Helpful Information About Emergency Light Fixtures:
- Problem: The emergency unit does not light up and the LED indicator does not come on.
- Suggestion: Check to see if the power supply wires inside the unit are properly connected. If you have 277 volts of input power, connect the orange (277V) wire from the fixture to the black (hot) wire from the supply circuit. If you have 120 volts of input power, connect the black (120V) wire from the fixture to the black (hot) wire from the supply circuit. Also, in some cases, there might be a gap between the input clip and the circuit board. Make certain that the input clip is connected correctly and securely to the circuit board.
- Problem: The emergency lights do not come on when the power supply is cut off.
- Suggestion: The battery in the emergency unit needs to be connected right after AC power is supplied to the unit. Then, the battery needs to charge for at least a couple of hours before doing any initial tests. A 24-hour recharge time is required for a full 90-minute emergency operation. If the battery has been connected and properly charged, make sure all the light bulb connections are tight and secure and that the light bulbs are in good condition. If you’re still having problems, contact the manufacturer for further assistance. The battery might need to be replaced.
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- Functionality
- An emergency light is a battery-backed fixture that turns on in the event of a power outage. It is also known as "egress lighting."
- U.S. Code Regulations
- Emergency lighting fixtures in commercial buildings and high-occupancy residential buildings must comply with local building codes, which typically follow regulations set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Listed below are performance requirements from the NFPA’s Code for Means of Egress for Buildings and Structures.
- All emergency lights must provide 90 minutes of illumination in the event of a power failure.
- The initial level of illumination during that 90-minute period must be at least 1 foot-candle, measured at the floor level along the exit path.
- During the 90-minute period, the light level may decline to an average of 0.6 foot-candles, but it may never drop below 0.06 foot-candles.
- The emergency lighting system must turn on automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting.
- Installation of emergency generators and other stored electrical energy systems must comply with NFPA 110 and NFPA 111.
- Batteries used in emergency lights must comply with standards from NFPA 70, National Electric Code.
For more information, see the NFPA website.
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