The design and maintenance of emergency lighting systems
By Fabio Pagano – ASSIL Technical Manager
UNI EN 1838:2025 – Lighting applications – Emergency lighting for buildings.
Emergency lighting is installed in all kinds of buildings.
It can provide lighting for security and operational activities:
• indicate the directions for the building escape routes if it is necessary to evacuate it, regardless of the state of the usual mains supply: the emergency exit signs must always be visible.
• Provide lighting to facilitate the safe evacuation of a building when usual mains power is absent.
• Provide lighting to allow occupants to remain inside a building when the power supply network is missing, but an evacuation is not necessary or desirable.
• Allow the safety of hazardous processes as part of a building evacuation procedure.
• Allow the endurance of critical procedures in case of standard power supply failure.
There are several legal obligations in Europe regarding emergency lighting
Workplace Directive 89/654/EEC applying to minimum safety and health requirements for workplaces:
• The paths to the emergency exit and exit are always kept clear.
• The technical maintenance of workplaces, equipment, and devices is carried out in the minimal possible time.
• The workplace, equipment, and devices are regularly cleaned for an adequate hygiene level.
• Safety equipment and devices are regularly maintained and checked.
Directive 92/58/EEC on safety/health signs laying down simplified pictograms of signs for use in the European Union
Regulatory and Legislative Compendium
• A list of the documents relating to emergency lighting, the criteria of cogency, and the various technical parameters necessary to design the “safety plan” and, therefore, be able to carry out the checks and verifications annexed to the documentation.
• The list has been compiled by ASSIL FG Emergenza to offer educational elements, concerning the recent Ministerial Decrees about controls. That means the subjects who will be able to carry out the maintenance of fire safety systems are qualified.
UNI EN 1838:2025 Emergency lighting
Emergency lighting is classified and divided into:
• EMERGENCY LIGHTING, i.e.
– Emergency lighting for escape
– Panic lighting
– Lighting of high-risk areas
– Safety sign lighting
• LOCAL AREA LIGHTING
• BACKUP LIGHTING
Types of emergency lighting: Safety lighting
• The “safety” luminaire complies with the standard
CEI EN 60598-2-22;
• It must be positioned to provide adequate illuminance, in particular near each emergency exit and in positions where potential hazards or safety devices need to be immediately localized;
• Emergency lighting fixtures are also classified according to the type of operation:
– Permanent lighting fixtures.
– Non-permanent lighting fixtures.
– Combined luminaires.
Stand-alone or centralised emergency lighting?
• Self-contained emergency lighting:
– Each emergency luminaire is autonomous.
– It contains a battery that provides power in the event of a power failure in the building.
• Centralized Power Supply Systems (CPS):
– Emergency luminaires do not contain batteries.
– The central battery is in a separate location (e.g. in a technical room) and supplies power to the emergency luminaires connected to it in the event of a power failure.
Permanent or non-permanent emergency lighting?
• Maintained (maintained):
– Appliances are always switched on regardless of whether or not the main power supply to the building is present.
– Safety signs are usually “permanent” because evacuation may be necessary even if the mains power supply is still present → conspicuous signage.
Permanent or non-permanent emergency lighting?
• Non-Maintained:
– The appliance is switched off when the building’s main power supply is present and switches on in the event of a power failure.
– For example, luminaires that illuminate rooms in the event of a power failure.
