From Exit Signs to Backup Systems: All About Emergency Light

Power goes out. Total darkness. Now what?

If you’re in a commercial building without proper emergency lighting, the answer is chaos. People stumbling toward exits they can’t see. Stairwells that become hazards. And if there’s smoke? Even worse.

Here’s the thing. Every commercial building in Canada needs emergency lights. It’s not optional. The National Building Code requires illuminated exit paths in virtually all non-residential structures. And honestly? Even many homes benefit from some form of backup lighting.

An emergency light activates automatically when normal power fails. That’s it. Simple concept, but the execution matters. These units contain batteries that charge continuously from your building’s electrical system. When the power cuts, they switch on instantly and light the way to safety.

The core answer you need: emergency lighting keeps people safe during power failures by illuminating exit routes, stairwells, and critical areas. In Canada, you need CSA-certified units that provide minimum 30 minutes of illumination at code-required light levels. LED technology now dominates because it delivers brighter light, longer battery life, and lower maintenance than older options.

For most commercial spaces, you’re looking at a combination of emergency exit lights above doors, pathway lighting along corridors, and possibly combo units that serve as both exit signs and backup illumination. The specific requirements depend on your building type, occupancy classification, and local code amendments.

But let’s break this down properly.

What Is an Emergency Lighting System?

An emergency lighting system includes all the components that provide illumination during power failures. We’re talking about the fixtures themselves, batteries, charging circuits, transfer switches, and sometimes central monitoring equipment.

There are two main approaches:

Unit equipment – Each emergency light fixture has its own battery. Self-contained. Independent. If one unit fails, the others keep working. This is what most buildings use.

Central battery systems – One large battery bank powers multiple fixtures through dedicated wiring. Common in hospitals and large facilities where centralized monitoring matters.

Most Canadian buildings use unit equipment. Easier to install. Easier to maintain. And when a battery dies, you replace one unit instead of troubleshooting a complex central system.

The typical emergency light fixture mounts on walls or ceilings and includes two adjustable lamp heads. You’ve seen them. Those twin spotlights in stairwells and corridors, usually white or beige housings. They sit there looking dormant until the power fails, then snap on automatically.

Emergency Lights with Battery Backup: How They Work

Emergency lights with battery backup operate on a straightforward principle. During normal conditions, the battery charges from your building’s AC power. A small charging circuit keeps the battery topped up without overcharging.

When power fails, a transfer relay detects the loss and switches the light heads to battery power. This happens in under a second. No delay. No fumbling in the dark.

The battery then powers the lamps until either:

• Power returns (the unit switches back to charging mode)
• The battery depletes (typically after 90 minutes for quality units)

Testing is mandatory. Monthly, you need to verify each unit activates properly – a 30-second functional test. Annually, you run a full-duration test to confirm the battery can sustain the required runtime. Sound tedious? It is. But it’s also required by the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and similar regulations across provinces.

Battery types matter here. Older units used nickel-cadmium batteries, which last around 5-7 years. Newer LED emergency lights often use lithium or sealed lead-acid batteries with longer service lives. The battery is usually the first component to fail, so choose wisely.

Exit Sign with Emergency Lights: Combo Units Explained

An exit sign with emergency lights combines two code requirements into one fixture. Smart, right? You need exit signage anyway. Adding emergency light heads to the same unit reduces installation costs and wall clutter.

These combo units feature the illuminated EXIT sign (red or green lettering, depending on jurisdiction) plus one or two adjustable lamp heads that activate during power failures. The sign itself typically stays lit via a small battery even when main power is out.

Combo units make sense in corridors, above doors, and in areas where you’d need both components anyway. They share a single electrical connection and mounting point. Installation labour drops significantly.

But here’s a consideration. If the combo unit fails completely, you lose both your exit sign and your emergency lighting in that location. Some facility managers prefer separate units for redundancy. Depends on your risk tolerance and budget.

Votatec offers both standalone emergency lights and exit light with emergency lights combinations. The combo units meet CSA standards and come in various configurations – single-face, double-face, edge-lit, and traditional box-style.

