Safety Lighting Code Information

SAFETY LIGHTING CODE IN PLACES OF ASSEMBLY

Does your Theatre or Facility meet Life Safety Code? If not upgrade your aisle lighting system and step lighting systems. Even though your facility may have passed code when it was built, you can still be a victim of a personal injury lawsuit. We are in an era of ever increasing litigation of personal injury lawsuits. Attorneys are completely educated in the use of light meters, digital cameras and the N.F.P.A. (life safety code)

Careful consideration must be given to the importance of proving sufficient lighting in places of assembly to comply with the N.F.P.A.( life safety code) the code requires that a minimum of 0.2 foot candles of illumination to be provided onto all floor area's during period of performances.

LIFE SAFETY CODE EXCERPT (NFPA 101) - 2009

7.8 Illumination of Means of Egress.
7.8.1 General
7.8.1.1* Illumination of means of egress shall be provided in accordance with
Section 7.8 for every building and structure where required in Chapter 11 through
Chapter 42. For the purposes of this requirement, exit access shall include only
designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, and passageways leading
to an exit. For the purposes of this requirement, exit discharge shall include only
designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, walkways, and exit passage
ways leading to a public way.
7.8.1.2 Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the
conditions of occupancy require that the means of egress be available for use, unless otherwise provided in 7.8.1.2.2.
7.8.1.2.1 Artificial lighting shall be employed at such locations and for such periods
of time as are necessary to maintain the illumination to the minimum criteria values
herein specified.
7.8.1.2.2 Automatic, motion sensor-type lighting switches shall be permitted within
the means of egress, provided that the switch controllers are equipped for fail-safe
operation, the illumination timers are set for a minimum 15-minute duration, and
the motion sensor is activated by any occupant movement in the area served by the
lighting units.
7.8.1.3* The floors and other walking surfaces within an exit and within the
portions of the exit access and exit discharge designated in 7.8.1.1 shall be
illuminated as follows:
(1) During conditions of stair use, the minimum illumination for new stairs shall be
at least 10 ft-candle (108 lux), measured at the walking surfaces.
(2) The minimum illumination for floors and walking surfaces, other than new
stairs during conditions of stair use, shall be to values of at least 1 ft-candle
(10.8 lux), measured at the floor.
(3) In assembly occupancies, the illumination of the floors of exit access shall be
at least 0.2 ft-candle (2.2 lux) during periods of performances or projections
involving directed light.
(4)* The minimum illumination requirements shall not apply where operations or
processes require low lighting levels.
7.8.1.4* Required illumination shall be arranged so that the failure of any single
lighting unit does not result in an illumination level of less than 0.2 ft-candle (2.2
lux) in any designated area.
7.8.1.5 The equipment or units installed to meet the requirements of Section 7.10
also shall be permitted to serve the function of illumination of means of egress,
provided that all requirements of Section 7.8 for such illumination are met.

Safety Lighting contributes to the safety of occupants. Emergency lighting must be available during power outages and minimum levels of light when most lighting is turned off. In addition, safety codes require exit signs and egress lighting to highlight escape routes during fires or other emergencies. Indoor safety lighting deters trip and falls.

Let All Cinema Sales and Services help you in the lighting design of your new facility or upgrade your current system to meet code. We have a comprehensive line of low voltage lighting products that will work in any application.