What Type of Emergency Lighting System Is Right for Your Toronto Building?

What Type of Emergency Lighting System Is Right for Your Toronto Building?

Have you ever thought about what would happen in case of a power outage in your building? How would you and other facility occupants find their way out, without panic or unnecessary delays that could jeopardize safety during an emergency? The answer is simple: emergency lights for your Toronto building. In this article, we are going to cover the two main types of emergency lighting systems and explore each one’s unique functionality and benefits.

What Is Emergency Lighting?

Emergency lighting systems include permanently mounted, battery-operated lights connected to the building’s power grid. When the electricity is on, emergency lights draw power from the grid to keep the battery fully charged. In case of emergency and power loss, the emergency lights automatically switch to utilizing the battery, providing enough light and guidance for building occupants to leave the facility.

Where Are Emergency Lights Installed?

Ontario regulations require that all escape routes be lighted from all the areas that could have people in them, leading to a public way (a sidewalk, street, or alley) or a safe assembly area.

What Requirements Do These Lights Have to Fulfill?

There are several requirements that emergency lighting systems must fulfill:

• Emergency lights must turn on automatically in the event of power loss
• Emergency lights must provide enough light to the entire escape route, at an average level of illumination not less than 10 lx at floor or tread level in
• Emergency lights must remain on for at least 30 minutes (depending on occupancy)

What Do Emergency Lights Consist Of?

A typical emergency light includes housing, which contains the battery, a transformer, and a circuit board. There may be one to three reflective DC lamp heads attached to the housing.

These light bulbs are powered by the battery, which, in turn, is recharged by the circuit board and transformer. The circuit board recognizes power loss, turning on the lamps to provide emergency lighting for the facility.

The 2 Main Types of Emergency Lighting Systems (by Operations Type)

There are two main types of emergency lighting systems used for Toronto buildings, based on the way the lights are triggered and managed. These two types of emergency lighting include maintained and non-maintained lighting.

1. Maintained Emergency Lighting

One of the most common types of emergency lighting systems is the maintained system. In a maintained operation mode, the emergency light is on at all times, even when the power is on. Because of this, the emergency lighting is available constantly, ready to provide illumination in an emergency situation.

This type of emergency lighting is usually used in high-traffic areas and escape routes, including stairways, warehouses, general offices, and more.

Sustained Emergency Lighting

Some maintained emergency light systems may have an additional “sustained” lamp separate from the main lamp. The purpose of this additional lamp is to minimize the risk of failure, as this sustained lamp will only be used in emergency mode.

2. Non-Maintained Emergency Lighting

In a non-maintained emergency lighting system, the lamps only turn on when the power goes out. This helps to conserve energy and prolong the life of the battery, as the battery is not in use unless needed.

Such lighting systems are typically used in areas where it is difficult to merge the emergency lighting gear with the existing lights or for areas where direct or bright lighting is needed during an emergency.

Other Common Types of Emergency Lights (by Battery Type)

Maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting systems may have different battery setups: either central or self-contained.

Central Battery Emergency Lighting

With central battery emergency light systems, the battery is situated at a single central point and provides power to all relevant lights in case of power failure. All emergency lights will have an LED indicator to show that the battery is being charged while there is a power supply. Once the power goes off, the LED will switch off as well, and the lamps will be illuminated by the battery. Both maintained and non-maintained systems may use a central battery setup.

Self-Contained Battery Emergency Lighting

With self-contained battery systems, each emergency light fixture has a separate battery inside. These batteries charge when the normal energy source is on and provide power to the lights when it is off. Self-contained emergency lights are typically used in smaller spaces, where it is easier to install and maintain individual fixtures. A self-contained battery may also be used for either maintained or non-maintained light systems.

Choosing the Right System for Your Toronto Building

When selecting the right type of emergency lighting system for your Toronto building, it’s important to consider factors like your building’s size, layout, and usage.

As such, high-traffic commercial buildings may benefit from maintained or central battery systems, while smaller locations might do better with self-contained or non-maintained lights. Whatever your choice, it is critical that your emergency lighting system in Toronto is fully compliant with Ontario fire safety codes. Consulting with a fire safety professional will ensure that you select a system that is not only effective during emergencies but also meets all regulatory standards.

Protect Your Building with Fire Safety Solutions

Choosing the right emergency lighting system is not just a safety precaution – it is a legal requirement and a critical part of your building’s emergency preparedness. Whatever type of emergency lighting system you need, FSS Canada can help. We offer professional consultations, certified installation, and ongoing maintenance to ensure your system performs when it matters most. Contact us today to schedule an assessment or learn more about our emergency lighting solutions in Toronto.