Matt Parton, Product Development Manager with ESP, provides wholesalers with an overview of emergency lighting, its importance, the different types and the legislation governing this crucial product category.

Emergency lighting is an essential component of any building’s safety system. It plays a crucial role in guiding occupants to safety during power outages, fires, or other emergency situations. Whether in commercial buildings, industrial facilities or residential properties, emergency lighting provides illumination that can prevent panic, reduce accidents and facilitate safe evacuation.

Emergency lighting systems

There are several types of emergency lighting systems designed to suit different building requirements:

• Emergency escape lighting – illuminates exit paths, doorways and staircases during power failures.
• Standby lighting – provides temporary lighting for normal activities to continue during power outages.
• Open area (anti-panic) lighting – reduces panic by ensuring general visibility in large spaces, enabling safe movement towards escape routes.
• High-risk task area lighting – ensures safety in areas with dangerous equipment or processes.

Regulations and requirements

In the UK, emergency lighting is regulated under several key laws and standards to ensure safety in the event of a power failure. The main regulations and standards that apply include:

Regulatory Framework

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO)
  • Requires businesses and building owners to conduct fire risk assessments, which include emergency lighting provisions.
  • Ensures emergency lighting provides adequate illumination for safe evacuation.
• The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
  • Requires emergency exit signs to be illuminated and visible at all times.
• The Building Regulations 2010 (Part B – Fire Safety)
  • Sets out requirements for emergency lighting in new and modified buildings.
  • Ensures routes and exits are sufficiently illuminated in case of failure.

British Standards for emergency lighting

• BS5266-1:2016 – Code of Practice for Emergency Lighting
  • Provides guidance on design, installation, and maintenance.
  • Covers minimum illuminance levels, locations, and durations.
• BS EN1838:2024 – Lighting Applications: Emergency Lighting
  • Specifies the performance requirements for emergency escape lighting and standby lighting.
• BS7671:2018 (IET Wiring Regulations – 18th Edition)
  • Covers electrical installation requirements, including emergency lighting circuits.

Maintenance and testing requirements

• BS5266-8 / BS EN50172:2004
  • Requires routine inspections and testing, including:
    • Monthly test – Functional test to check illumination.
    • Annual full-duration test – Ensuring the lights stay on for the required period (e.g., one or three hours).

Solutions

There is a wide range of emergency lighting products that wholesalers can stock to meet the needs of customers working across different industries and building types. The essential products comprise:

• Bulkheads – versatile, cost effective lights suitable for multiple applications, including exterior use, as most are IP65 rated.
• Downlights – discreet, low-profile fittings that can be recessed into ceilings, ideal for areas where aesthetics are important.
• Exit signs – illuminated signs that combine directional escape signage with LED lighting, designed to operate for at least three hours during power failures.
• Twin spotlights – powerful LED lamps suitable for illuminating large open or high areas such as warehouses, sports stadiums, and industrial units.
• Self-test emergency lights: Programmed to perform automatic checks on batteries and lamps, providing visual indications of any faults.

The future

The future of emergency lighting holds significant advancements and innovations that will enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability. LED technology will continue to drive improvements in energy efficiency. Future emergency lighting solutions will optimise energy consumption without compromising illumination quality, contributing to more sustainable and eco-friendly lighting systems. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology will enable real-time monitoring and diagnostics of emergency lighting systems. This will allow alerts to be received about potential issues before they become critical, ensuring that systems are always ready to perform when needed.

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In this month’s Face to Face we speak to Richard Turner, Director of LED Product Management & Compliance at Integral LED, and find out more about the evolution of the company.

What is your background and how did you get involved with Integral LED? 

I’ve been working in the lighting industry for over 30 years. I started as a lab engineer carrying out compliance testing and photometric measurements, but quickly shifted to roles which were more focused on product management and development. I’ve worked with some of the largest names in lighting including Sylvania and Louis Poulsen.

After a career break during COVID, I found myself wanting to return to the lighting industry. I saw an advert for the Business & Product Development Manager role at Integral LED which suited my skills and expertise and the rest is history. Since December 2021, my role has been Director of LED Product Management & Compliance.

Why did Integral take the decision to branch out into LED lighting?

It was when LED lighting was in its infancy that Integral saw the synergy between the memory products we were known for and the LED lighting which was just emerging. LEDs shifted the lighting industry into the electronics sector; a sector which Integral was very familiar with.

Both being reliant on semiconductors, the foundations of the products were similar with comparable problems, trends and lifecycles. LED technology would continue to change, grow and innovate, improving efficiency and control whilst prices decreased, just like the memory products which Integral was known for.

It seemed a natural progression and the team sought to leverage Integral’s in-depth knowledge to get a head start within an evolving, high-growth area.

How has the company evolved during its first 10 years?

