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Electrical
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Emergency and exit lighting
Single point systems, January 2016
The purpose of this document is to assist
the electrical industry to understand the
specific requirements for the installation and
maintenance of emergency escape lighting
and illuminated emergency exit signage
for buildings using AS 2293.1—Emergency
escape lighting and exit signs for building.
The standard’s objective is to safeguard
occupants from injury in an emergency by:
(a) having adequate lighting
(b) having adequate identification
of exits and paths of travel to exits.
Application
AS 2293.1 is mandated as a normative
reference (requirement) in AS/NZS 3000:2007+A2,
Wiring Rules. In Victoria, AS/NZS 3000 as
published is mandated through regulation 106
of the Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations
2009 as the minimum requirement for electrical
installation work.
AS 2293.1 Part 1 specifies the requirements
for the system design, installation and operation
for both central and single point systems and
must be applied along with the requirements of
the National Construction Code (Building Code
of Australia) for the:
(a) level of illumination for safe evacuation
(b) identification of exits and paths of travel
to exits
(c) performance requirements and
verification methods.
AS 2293.2 Part 2 specifies the inspection
and maintenance requirements.
AS 2293.3 Part 3 specifies the construction
compliance of the emergency escape luminaires
and exit signs.
Background
In the past centrally supplied emergency
systems were common, since the ‘90s singlepoint emergency lighting systems have
progressively been installed. Before 2012,
emergency lighting was only a Building Code
of Australia requirement, however since the
publication of Amendment 2 of AS/NZS
3000:2007, AS 2293.1 became normative.
Single point emergency systems can
be installed with three test facilities:
»» manually operated test facility—
the minimum requirement
»» automated fully self-contained test facility
»» automated fully centralised test facility.
Installation requirements
The intent is to provide lighting when the
loss of the general lighting occurs, which will
allow a person to vacate a section or the
whole building.
The design of the emergency lighting
system is dependent on the building’s use,
size, and normal lighting design and could vary
with the construction of walls and partitions.
It is imperative that emergency lighting
coordinates with the general lighting in that area.
Single point system with manually operated test facilities
Minimum requirements shall include
Clause reference
Test facility shall be key operated
4.3.1 (c) of AS 2293.1
Test switch shall be capable of manual reset. But shall automatically revert to the normal state at the conclusion of the discharge test
4.3.1 (b) of AS 2293.1
Discharge test shall not disconnect supply to the normal lighting
4.3 of AS 2293.1
Failure of normal supply to any phase or final sub-circuit shall cause each self-contained emergency luminaire to be automatically
connected to its emergency source
2.3.3.2 of AS 2293.1
Labelling of circuit-breakers, switches, fuses stating—“Warning: Interrupting supply will discharge emergency lighting batteries”
2.4 of AS 2293.1
Upon failure of the electrical supply to the normal lighting in an area, irrespective of whether or not it is illuminated, each relevant
emergency escape luminaire and exit sign shall be energised from its emergency supply
2.3.1 of AS 2293.1
Labelling of test facility—“Emergency escape lighting and exit test switch”
4.3.1 (d) of AS 2293.1
Single point system with automatically operated test facilities
Fully self-contained system minimum requirements shall include
Clause reference
Provision shall be made on an automatic testing facility for any operator to undertake a discharge test at any time
4.3.2.1 of AS 2293.1
Test switch shall be capable of manually reset. But shall automatically revert to the normal state at the conclusion of the discharge test
4.3.1 (b) of AS 2293.1
Discharge test shall not disconnect supply to the normal lighting
4.3 of AS 2293.1
Failure of normal supply to any phase or final sub-circuit shall cause each self-contained emergency luminaire to be automatically
connected to its emergency source
2.3.3.2 of AS 2293.1
Labelling of circuit-breakers, switches and fuses—“Warning: Interrupting supply will discharge emergency lighting batteries”
2.4 of AS 2293.1
Upon failure of the electrical supply to the normal lighting in an area, irrespective of whether or not it is illuminated,
each relevant emergency escape luminaire and exit sign shall be energised from its emergency supply
2.3.1 of AS 2293.1
Labelling of test facility—“Emergency escape lighting and exit test switch”
4.3.1 (d) of AS 2293.1
The system used to time the interval between successive discharge tests shall not be affected when normal supply is interrupted
4.3.2.1 of AS 2293.1
Single point system with centrally operated test facilities
Centralised test system minimum requirements shall include
Clause reference
The relevant requirements for self-contained automatic discharge testing facilities in section 4 of AS 2293.3 shall apply,
in addition to the following:
4.3.2.3 of AS 2293.1
Each luminaire shall be easily identified on the central controller
4.3.2.3(a) of AS 2293.1
Each luminaire shall be monitored during the test and indications shall be available from the central monitor or designated monitoring points
4.3.2.3(b) of AS 2293.1
Luminaires are tested at intervals as specified in AS 2293.2
4.3.2.3(c) of AS 2293.1
The communication system is fit for purpose and reliable and provides an indication at the controller of a communication failure
4.3.2. 2