Emergency lighting regulations
The right NEN certification for you
If the main power fails, it will be vital for everyone to recognise the escape route. Emergency lighting enables people to leave a building safely in a situation like this. This type of lighting has to work without fail: whether it’s hot or cold, or if other special circumstances apply. So, strict requirements apply to emergency lighting. We will take you through the various components of emergency lighting regulations in this blog.
The function of emergency lighting
Emergency lighting is activated when the normal lighting fails because of a power failure. Reliable emergency lighting makes it possible to complete hazardous work safely and ensures that everyone can follow the escape route to the exit. This is why
emergency lighting testing
is so important.
Emergency lighting can be divided into four types of
lighting
, all of which must comply with emergency lighting regulations:
- Escape route lighting: this lights up escape routes and exits for people who are evacuating a building. This lighting is not on all the time.
- Escape route sign: this type of lighting uses illuminated pictograms to show people where the escape routes and exits are. Unlike escape route lighting, escape route signs are illuminated all the time.
- Emergency lighting: this lights up workplaces that are at increased risk. They have to be well lit because serious accidents could happen in the dark.
- Anti-panic lighting: the clue’s in the name; this lighting is designed to prevent panic. This lighting is only activated if the power fails.
The NEN emergency lighting standards
NEN-EN-IEC 60598-2-22 is an important NEN emergency lighting standard. It distinguishes between emergency lighting with its own battery (self-contained emergency lighting) and emergency lighting that is centrally supplied (centrally-supplied emergency lighting). Emergency lighting with its own battery is connected to the mains power supply and only switches to the battery in emergency situations. If emergency lighting does not have its own battery, it is powered centrally by a system that controls all emergency lighting.
NEN-EN-IEC 60598-2-22 describes the special requirements to be met by emergency lighting fixtures. Checking emergency lighting against this standard guarantees it will function in emergency situations.
Other important emergency lighting standars for emergency lighting manufacturers follows below:
- NEN-EN 50171: this standard defines general requirements for centrally-supplied emergency lighting systems. For example, accurate information must always be available about the charging current, battery voltage and output current of the battery charger.
- NEN-EN 62485-2: this standard describes the requirements to be met when designing, selecting and maintaining an emergency lighting system.
Emergency lighting regulations
Certification against the ENEC quality mark is often obtained for self-contained emergency lighting too. Independent accredited test institutes are able to award this European quality mark after the successful completion of various tests carried out in line with emergency lighting legislation. For example, if plastic is used in a lighting fixture, it must be tested for resistance to hot conditions - via a glow wire test, for example.
Two other tests are carried out in respect of emergency lighting legislation:
- Needle flame test
- Ball pressure test
DEKRA as a partner for emergency lighting regulations
As an accredited institute, DEKRA offers various services in the field of emergency lighting legislation. We inspect and certify emergency lighting as an independent party and issue the following certificates, among others:
- ENEC certificate: certification against this European quality mark shows that a product complies with the relevant safety standards and has been tested by an accredited institute.
- ENEC+ certificate: an extension of ENEC that assesses not just safety but also performance requirements and functional properties.
- CB certificate: an internationally recognised certificate under the IECEE CB Scheme. It enables manufacturers to access markets in different countries without additional testing.
If you would like more information about DEKRA’s emergency-lighting certification services, don’t hesitate to contact one of our experts.
The European standard applicable to emergency lighting fixtures is EN 60598-2-22. DEKRA is accredited to certify emergency lighting against this standard.
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