Supplier of Lighting products
Leading energy services company
|
|
|
|
The Need for Emergency Lighting
Nowadays it is illegal not to comply with SANS 10114 Part 2 (Interior Lighting. Part 2: Emergency lighting). In other words, if you are the owner of a shopping centre, football stadium, restaurant or any public facility where a power failure can lead to personal injury, you need to install emergency lighting.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS) 85 of 1993
This act stipulates that every employer shall provide emergency lighting in any workplace where no natural light is present for safe evacuation. Employees therefore need just sufficient light in order to safely evacuate the premises. A minimum required illuminance of 0.3 lux measured at floor level can be achieved
with few strategically placed emergency luminaires.
An additional requirement is for emergency illuminance of not less than 20 lux over moving machinery, where dangerous materials are present or where processes need to be shut down. These regions therefore require “high-risk task area emergency lighting”. The Act requires that the emergency lighting must last long enough for safe evacuation. This is very vague but the employer should be covered by using either the industry standard one hour duration units for most applications or the three hour duration systems for high rise buildings, covered parking areas and lift cars. The employer must also keep the emergency lighting system in good working order and it must be tested at least every three months.
OHS ACT 85 of 1993
• Emergency lighting must be provided in
areas without natural light
• Illuminance of not less than 0.3 lux for
escape route lighting
• Illuminance of not less than 20 lux to stop
machinery or shut down plant or
processes or where dangerous materials
are being handled
OHS ACT 85 of 1993
• Emergency lighting must be activated
within 15 seconds
• Will last long enough for safe evacuation.
• Are kept in good working order and tested
at least three months
• Directional luminaires must be mounted at
2 m above floor level and aimed
downwards (no glare)
|
|
|
|
|
