At Thompson, we service inspect and install Emergency lighting. These lights are designed to identify and light up passageways, stairwells, and exits to ensure safe and organized evacuation from a structure during an emergency—is required for all public structures, whether commercial, industrial, public, private, educational, medical or otherwise.

But determining the placement, number, and type of emergency lights required is a complex matter, largely dependent on the nature and layout of your building in conjunction with the requirements of NFPA’s 2018 Life Safety Code 101, Section 7.9.

Read on to learn more about the basic requirements of this code.

It’s More about Where than “How Many”

To answer the question asked by the title of this article, one should instead ask “Where do I need emergency lighting.”

The regulations have more to do with ensuring sufficient lighting along the path of egress in any structure, rather than assuming that a certain number of lights would be adequate.

Thus, the size and layout of your building, the location of corridors, stairways, and doorways leading to exits and the exits themselves, will all determine where emergency lighting is needed.

This, along with the length of the corridors and the size of rooms and open spaces, will determine how many are needed in each area to provide sufficient lighting for safe and orderly evacuation during failure of power and normal lighting.

Understanding the Basics Behind Emergency Lighting Requirements

Here are the basics of 2018 NFPA 101, Section 7.9.2, which dictates that:

Emergency lighting systems must be arranged in such a way as to provide an initial illumination of no less than an average of 1 foot-candle along the path of egress as measured at floor level.

After the emergency system has been on for 1.5 hours, the light may decline to an average of 0.6 foot-candle along the path of egress, but at no point should it become less than 0.1 foot-candle.

Emergency lighting must be supplied for all exits and paths of egress to those exits.

Essentially, along paths of egress and exits, every square foot of floor must be lit by an average of approximately one lumen (i.e. – one foot-candle). Clearly, depending on the type and strength of emergency lights you purchase and install, as well as the size and layout of your space, you will need a fair number of lights.
Obviously, the process of measuring the space and identifying the coverage provided by the emergency lights you purchase, as well as ensuring you appropriately identify all pathways in need of emergency lights, is a complex and tedious process. But you do not have to manage on your own.

Let the Pro’s Help
Compliance with NFPA’s and your QCD regulations is important, not just so that you can avoid fines, but so that those working in and occupying your building are kept as safe as possible.
It is also important to ensure the emergency lighting system is regularly maintained to ensure they perform as intended. The experts at Thompson can help keep your facility safe with regular inspections, service, and replacement of lights if needed. Give us call today for all your emergency and exit light needs.

Life Safety & General Fire Products, Thompson Expertise

See below for a few of our most popular product lines

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

> ABC Dry Chemical
> Wet Chemical
> Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
> Wheeled Units

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS CABINETS & PARTS

EMERGENCY LIGHTS & EXIT SIGNS and SERVICE

> LED Exit Sign
> Emergency Lighting
> Combination Unit
> Self-Luminous Exit Sign

SIGNS & LABELS
FIRE HOSE, NOZZLES BRASS & ACCESSORIES

Very Early Smoke Detection Systems

Air aspirating smoke systems are very important for protecting high value and sensitive equipment’s. Thompson Specialties Middle East has installed 100’s of such systems in Qatar and provides on going support with for Air Aspirating Systems Service. Contact US to specify, provide, install and maintain all X-tralis and most brands of Air aspirating smoke detection systems.

SDA BY XTRALIS Very Early Warning Aspirating Smoke Detection

DESCRIPTION
VESDA by Xtralis very early warning aspirating smoke detection solutions with continuous air sampling provide the earliest possible warning of an impending fire hazard. VESDA aspirating smoke detectors buy the critical time needed to investigate an alarm and initiate an appropriate response to prevent injury, property damage or business disruption. VESDA detectors have multi-level warnings and a wide range of sensitivity that does not degrade or change over time, so even extremely small levels of smoke can be detected before a fire has time to escalate.

WHICH VESDA MODEL IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
VESDA early warning detectors are available in a variety of models to accommodate a broad range of environments and applications. From small to very large, open spaces and from the cleanest to the dirtiest environments, VESDA multi-level detection provides reliable, high-sensitivity, very early warning smoke detection.

VESDA E
With up to 40% greater coverage in high airflow environments, the VESDA-E range of aspirating smoke detectors represent considerable CAPEX savings. Easier servicing and field replaceable architecture further reduce system OPEX.  And of course, VESDA-E is completely compatible with existing VESDA systems.

VESDA Product Lineup

• VESDA VLF (LaserFOCUS) Ideal for small, business-critical spaces.
• VESDA VLC (LaserCOMPACT) For single and small environments where space is at a premium.
• VESDA VLC (LaserCOMPACT) For marine environments
• VESDA VLP (LaserPLUS) Flagship of the VESDA product line
• VESDA VLS (LaserSCANNER) Features individual pipe identification
• VESDA VFT-15 High-sensitivity ASD able to pinpoint the source of incipient smoke
• Industrial VESDA VLI For the protection of industrial applications of up to 20,000 sq. ft.

VESDA ECO
Extending VESDA ASD for Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring

VESDA ECO by Xtralis uses an existing VESDA pipe network to actively monitor for gas leaks and continuously ensure air quality. VESDA ECO reliably detects unseen hazards by conditioning or filtering the air to remove moisture, dirt and other particulates. Aspirating Smoke Detection Combined with Gas Monitoring VESDA ECO: A New Approach to Gas Detection

OSID Open-Area Smoke Detection

OSID by Xtralis is a new technology designed specifically for open air environments such as Large, open spaces – airports, train stations, stadiums and shopping malls, enabling early detection and response to save lives and prevent service disruptions. OSID uses a sophisticated algorithm to map and compare the strength of infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) light signals from detectors configured in the space. OSID also reduces the costs of installation and maintenance as the Emitter batteries have more than a five-year life