Emergency Lighting Requirements: NFPA 101, UL 924, and More

Emergency lighting regulations are governed by a range of standards and codes from different regulatory bodies. These guidelines ensure that lighting systems provide safe and reliable illumination in emergency situations. Understanding these requirements is essential, as they dictate everything from performance standards to testing requirements. This article will cover several regulations set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the New York Electrical Code for emergency lighting fixtures and components. 

For the purposes of this article, emergency lighting refers to any fixture or sign whose purpose is to illuminate exits and walkways or indicate egress paths for safe evacuation during an emergency.

With many different regulations, it can be confusing to know why certain codes and standards are in effect. The NFPA Life Safety Code, often referred to as NFPA 101, establishes general requirements for emergency lighting in buildings to ensure occupants can exit safely. UL 924 is a product safety standard outlining requirements for equipment used in emergency situations. The Underwriters Laboratory sets performance criteria for emergency lighting equipment, which are tested to confirm they will perform as expected. 

Together, these codes and standards create a comprehensive system. The NFPA Life Safety Code dictates where emergency lighting is required and how it should function, while UL 924 ensures that emergency lighting products will perform reliably when needed. Other standards, like those from the NEC (National Electrical Code) or International Fire Code (IFC), often reference both NFPA and UL 924.

The NFPA Life Safety Code 101 sets a variety of requirements for emergency illumination, including egress lighting and emergency drivers. Highlights from the code are paraphrased below.

• Egress illumination must be installed in every building and structure required in Chapters 11 through 43. For purposes of 7.8, “exit access” includes designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, and passageways leading to an exit, while “exit discharge” includes only designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, walkways, and exit passageways.

• Egress illumination must be continuous during all times required by the stated occupancy conditions and meet all minimum illumination requirements. Any sensors, switches, timers, or controllers must not affect required egress illumination. 

• All exit, exit access, and exit discharge floors or other walking surfaces must be illuminated to the following levels:

• Stairs: at least 10 ft-candle, or 108 lux, measured at the walking surfaces.

• Floors and walking surfaces (not including stairs): at least 1 ft-candle, or 10.8 lux, measured at the floor.

• Assembly occupancy exit access: at least 0.2 ft-candle, or 2.2 lux.

• The failure of any one fixture must not cause the average illumination level to drop below 0.2 ft-candle (2.2 lux).

• Battery-operated electric lights may not be used as the main source of egress illumination but may be used as an emergency lighting source as permitted by Section 7.9.

• The following section regulations emergency egress lighting for the following facilities:

• Buildings or structures required in Chapters 11 through 43.

• Underground and limited access structures, as addressed in Section 11.7.

• High-rise buildings.

• Doors equipped with delayed-egress locks.

• Stair shafts and vestibules of smokeproof enclosures.

• For the purposes of 7.9, the term “exit access” includes designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, and passageways leading to an exit, while “exit discharge” includes designated stairs, ramps, aisles, walkways, and escalators.

• The energy change between the main power line and the battery backup must not take more than 10 seconds.

• In the event of a power failure, emergency illumination must be provided for at least 90 minutes. Initial emergency illumination must average 1 ft-candle but no less than 0.1 ft-candle along the egress floor level. Emergency illumination may decline to no less than an average of 0.6 ft-candle but no less than 0.06 ft-candle at any distance along the egress at the end of 90 minutes.

• Emergency lighting must automatically provide all necessary lighting outlined above in the event of an outside electrical power supply failure, the opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual acts that cause a power failure.

• Emergency battery backup and drivers must be listed to UL 924.

• Batteries for emergency lighting must be approved by and comply with NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code).

• All emergency lighting systems must be in continuous operation and be capable of repeated operation without manual help.

• Emergency lighting must be tested by one of the three options:

• Functional monthly testing (between every three and five weeks) for no less than 30 seconds and annually for a minimum of 5.5 hours (if the emergency lighting system is battery-powered). Written inspection records must be kept.

• Self-testing of battery-operated lighting at least every 30 days for at least 30 seconds with a visual inspection. Functional annual testing for at least 90 minutes. Written inspection records must be kept.

• Computer-based self-testing of battery-operated emergency lighting at least every 30 days for at least 30 seconds and annually for at least 5.5 hours. A report must be made of all past tests and failures.

• Exits must be appropriately marked by an approved exit sign that is visible from all directions.

• Floor proximity exit signs required in Chapters 11 through 43 shall be located near the floor level where the bottom of the sign is no less than 6 inches but not more than 18 inches above the floor. Signs for exit doors must be mounted on the door or adjacent to the door, with the closest edge of the sign no more than 4 inches from the door frame.

• Internally illuminated floor proximity egress path marking systems must be installed no more than 18 inches from the floor and must be listed to ANSI/UL 1994.

• Emergency signs must be large enough, clearly colored, and designed to be clearly visible and distinguished from other signs, decorations, or interior finishes.

• Emergency signs with directional indicators are required for locations where the direction of travel is not apparent. 

• Emergency exit signs required by 7.10.1 and 7.10.2 shall read: “EXIT”.

• Required signage should be properly illuminated (either internally or externally), legible, and continuously illuminated (unless otherwise provided in 7.10.5.2.2).

• Externally illuminated signs shall read “EXIT” or use similar wording in plainly legible letters as listed below:

• New signs must have letters no less than 6 inches high and strokes no less than ¾ inches wide.

• The word “EXIT” must be written in letters no less than 2 inches wide (except the letter I) with a minimum spacing no less than ⅜ inches apart.

• Directional indicators must meet the following requirements:

• Be located at least ⅜ inches outside the “EXIT” wording.

• Resemble a chevron figure.

• Be identifiable from a distance of 40 feet away.

• Be located at the end of the sign, as indicated by the direction.

• Externally illuminated signs must be at least 5 ft-candles at the surface.

• Internally illuminated signs must follow ANSI/UL 924 requirements.

• Exit signs must be visually inspected at least every 30 days or monitored in compliance with 7.9.3. Exit signs with battery backup must be tested in compliance with 7.9.3.

UL 924 listed products can be used by buildings that want to meet certain standards and be up to code. ANSI/UL 924 requirements for emergency fixtures using less than 600 volts are paraphrased and shorted to the following: 

• Be seen from a least 100-foot distance.

• Deliver at least 90 minutes of emergency lighting on a full charge.

• Provide a minimum luminance of 0.06 ft. lamberts.

• Be constructed of flame-retardant thermoplastic, including 5VA, 5VB, V-O, V-1, V-2, and HB.

• Lettering for emergency exit signs must be at least six inches tall with a lettering thickness of at least .75” wide.

• Be tested in accordance with NFPA 7.9.3.

All emergency signs and lights sold by Industrial Commercial Lighting are listed to UL 924.

New York City has its own code for lighted exit signs. NYC Compliant fixtures must meet the requirements from the New York City Electrical Code listed below:

• Display the word “EXIT” and provide internal red illumination.

• Be 8 inches tall with a lettering thickness of 1 inch.

• Provide an average brightness of at least 2 foot-candle and a minimum of 0.2 foot-candle along the path of egress at floor level.

• Internally lighted signs must have a background of stenciled metal in light gray or white. or translucent materials with white separators.

• Be constructed of metal or other durable materials.

We carry a line of NYC-compliant exit signs, emergency lights, and combo lights.