Emergency Lighting and Signs FAQs

LED emergency lights use less energy than emergency lights with traditional fluorescent bulbs and contain less harmful waste. The trickle charge of the battery even with the light off is also lower. LED lights are also longer lasting than tubes.

Whilst Cadmium for use in emergency lighting is currently still allowed, our range of LED emergency lighting products only uses NiMH batteries, which are more environmentally friendly. Government financial assistance is also available to switch to low energy emergency lighting and exit signs, see www.eca.gov.uk.

The IP rating system classifies the protection of emergency lights and exit signs from dust, water and impact afforded by electrical equipment and their enclosures.

The system is recognised in most European countries and is set out in IEC529 (BS EN 60529: 1992) Degrees of Protection provided by Enclosures (IP code).

The degree of protection is expressed as 'IP', followed by two numbers which define the degree of protection. The first digit indicates the extent, to which the equipment is protected against particles, or to which persons are protected from enclosed hazards. The second digit indicates the extent of protection against water.

(2) SOLID - Protected against solid objects over 12mm diameter, not exceeding 80mm long, e.g. fingers
(0) LIQUID - Not protected

(2) SOLID - Protected against solid objects over 12mm diameter, not exceeding 80mm long, e.g. fingers
(3) LIQUID - Protected against sprayed water at up to 60° from the vertical

(4) SOLID - Protects against solid objects over 1.0mm, e.g. small wires
(0) LIQUID - Not protected

(4) SOLID - Protects against solid objects over 1.0mm, e.g. small wires
(3) LIQUID - Protected against sprayed water at up to 60° from the vertical

(4) SOLID - Protects against solid objects over 1.0mm, e.g. small wires
(4) LIQUID - Protected when sprayed from any direction - limited ingress allowed

(5) SOLID - Protects against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
(4) LIQUID - Protected when sprayed from any direction - limited ingress allowed

(5) SOLID - Protects against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
(5) LIQUID - Protected against low pressure jets, from all directions - limited ingress allowed

(6) SOLID - Dust tight. Totally protected against dust
(4) LIQUID - Protected when sprayed from any direction - limited ingress allowed

(6) SOLID - Dust tight. Totally protected against dust
(5) LIQUID - Protected against low pressure jets, from all directions - limited ingress allowed

The emergency lights can be either screwed to the wall or ceiling. The product is linked into the mains lighting system. Often, an interrupt switch is installed to allow the testing of the emergency light (also called fish key switch).

An emergency light or sign that either contains all the parts necessary to function independently (e.g. battery, lamp, control gear, etc.) or whose housing is sited within a metre of these parts.

• 6: Dust tight and totally protected against dust ingress
• 5: Protected against low pressure jets, from all directions - limited ingress allowed

A maintained emergency light is always on and will stay illuminated in the event of a power failure. These lights are usually installed in communal areas such as corridors and stair wells.

A non-maintained emergency light only comes on in the event of a power failure. These lights will usually be installed in areas that don't need a permanent light source.

Any emergency light described as "maintained" or "switchable" on our website would meet these requirements, working as an ordinary light on mains power capable of connecting to a standard light switch while also activating from a battery when mains power fails – regardless of whether they are currently turned on or off at the light switch. We also have a range of designer emergency lights for units which suit more modern interiors such as offices and homes.

Please note that "non-maintained" emergency lights cannot operate as "maintained" lights and will only provide illumination during a mains power failure, and "slave" or "central battery" lights do not contain their own battery and must be connected to a large central battery system in order to provide emergency illumination. Click here for an overview of different types of emergency light operation.