Emergency Egress or Exit Lighting
There is a special kind of lighting fixture that is designed to provide lighting in the event of a power failure.: Emergency or Egress lighting. To start, let’s first look at the word
Egress:
e·gress [ˈēˌɡres] NOUN: definition: the action of going out of or leaving a place. Synonyms: departure · leaving · exit · withdrawal · retreat · pullout · escape. ORIGIN: mid 16th century: from Latin, from ex- ‘out’ + gradi ‘to step’
Emergency lighting
illuminates hallways, stairwells and exits for the safe evacuation from a building. Emergency lighting is frequently a requirement in commercial, industrial, educational, religious, institutional, public housing and medical facilities. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code has regulations specific to emergency lighting, that cover minimum lighting and testing requirements. The local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ – covered in Journals #5 & 6) can answer emergency lighting compliance questions related to a specific location.