Lighting technology

indications
Luminous intensity

A=1

tot=4sr

r =1

=1sr

Luminous intensity

Quantity of light, emitted by a luminous source, in a certain direction. It can

be defined as the luminous flux radiating in a certain direction per per unit of
solid angle I = (d)/(dw)
It is represented by the symbol I. The unit of measurement is the Candela (cd).

Luminous flux
Expresses the total quantity of visible radiation emitted in the space by a luminous source.
It is represented by the symbol F. The unit of measurement is the Lumen (lm).

Illumination

1 lumen

1m 2

1 lux

l
d

Represents the relationship between the flux hitting a surface and the area of
the surface itself. It is represented by the symbol E. The unit of measurement
is the lux (lx). Once lux corresponds to the flux equal to 1 lumen hitting a surface of 1m2.
E = ( / m2)
The exact illumination in point P, on the normal plane in the direction of the luminous intensity, produced by source C is expressed by the relationship
Ep= (I / d2) where:
I = luminous intensity in the direction C P
d = Distance from point C to point P
In practice, illumination on the horizontal plane Eh (shown as working plane),
or on the vertical plane Ev (normal on the work surface) is considered.
In this case (Dis. 5 ok):
Eh = (I / d2) cos or Eh = (I / h2) cos3
Ev = (I / d2) sen or Ev = (I / h2) cos2 sen

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Flux in
emergency
Definitions of the Luminous Flux
Output in emergency in %
Relationship between the luminous flux emitted from the appliance when powered with the reference feeder (feeder capable of imposing nominal working
conditions on the lamp) and the luminous flux when powered by an integrated feeder for emergency lighting working at nominal battery voltage, according to the provisions of regulation EN 61347-2-7.
Photometric flux (Lumen)
Luminous flux calculated by the photometric reading carried out with the appliance powered by an integrated feeder for emergency lighting working at nominal battery voltage according to the provisions of regulation EN 61347-2-7.
This is the same reading used in the Output in emergency calculation.

Average flux (Lumen)

average flux emitted by the product detected during verifications in EN605982-22. The data which makes up the average is from the fifth minute of
operation for all the nominal autonomy of the product (according to the IMQ
performance regulation). The value of the average flux is not relevant according to the definition of product in the terms indicated by regulation EN605892-22 and it is not significant in the development of lighting technology calculations. It does, though, allow the classification of the constancy of performance
when compared to the other parameters.

flux

0,00

time
(hours)

0.15

0,30

0,45

1h

1,15

1,30

0,00

0.15

0,30

0,45

1,00

1,15

1,30 (hours)

LUCE UTILE

Flux according to EN 60598-2-22 (Lumen)

Minimum flux guaranteed for all operational autonomy in emergency mode.
From the first minute (0.5sec for appliances classified as suitable for high risk
areas) and up until the end of (declared) nominal autonomy combined with the
flux emitted at the end of a special sequence of 500 fast commutations (determined according to the EN60598-2-22 product regulation provisions).

flux

time

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c=180

rotation axis of the planes

c=90
c=0

c=20

Photometries
and technical data

90
0

Photometric curves

c=270

longitudinal plane
transversal plane
c=0

c=90

c=270

c=180

Luminous intensity curves

cd/1000 lm
90

90

75

75

75

60

150

60

225
45

45

300

30
C180

Represent, in various graphical forms, the luminous emission of an appliance

in the space.
They are normally considered, as reference planes, planes:
C = (0 -180) (longitudinal plane)
C = (90 - 270) (transversal plane)
of the C - coordinate system commonly used for the photometry of indoor
appliances.

15
C270

15
C0

Express the progress of luminous intensities, in reference planes, for a lamp

flux of 1000 lumen. For indoor appliances, this representation takes places
according to a polar diagram and allows the evaluation of the type of emission, the maximum intensity and the main lighting technology characteristics
of any illuminating body.
N.B.: As the intensities indicated in the curves refer to a flux of 1000 lm, to
obtain real values, it is necessary to multiply the value read on the diagram
by the thousands of lm of the lamp (e.g. Flux of a 58W linear fluorescent lamp
= 5200 lm, multiplier 5.2)

30
C90

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Emergency systems
Definitions

Safety lighting of escape routes

This is designed to indicate the escape routes in order to guarantee correct
and easy identification (to lead to a safe place).
Anti-panic safety lighting
This must prevent a condition of panic arising in an emergency situation, at
the same time making it easier to identify and reach an escape route.
Illuminazione di sicurezza aree con attivit ad alto rischio
This is designed to guarantee safety in working areas where the activity carried out could become dangerous in the event of a sudden failure of ordinary
lighting. It is characterised by lighting levels which are considerably higher that
those prescribed for escape routes and by an immediately availability of the
nominal flux of the product.