Integral LED has grown in size and in product range. What started with a small selection of lamps has now developed into a full portfolio of products suitable for any indoor or outdoor application, be it commercial, residential, municipal or industrial.

As our expertise has matured so too has our ability to assist with client enquiries, major projects and create bespoke solutions to suit the needs of any client.

Why is stringent product testing so important in the lighting sector? 

Before LED’s, compliance testing was critical. Varying factors including the chemicals employed in production and the heat created when in use meant that both the creation and use of lighting posed a major risk factor.

When lighting moved into the electronics sector, it became relatively easy to manage and produce. This meant that at the advent of LED lighting there were many manufacturers with no specific expertise, producing sub-par products and making spurious, unfounded claims about what their products could do. Lighting standards were still focused on older chemical processes and so there was no adequate compliance standards to regulate these products.

As an electrical product, there were instances where early Class II lamps and luminaires broke down within the driver causing the metal body to become live. These sorts of issues posed significant hazards from both electrical shock and fire risk but were not covered by the existing product testing regulations.

It took some time for the lighting standards to evolve in line with LED technology, occurring alongside the banning of traditional lighting tech, but nowadays the compliance and testing standards ensure that any product released into the market is safe for the installer and user.

At Integral LED, testing is at the heart of everything we do. Our ethos is reliability and our motto “Trusted Lighting Solutions” highlights this. Working with our partners and third party laboratories as well as performing batch safety and compliance testing in-house, we ensure all our products align with directives and standards. Our testing standards are further backed by the LIA’s Quality Assurance Mark.

How can sensors and smart lighting control systems be used to maximise LED efficiency?

Sensors and smart lighting control systems are only as good as the person using them. To begin with, a carefully planned and executed lighting control strategy is key to maximising LED efficiency.

The types of sensors and where they are used is critical in the operation of these strategies, like if they are to detect absence or presence and whether to choose PIR or microwave. Adding sensors to facilitate daylight harvesting enables flexible lighting depending on available natural light and can cut lighting costs.

Many newer lighting control systems enable two-way communication between luminaires and control, allowing their status and operational data to be tracked. Maintenance routines and checks can then be performed remotely and automatically. The data from such checks then further improves efficiencies with scheduled maintenance contributing to a reduction in labour costs.

Additionally, these systems enable emergency lighting to be an integrated part of the lighting design, instead of the two design approach which was favoured until recently.

However, it is where smart lighting systems can be used beyond the basics that energy and usage efficiencies can really be seen. Where we look past lighting to smart systems which facilitate operational efficiencies in other areas.

With appropriate sensors, smart systems can be used to see the usage of rooms, the movement of people and track assets. Within hospitals, nurses, doctors and orderlies need not waste time hunting for equipment but can track it with the buildings smart system. Warehouses can follow picker journeys and optimise stock locations to cut picking times. Companies can monitor office usage, by way of thermal mapping, allowing them to see if they can downsize space, reconfigure working arrangements or automate facilities including lighting and air-con.

How will Integral’s new logistics facility impact the service it offers to customers?

Our new logistics facility is situated in a more centralised UK location, just outside Nottingham, enabling more of our shipments to be delivered the very next day.

Using innovative solutions, including articulated forklifts and taller racking, and with a larger footprint than our previous warehouse we can accommodate larger stock holdings. This is providing greater consistency of availability for customers whilst also allowing us to build Integral LED’s presence as a company whom can deliver on large-scale lighting projects.

What are Integral LED’s plans for the future and what industry trends can we expect to see in 2024?

 We see the industry as a whole concentrating on improved efficacy and energy savings as well as an increased focus on sustainability, reduced carbon footprint from manufacture and more luminaires and lamps entering the circular economy model. The lighting industry is at the forefront of energy saving within the electronics sector and this will be pushed further through 2024, ensuring that products are efficient, low emission both in use and manufacture, and as recyclable as possible at the end of life.

Tying closely into this theme, we also see a shift towards more streamlined packaging which excludes the use of single use plastics. This reduction in packaging will help with the ability to make luminaires net zero and ensures less waste surrounding products. 

For Integral LED, we envision continued expansion and enhancement of our portfolio, focusing on introducing more sensor and control options and products with improved efficacy and we are also driving sustainability and a reduction in packaging within our own products. We will continue to support the electrical wholesale channel and look to work closely with lighting designers, architects and facilities management companies to provide complete lighting project solutions.

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Ovia has announced solar powered lighting products to add to its expansive portfolio.

The new LED security floodlight, Zonne, has a radiant 8W output, casting a 4000k temperature glow at 950 lumens. The fitting is IP65 rated and has a takes 5-6 hours to fully charge. There are also two working modes – Mode A, 3~5 nights and Mode B, 2~3 nights. Designed to be installed at 4 meters high, it comes with 3 meters of connection cable. Additionally, the Zonne is equipped with an adaptable and easily adjustable solar panel and its fitting can be disconnected and used as a torch.

