batteries are also available in standard types, such as AA, C, D-sized, and other custom packages with multiple cells within a single unit. But make sure to pick the correct battery package and terminal connection for emergency light fixtures.
A battery capacity is measured in two ways: milliamp-hours (mAH) or amp-hours (AH). They represent how much energy a battery can deliver within a certain period. In most cases, several factors affect the power delivery of a storm.

Number of bulbs

Besides the batteries, the number of bulbs is another important consideration when buying an emergency light. You have to consider the space, foot candle, and the light spread’s directional reach. For maximum safety and effectiveness to be ensured, the light fixture should provide enough visibility to help building occupants find their way easily when navigating hallways and locating the exit.

The best way to achieve the right illumination level for a single fixture with directional heads is by placing several units around the space. Make sure to pick the correct foot candle for every square foot.

Lamp type

Lamp type also matters when buying emergency lights. Incandescent bulbs are the most acceptable option since they’re not subjected to constant use. Otherwise, LED bulbs are a great choice if you want better visibility, vibrant illumination, and a flicker-free feature.

Mount

Your choice of mount depends on your chosen aesthetic and personal preference. Most emergency lights are either wall-mounted or recessed. Wall-mounted fixtures are easier to install and can be placed anywhere, while an open option has a cleaner look but requires a more careful installation to ensure correct placement.

Codes

Codes are essential when sourcing emergency lights. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) doesn’t have specific regulations regarding emergency lighting, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) addresses the subject in the Life Safety Code. It states NFPA’s set of requirements for emergency lighting concerning the foot-candle, emergency light time, maximum illumination. Each rule comes with a specific code to ensure the lighting system will provide a proper explanation in a power outage.

Warranty

Finally, always ensure the manufacturer offers a warranty for the emergency light fixture. You may also check if the seller provides a mechanism to avail the lamp battery once the current battery reaches its maximum lifespan.

Emergency lighting fixtures have only one fundamental purpose: to protect building occupants during power outages and unexpected disasters. While emergency lights come in different models, it’s crucial to pick the best one that suits the needs of your commercial establishment. In the end, you have to carefully evaluate all available options depending on specific requirements to get the best value for your money.

Jessica J. Underwood
Subtly charming explorer. Pop culture practitioner. Creator. Web guru. Food advocate. Typical travel maven. Zombie fanatic. Problem solver. Was quite successful at developing wooden tops in the aftermarket. A real dynamo when it comes to exporting glucose in Bethesda, MD. Had moderate success managing action figures in New York, NY. Set new standards for selling crayon art in Salisbury, MD. In 2009 I was getting my feet wet with sock monkeys for the underprivileged. Spoke at an international conference about merchandising toy elephants in Nigeria.