Commercial Emergency Lighting: Code Requirements

Commercial emergency lighting in Canada falls under provincial building codes that reference the National Building Code (NBC) and the Canadian Electrical Code. The requirements aren’t suggestions. They’re law.

Key requirements include:

Illumination levels – Exit paths need minimum 10 lux (roughly 1 foot-candle) at floor level. This ensures people can see obstacles and navigate safely.

Duration – Minimum 30 minutes of emergency illumination. Many jurisdictions and building types require 60 or 90 minutes. Hospitals, assembly occupancies, and high-rise buildings often have stricter requirements.

Coverage – Emergency lighting must illuminate exits, exit access corridors, stairways, ramps, escalators, and areas where direction changes occur. Basically, anywhere someone might walk during an evacuation.

Signage – Exit signs must be visible from the exit access. Maximum travel distance to see a sign is typically 30 metres in corridors.

Testing and maintenance – Monthly functional tests, annual duration tests, and documentation. The authority having jurisdiction can request your testing records during inspections.

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) publishes the standards that emergency lighting must meet. Look for CSA C22.2 No. 141 certification on any unit you purchase. No certification? Not legal for installation in Canada.

Industrial Emergency Lights for Warehouses and Plants

Industrial emergency lights face tougher conditions than office fixtures. Dust, temperature extremes, vibration, and sometimes hazardous atmospheres. Standard commercial units won’t survive.

For warehouses, look for:

• Higher IP ratings (IP65 or better for dusty environments)
• Extended temperature ranges (-40°C to +50°C for Canadian winters)
• Impact-resistant housings
• Higher lumen output to cover larger spaces

Manufacturing plants may need explosion-proof or hazardous location rated fixtures. These carry additional certifications beyond standard CSA approval. The cost jumps significantly, but using non-rated fixtures in classified areas creates serious liability.

Mounting height matters in industrial spaces. A warehouse with 10-metre ceilings needs more powerful emergency LED lights than an office with 3-metre ceilings. Light output drops with distance, so calculate your coverage carefully.

Battery-powered emergency lights in cold storage facilities need special consideration. Standard batteries lose capacity in extreme cold. Look for units rated for low-temperature operation or consider central battery systems located in conditioned spaces.

Types of Emergency Light Fixtures

Emergency light fixtures come in several configurations:

1- Standard twin-head units – Two adjustable lamp heads on a rectangular housing. The workhorse of emergency lighting. Mounts to walls or ceilings. Affordable and effective.

2- Recessed fixtures – Fit into ceiling grids for a cleaner appearance. Common in offices and retail spaces where aesthetics matter.

3- Wet location units – Weather-resistant housings for parking garages, loading docks, and covered outdoor areas.

4- Remote head systems – The battery and charging circuit mount in one location, with lamp heads installed elsewhere via low-voltage wiring. Useful when you need light in a location where a full unit won’t fit.

5- Bug-eye units – Round fixtures with the lamp heads integrated into a dome-shaped housing. Popular for architectural applications.

Each type has its place. The key is matching the fixture to the environment and required light coverage. A recessed unit that looks great in an office lobby won’t survive in a dusty warehouse.

Why LED Emergency Lights Are the Industry Standard

LED emergency lights dominate the market now. And for good reason. The benefits over older halogen and incandescent technology are substantial.

Longer battery runtime – LEDs consume far less power than halogen lamps. The same battery that powers halogen heads for 30 minutes might run LED heads for 90+ minutes. More safety margin. Better code compliance.

Extended lifespan – LED lamps last 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Halogen lamps? Maybe 2,000 hours. You’ll replace the battery before the LEDs fail.

Brighter output – Modern LED emergency light fixtures deliver more lumens per watt. Better illumination with the same battery capacity.

Cooler operation – LEDs generate less heat, which protects batteries and extends component life.

Lower maintenance – Fewer lamp replacements, longer battery life, and more reliable operation. Your maintenance team spends less time on emergency lighting.

