Exit & Emergency Lighting Services in Southeast Michigan
Making sure your building’s occupants can navigate the path to safety in an emergency is an essential part of being a commercial building owner or property manager. Having the right emergency lighting in the required areas will ensure occupants can locate the exits easily and safely evacuate the building.
Failure to have adequate egress lighting can result in serious fines, enforced by the local authority having jurisdiction (LAHJ).
Exit & Emergency Lighting Inspection
According to NFPA and IBC regulations, emergency lighting should be added in all commercial occupancies. All hallways, stairs, escalators, and pathways both immediately inside and outside the exit area of the building should be well-lit with exit and emergency lighting.
Certain non-egress areas should have lighting as well, such as electrical rooms, generator rooms, fire command centers, and fire pump rooms.
Egress lighting typically lasts 10 years, as long as the lights used are LED and not incandescent lamps. Despite this lengthy life span, building owners are obligated to perform routine maintenance and testing to ensure their egress lighting systems are fully functional in an emergency.
The most current edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code 101 dictates that monthly maintenance should occur with a 30-second test and visual inspection. Additionally, an annual 90-minute test from your local fire protection company should be part of routine maintenance.
Exit & Emergency Lighting Repair
Emergencies can happen at any time of the day, and when you need an urgent repair for your egress lighting, your safety and your occupants’ safety shouldn’t be left on hold. That’s why Fire Systems of Michigan has 24-hour emergency lighting services available for life’s most unexpected events.
No matter what time your emergency lighting gives you trouble, our team is ready to assess the situation and get you the help you need.
Request a Quote
Fire Systems of Michigan has proudly served Southeast Michigan for over 40 years, offering exceptional fire protection to building owners and property managers when they need it most. Our team has the knowledge and expertise necessary to care for your exit and emergency lighting needs.
Call 313-255-0053 or contact Fire Systems of Michigan online today to request a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is emergency lighting?
Emergency lighting guides occupants out of a building in the event of a power failure or outage. These systems are typically found in hallways and stairwells to help people evacuate the building.
What are the NFPA requirements for emergency lighting?
NFPA 101® Life Safety Code® requires emergency lighting in designated corridors, aisles, stairs, and passageways leading to an exit.
The emergency lighting must automatically illuminate for at least 90 minutes upon the loss of power, the opening of a circuit breaker, or a manual act like the opening of a switch to the standard lighting so the building’s occupants can exit the building safely.
Are emergency lighting inspections required?
Yes. Section 7.9.3 of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code mandates periodic testing of emergency lighting equipment in commercial buildings.
What is the difference between emergency lighting and exit lights in commercial buildings?
Many people use the terms interchangeably, but they play different roles in fire safety. Exit lights are the illuminated markers you see throughout a building that read “EXIT.” Emergency lighting pertains to fixtures that light up any pathway leading to an exit.
Both fixture types must include emergency backups like batteries or a generator that keeps the emergency lights operating for at least 90 minutes during a power outage.
What happens during an exit and emergency lighting inspection?
- Inspect units for proper installation and secure mounting.
- Inspect for correct location and quantity of lights for occupancy.
- Perform load test of batteries with an electronic load simulator.
- Verify proper charging voltage of the unit.
- Inspect bulbs for proper operation and illumination.
- Test in place using the built-in test switch that simulates a power outage.