Emergency/Exit Lights

The term emergency lights encompass a few different variations. These can include concealed flip around dual lights on an exposed base, exit lights, combinations of the two, concealed lights that have movable flaps, flush-mounted lights with an opaque cover, emergency ballasts connected with a lighting fixture, and plenty more.

The basics of an emergency lights are:

• Connection to a constant electrical current

• Battery connection (Rather than a battery connection some can have an emergency generator that commanders the wiring for the building, and powers the lights while the main power is out.)

• testing button

There are additional parts, depending on the type.

The non-battery versions just encompass the necessary hardware to light up LEDs used in exits. If it’s on an independent circuit where the emergency generator lights them, regular lights can also have non battery versions. They would include fluorescent, halogen, and again LEDs fixtures that would be powered under the emergency generator.

The ‘simple’ board versions usually has a board that allows the power from the battery to take over when the main power stops functioning, and to simulate the cutting off of the main power when pushing the test button.

There are ‘smart’ versions that have a special board. These boards can do the monthly inspection, and "simulate” the annual inspection required. This also allows you to push the button once for 30 seconds, twice for a minute, and 3 times for the hour and a half test, or a variation of the times to push the button. My experience with these have been hit or miss, but the NFPA still requires a legitimate annual inspection, and someone to visually inspect the light once per month to see if the indication light shows a fault. These faults can include board malfunction, battery low, light bulb out, or a failure to pass the testing.

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