Your guide to the laws of
office emergency and exit lighting
In an emergency at work or in another commercial premises, it’s essential to know where to go for safety. Operational and professional emergency and exit lighting enables safe passage.
Not only a thoughtful aid, emergency and exit lighting can quite literally save lives.
Commercial building laws, recommendations and regulatory body guiding principles can be hard to navigate at the best of times. This article aims to address and condense what’s outlined in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) for your peace of mind and clarity.
Want to know where you stand when it comes to emergency and exit lighting and the law? Read more from the trusted name for Perth commercial electricians, Wacomm, to find out.
Does your office really need emergency and exit lighting?
Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all approach to this frequently asked, all-important question with many variables at play.
Let’s discuss them:
Floor area
If the floor area is less than 300m2 it might not be necessary, but this is dependent on the building class (more on that below). Office floor areas greater than 300m2 makes emergency and exit lighting a requirement by law.
Natural light
If the exit from any room doesn’t open into a space with adequate natural light, emergency and exit lighting within that room is required. Building residents and visitors need to be able to find their way out safely and quickly in the dark and if the power is out.
Building class
The building class should be indicated on various paperwork and something you should know if you own, manage or even tenant the property.
If it’s a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, each storey of the building must have proper emergency and exit lighting installed to comply with the BCA’s requirements. Any room with a floor area exceeding 100m2 which doesn’t open onto a space where emergency and exit lighting has already been installed must have this lighting installed within the room itself. Any closed-off offices or other enclosed areas must have emergency and exit lighting installed, too.
Passages and stairways
Hallways, corridors and passageways more then 6m from the entrance doorway must have emergency lighting installed. All stairwells and passageways should have safety lighting installed, too.
Is there anything else about office emergency and exit lighting you should know? There is. Read on to find out more.
Further requirements
Below we’ve listed additional requirements you should follow to keep your office safe and compliant.
What are they?
- All emergency and exit lights need to be plainly marked and illuminated (including in blackouts)
- They should be visible at all times when you are in the building
- There’s nothing blocking the exits, ever
- Maintain your emergency and exit lights.
Rely on a professional Perth commercial electrician to install and maintain your emergency and exit lighting.
Wacomm care about your safety
Need emergency and exit lighting installed or serviced?
The team of Perth commercial electricians at Wacomm are here to enhance electrical safety, regulatory compliance and ensure peace of mind in your workplace.
Contact us today for your emergency and exit lighting needs.