BS EN 1838: 2024 - Lighting Applications - Emergency Lighting for Buildings

• Toilets and changing rooms: facilities over 8 m² need open area lighting, and toilet lobbies need lighting to escape route levels. Accessible toilets, shower cubicles and single-occupancy toilets with baby changing facilities need at least 1 lx on the floor, and at least 1 lx on the changing table where there is one. Illuminated toilet alarms need at least 5 lx vertical illuminance.

• Plant, switch, control and generator rooms: at least 0.5 lx on the floor, and at least 5 lx on the main control equipment and switchboards for the normal and emergency lighting.

• Public indoor swimming pools: 5 lx horizontal illuminance is recommended on the water surface, the pool surrounds and the access routes to diving boards or flumes.

Local Area Lighting (new in 2024)

Local area lighting protects people who are allowed to stay in a building temporarily during a supply failure, for example care home residents, where evacuating immediately could be more dangerous than staying.

• The illuminance must be based on a risk assessment, but must be at least the level required for escape routes or open areas.

• Its duration must be at least the declared duration of the associated emergency escape lighting. The escape route lighting from the area of safety to the final exit must last at least as long as the local area lighting.

• It must reach 50% of the required illuminance within 5 s and full illuminance within 60 s.

Annex C gives guidance on managing emergency lighting during and after a premises lockdown or a long power shutdown. Options include extended-duration systems, escorting occupants with handlamps, and reserving battery capacity for a later evacuation.