Definition of an Emergency Light

The past 100 years have seen countless advances in public fire safety. With the addition of fire alarms, smoke detectors, evacuation plans, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and other fire prevention devices, buildings are more protected against potential fires than ever before. Emergency lights are one such innovation, providing a source of light in buildings whenever electricity fails.

Features

• An emergency light is any light in a building that is set to run on a back-up battery. The lighting system in buildings is regularly connected to the building's main source of electricity; when that electricity is cut, due to an earthquake, thunderstorm, fire, blizzard or other disaster, the lights in the building go out. An emergency light senses the change in lighting and switches on to provide light to those still in the building. It is not intended to provide anywhere near the lighting capabilities of regular lighting; it only provides enough light for individuals to continue basic activities or find a way to an exit.

History

• The first emergency lights used very large batteries that were bigger than the lights themselves. These batteries, mostly lead acid batteries, were capable of 120-volt charges. Since they were so large and so heavy, these units were often very expensive, which resulted in few emergency lighting systems across the country. Early emergency lights also used incandescent bulbs, providing enough light to simply escape or carry on activities. However, as the emergency light system has improved, bigger and brighter lights are now more common. Halogen lights, producing light similar to that of a vehicle's headlight, are now installed in most emergency light systems, and they provide light to a much larger area.

Lighting Systems

• Today, most emergency lights use several incandescent bulbs, many light-emitting diodes or halogen bulbs. Most lights also include some sort of reflection system so that the light emitted is intensified and magnified to the immediate area. These reflectors are often placed behind the light itself or directly in front of the light.

Types

• While emergency lights vary with usage, some of the most common emergency lights include "Exit" lights and signs, commonly seen in buildings, movie theaters and hotels. These lights are continually illuminated, and when the electricity in a building goes out, they provide extra light. There are smaller commercial lights, as well as larger industrial lights. Some lights are decorative or covered with wired guards; others are recessed in the ceiling or are explosion proof.

Benefits

• The emergency light is of extreme benefit to large businesses. With the increased number of large buildings with few windows in the internal parts of the structure, power outages can completely cut off any light source. Emergency lighting, now running on only 6 to 12 volts per light, is an efficient way to provide protection and safety for a building's occupants.