Emergency lighting is a critical requirement for schools. Appropriately designed and commissioned emergency lighting for schools protects users of the building and ensures that students, visitors, and staff can safely evacuate the building when required.
The importance of emergency lighting should never be overlooked, and a system that exceeds the basic standards is vital in protecting everyone in the building.
When designing the emergency lighting system for a school, a range of factors should be considered so that appropriate levels of safety are achieved to account for any circumstances which may put people at risk.
The standards for Emergency lighting in schools are laid out in BS 5266-1.
Schools are required by law to have adequate emergency lighting to comply with safety regulations. This includes the “Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005”, which mandates that all non-domestic buildings, including schools, must have emergency lighting systems in place.
Emergency lighting provides illumination for escape routes, exits, and critical areas, enabling safe and efficient evacuation during emergencies such as fires or power failures. It helps prevent panic and confusion, ensuring that everyone can find their way to safety.
Adequate emergency lighting helps emergency personnel, such as firefighters and paramedics, navigate the building safely and efficiently during an emergency.
According to UK regulations, including BS 5266-1, the following types of emergency lighting are required in schools:
This includes lighting that guides people in the school through escape routes. It should illuminate areas such as corridors, stairways, and exits to ensure that that they are clearly visible and accessible during an emergency.
Anti-panic lighting is installed in larger, open areas to ensure that occupants can move safely towards escape routes.
Areas in schools such as control rooms and plant rooms should form part of the risk assessment for emergency lighting. These areas require special consideration in terms of the illumination levels that must be maintained during an emergency. Such areas are defined in BS5266-1: 2011.
In areas where high-risk tasks are conducted, illuminance must be maintained at above 10% of the required maintenance levels and not less than 15 lux according to BS EN 1838: 2013.
Illuminated exit signs are essential to guide occupants to the nearest exits. These signs must be clearly visible and remain illuminated in the event of a power failure.
When specifying the emergency lighting system in a school, both standalone and centrally tested emergency lighting systems are available.
The advantage of a centrally tested emergency lighting system is the ease of testing and reporting to ensure that the system is operating correctly.
Unlike standalone emergency lighting, where each luminaire exists separately, with a centrally tested system, the whole system can be monitored continually to meet legal requirements. Systems such as COMEPS and Routefinder are compatible with a range of lighting systems and are cost effective for both simple installations and networked systems.
Incorporating Organic Response® Emergency into a lighting system offers an additional level of control. The lighting controls connect to a central portal that allows for instant diagnosis of any issues to enable faster resolution which saves time and reduces maintenance costs.
Emergency lighting is an essential feature of any school building, and it is important to get advice and support during the design, development, and commissioning process to ensure that equipment meets the standards required to protect students and staff. Speak to a member of our education lighting team to learn more about our range.
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