The cost premium for LED has nearly disappeared. When you factor in reduced maintenance and longer service life, LED emergency lights cost less over their lifetime than halogen alternatives. Pretty straightforward math.

Rechargeable Emergency Lights vs. Hardwired Options

Rechargeable emergency lights refer to the standard hardwired units we’ve discussed – they connect to building power and recharge continuously. But there’s another category: portable rechargeable units that plug into outlets and can be moved as needed.

Portable units don’t meet code requirements for permanent emergency lighting. You can’t substitute a plug-in rechargeable flashlight for a proper hardwired emergency light fixture. The codes require permanently installed, automatically activating equipment.

That said, portable rechargeable emergency lights serve as useful supplements. Keep them in offices, break rooms, or maintenance areas as secondary backup. They’re handy during planned outages or as personal safety devices.

For code-compliant installations, you need hardwired units with permanent battery backup. The charging circuit must connect to a circuit that’s energized whenever the building has power. Switched circuits don’t work – someone could turn off the switch and leave your emergency lights uncharged.

Emergency Lights for Home: Do You Need Them?

Emergency lights for home aren’t legally required in most Canadian residences. But should you have them anyway?

Consider this. Power outages happen. Ice storms, summer thunderstorms, grid failures. When the lights go out at 2 AM, you’re navigating stairs and hallways in complete darkness. Falls are the leading cause of injury in homes. Combine darkness with panic, and risk increases.

Options for residential emergency lighting include:

Hardwired units – Same as commercial, but smaller and more discreet. Install them in hallways, stairwells, and near exits. They’ll activate automatically during outages.

Plug-in night lights with battery backup – These provide low-level illumination that increases when power fails. Not as bright as commercial units, but better than nothing.

Motion-activated battery lights – Place them in key locations. They’ll light up when you walk past, regardless of power status.

Rechargeable flashlights – Keep them in bedrooms and common areas. Some models include charging bases that double as night lights.

For multi-story homes, stairway lighting is the priority. Falls on stairs during power outages cause serious injuries. Even a simple battery-powered light at the top and bottom of each staircase makes a difference.

Votatec’s residential emergency lighting solutions include compact units that blend with home decor while providing code-level illumination. Worth considering if you have elderly family members or young children.

Planning Your Backup Lighting System

A proper backup lighting system requires planning, not just buying fixtures and mounting them randomly.

Start with a lighting layout. Walk through your building and identify:

1. All exit doors – Each needs either an illuminated exit sign, emergency light, or combo unit nearby
2. Exit access corridors – The paths people take to reach exits need adequate emergency illumination
3. Stairways – Critical areas that need bright, reliable lighting
4. Direction changes – Anywhere the exit path turns or branches
5. Large open areas – Warehouses, retail floors, and similar spaces need calculated coverage

Next, calculate spacing. Emergency lights have coverage patterns listed in their specifications. A typical twin-head unit might cover a corridor width of 3-4 metres at a mounting height of 2.5 metres. Your layout needs overlapping coverage with no dark gaps.

For battery-powered emergency lights, verify that total connected load doesn’t exceed battery capacity. This matters more with central battery systems, but even unit equipment should be checked against manufacturer specifications.

Document everything. Create an emergency lighting plan showing fixture locations, model numbers, and coverage areas. This helps during inspections and makes maintenance easier.

Finally, establish testing and maintenance procedures. The National Research Council Canada publishes guidelines on building safety systems, including emergency lighting maintenance. Follow these to stay compliant and, more importantly, to keep your system actually working when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Make Your Building Safer with Votatec Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting isn’t exciting. Nobody brags about their exit signs at dinner parties. But when the power fails during a crisis, these simple devices become the most important fixtures in your building.

Votatec supplies CSA-certified emergency lights, exit signs, and combo units for commercial, industrial, and residential applications across Canada. Our LED emergency light fixtures deliver reliable performance, extended battery life, and the brightness your building needs for code compliance.

Ready to upgrade your emergency lighting? Request a quote from Votatec today. We’ll help you select the right fixtures for your space and budget.