Emergency Lighting

Emergency Lighting Requirements

OCCUPANCY TYPE (new building)	CODE REF.	EMERGENCY LIGHTING
AMBULATORY (Sprinklered and Not Sprinklered)	NFPA 101, 2012 (20.2.9.1 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required.
BUSINESS (Sprinklered and Not Sprinklered)	NFPA 101, 2012 (38.2.9.1 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required if one of the following conditions is met: a) The building is 2 stories above the level of exit discharge. b) The occupancy is subject to 50 occupants above or below the level of exit discharge. c) The total occupant load is subject to 300 occupants.
HEALTHCARE	NFPA 101, 2012 (18.2.9 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required. Additional requirements may apply if the building is equipped with a life support system (refer to NFPA 99).
EDUCATIONAL	NFPA 101, 2012 (14.2.9 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required.
ONE & TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS	(-)	There is no requirement for emergency lighting.
HOTELS AND DORMITORIES	NFPA 101, 2012 (28.2.9 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required, except if guest rooms have an exit directly to the outside.
APARTMENTS	NFPA 101, 2012 (30.2.9 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required when the building has more than 12 dwelling units or is more than 3 stories in height.
MERCANTILE	NFPA 101, 2012 (36.2.9 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required for Class A and Class B mercantile occupancy and mall buildings.
STORAGE	NFPA 101, 2012 (42.2.9 and 7.9)	Emergency lighting is required, except for spaces occupied only during daylight hours with natural illumination.
INDUSTRIAL	NFPA 101, 2012 (40.2.9)	Emergency lighting is required. Refer to section 40.2.9 for exceptions.

OCCUPANCY TYPE (new building)

CODE REF.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

AMBULATORY (Sprinklered and Not Sprinklered)

NFPA 101, 2012 (20.2.9.1 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required.

BUSINESS (Sprinklered and Not Sprinklered)

NFPA 101, 2012 (38.2.9.1 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required if one of the following conditions is met:
a) The building is 2 stories above the level of exit discharge.
b) The occupancy is subject to 50 occupants above or below the level of exit discharge.
c) The total occupant load is subject to 300 occupants.

HEALTHCARE

NFPA 101, 2012 (18.2.9 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required.
Additional requirements may apply if the building is equipped with a life support system (refer to NFPA 99).

EDUCATIONAL

NFPA 101, 2012 (14.2.9 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required.

ONE & TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS

(-)

There is no requirement for emergency lighting.

HOTELS AND DORMITORIES

NFPA 101, 2012 (28.2.9 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required, except if guest rooms have an exit directly to the outside.

APARTMENTS

NFPA 101, 2012 (30.2.9 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required when the building has more than 12 dwelling units or is more than 3 stories in height.

MERCANTILE

NFPA 101, 2012 (36.2.9 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required for Class A and Class B mercantile occupancy and mall buildings.

STORAGE

NFPA 101, 2012 (42.2.9 and 7.9)

Emergency lighting is required, except for spaces occupied only during daylight hours with natural illumination.

INDUSTRIAL

NFPA 101, 2012 (40.2.9)

Emergency lighting is required.
Refer to section 40.2.9 for exceptions.

Objective

The objective of having emergency lighting during emergencies or when the normal lighting of the occupied building fails is to:

Indicate clearly and unambiguously the escape routes.
Provide illumination along such routes to allow safe movement towards and through the exits provided.
Ensure that fire alarm call points and fire fighting equipment provided along escape routes can be readily located.
Permit operations concerned with safety measures.

Emergency Lighting Requirements

For all buildings except for One-and-Two-Family Dwellings, emergency lighting shall be provided in all occupancies in the following areas:

Along exit corridors, egress paths, lobbies, and exit staircases.
Over areas if there are no explicit paths leading to corridors, lobbies, and exits.
In hotel rooms or suites.
Educational occupancies used as assembly, i.e., gymnasiums, concert halls, auditoriums, theaters.
In office rooms larger than 60sqm.

Notwithstanding the requirements above, emergency lighting shall be provided in the following locations:

Lift cars.
Emergency command centers.
Generator rooms.
Basement car parks.
Fire pump rooms.
Areas of refuge within the same building.

Note: The information provided in this table is for general reference only. Always refer to the applicable codes and standards for the specific requirements related to your building and jurisdiction.