Zontor, the new LED streetlight, is a powerful 40W or 15W solar panel with advanced LED technology, resulting in an output of 4800 lumen on the 40W model and 1600 lumen for the 14W model. Casting a 4000k colour temperature glow, the light can be adjusted 20° up and 10° down for solar charging. Designed slim and modern, it thrives in demanding environments, with its IP65 rating to ensure unwavering performance.

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For this month’s Face to Face, we caught up with James Ireland, Sales Director at Forum Lighting Solutions, to get his thoughts on a range of lighting related topics. 

What is your industry background and how did you get involved with Forum Lighting Solutions? 

I started working in the electrical wholesale supply chain at 18, which is now somehow over 20 years ago. I’m not sure where those years have gone. I moved from North Yorkshire down to North London and began my path into the lighting industry with a lamp company specialising in everything from incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and very early LED lamps. This gave me my first experience of supplying the UK’s electrical wholesalers.  

 After 5 years in the lamp market, I made a move to an up and coming commercial lighting supplier. This was an exciting time as I was part of a fast-growing business and learnt a lot of what was required for a supplier to make progress in our industry. Being part of a small team it also taught me many different roles from sales to marketing and being involved in product development.  

 After six years with the commercial lighting business, I received a call from a good friend in the industry who told me of plans to launch a new business, with the backing of a very well established lighting manufacturer and asked me if I’d be interested in joining the project. This was the beginning of Forum Lighting.    

 What were Forum’s most popular product lines across the last 12 months? 

I’m fortunate to be able to say that Forum have enjoyed a very positive last 12 months, which follows on from significant growth over the past few years. Our range has developed and expanded, where we’re not reliant on the success of any particular area, but have a healthy spread of sales throughout the catalogue. The value for money Forum offer in terms of quality items with a competitive pricing structure is really resonating with not only our customers, but theirs also.  

 The past year has seen continued success in the bathroom and kitchen lighting ranges, but also very strong sales in domestic exterior lighting and our range of kinetic switches.    

 What are ‘kinetic light switches’ and how do they work? 

Kinetic switches can wirelessly operate lighting circuits without the requirement of cable or batteries. I remember first seeing these switches in operation and being amazed at how a switch can illuminate a fitting up to 80m away with no cable. The push of the switch generates enough kinetic energy to send a radio signal to the receiver (which needs to be wired into the lighting circuit), which in turn operates the lighting. 

 As well as standard RF receivers, we also offer Wi-Fi models which can be paired with a free app to allow control of the lighting via your phone or voice activated device.  

This kinetic range helps solve issues in many applications, where it can be tough to get cabling to a switch. There’s no longer any need to channel down plastered walls, creating more expense in redecorating, etc. Also, there’s no need now to struggle for solutions in providing additional switch points in listed or older properties with stone walls. The IP65 rated switches are also ideal for outdoor applications and can control lighting from domestic patio or decking areas.      

 During recent years, there has been increased demand for outdoor power and lighting products – do you expect this buying pattern to continue in 2023? 

There’s no doubt that lockdown saw many households investing in their properties with the finances that would have normally been used for holidays, socialising and all the other activities we were unable to do. This saw a considerable growth in the spend on domestic lighting and especially outdoor fittings where people were improving external living spaces.  

As restrictions eased I expected to see a decrease in spend in this area as the nation began to spend their money on the activities we’d not been able to enjoy and had previously perhaps taken for granted. However, what we saw was a levelling off of spend where we saw the purchases on outdoor lighting hold their own against the lockdown boom.  

I’m not sure what 2023 will hold for external domestic lighting, but I expect the increased cost in living to see a decline in spend for residential property improvements. However, I also expect that the massive scale of domestic property development in The UK will balance out that decline and see a stable level of demand on the domestic lighting products produced by Forum Lighting and our counterparts. 

With energy costs at an all-time high, how can end users look to cut costs by implementing the latest lighting solutions? 

With the rapid development in LED technology, I believe that offers the easiest way for domestic end users to save costs on energy. I see LED lamps now offering in excess of 200 lumens per watt, which is very impressive to produce that amount of light from such little energy. I see so many households using the wrong lamps and  believe our industry needs to do a better job in communicating the benefits of LED ‘bulbs’ and making the choosing of the correct product an easier experience for the end user. Currently terms such as Lumens and Kelvins are still not understood by the vast majority of customers and we need to help improve that transition away from Wattage being the primary decision maker for them. 

I also feel that smart technology is becoming easier to use and there’s a strong demand from the end users to embrace this. I mentioned earlier about the free app used to control our Wi-Fi kinetic receivers. This app can also be used to set timers and allow lighting to only be used as and when required.    

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