Emergency
lighting

Reserve
lighting

Safety
lighting

Escape

LUCE UTILE

The terminology used regarding emergency lighting in legislative provisions is

the most disparate, often in contrast with the terminology of regulations. It is
therefore advisable, before going into the technical merit of the emergency lighting, to clarify the meaning of the terms which will be used, on the basis of the
trends of international regulations. Emergency lighting refers to lighting intended to work when ordinary lighting fails. Emergency lighting can be divided,
according to its aims, into reserve lighting and safety lighting. Reserve lighting has the aim of allowing the continuation of an activity even when ordinary
lighting fails, without any reference to personal safety. For example, in a sporting facility, lighting which allows the sides to end a game, when there is no
ordinary lighting, constitutes reserve lighting. Safety lighting is designed to guarantee personal safety should ordinary lighting fail and can have the following
functions:
safety lighting of escape routes
anti-panic safety lighting
safety lighting in areas with high risk activities.

Anti-panic

Anti-panic
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General information
General considerations
Legislative provisions only deal with safety lighting, as reserve lighting is required
for reasons which are different from personal safety. Facility regulations
establish particular provisions for safety lighting, while for reserve lighting, they
refer the user to general regulations. Product regulations make no distinction
between the various types of lighting, as it is not known beforehand which function the appliance will carry out, nor is it justified to differentiate the products.
The appliances intended for safety lighting or reserve lighting are therefore
generically called appliances for emergency lighting (EN 60598-2-22; CEI 3422).
This manual refers to safety lighting, but many of the criteria described are also
applicable to reserve lighting. At the same level of lighting, difficulties of escape
increase if persons are insufficiently familiar with the environment and if there
are a high number of them. It is particularly important, therefore, to highlight
differences in level, any obstacles, changes in direction etc.
Current regulation indications are as follows:

0,5 lx

1 lx
1/2X=1m

0,5 lx
X=2m

European values
In generic cases in which specific regulations or legal provisions do not prescribe minimum illumination levels. The current trend, described by regulation
UNI EN 1838 requires, for escape routes of a width of up to two metres :
- 1 lux minimum on the median line of the escape route,
-0.5 lux minimum in the central strip of the escape route equal to half its width.
It must be pointed out that the values mentioned above must be considered the minimum design values, calculated in the absence of
reflections.
It is left to the discretion of the designer to increase illumination levels should there be emergency conditions which could modify visibility as in the case of smoke formation.
In order to create unanimity, the ratio between maximum and minimum illumination should not be lower than 40. Escape routes with a width which is greater
than 2m can be treated as a series of parallel strips.
For solutions which require wall-mounted installations, it is advisable to use
appliances with a dedicated optical system capable of optimising the direc-

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tion of the luminous strip of the walking surface.

Appliance definitions

Appliances constitute one of the fundamental elements of a safety lighting system and for this particular peculiarity of use, they are subject to a specific regulation (EN 60958-2-22, CEI 34-22) which integrates construction requirements
in a literal senses with photometric performance requirements. This regulation
applies both to appliances which are powered centrally and those which are
autonomous. The appliances can be used both for safety and reserve lighting and are therefore referred to with the generic term emergency appliances.
Various types of emergency lighting appliances can be distinguished on the
basis of their main characteristics:
Autonomous emergency appliance
An appliance in which the lamp, battery, control unit and any testing and signalling devices are contained inside the appliance itself or in its vicinity (within 1m). An autonomous appliance can give permanent lighting, permanent lighting with reduced luminosity or non-permanent lighting.
Emergency appliance with centralised power supply
An appliance which is powered by a centralised source, i.e. not contained within the appliance. An appliance with a centralised power supply can give permanent or non-permanent lighting. Construction provisions in the regulation
in question apply above all to autonomous appliances, given that these are
very different from ordinary appliances.
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Permanent lighting emergency appliances

Appliances in which the lamps for emergency lighting are always powered.
In permanent-type appliances, a fluorescent tube is lit both when there is an
ordinary power supply and when there is a power failure. This type of appliance has a logic control in order to be able to be lit when there is power using
a 230V auxiliary power supply, while the ordinary power supply powers the
battery charger. When there is no auxiliary power supply, the lamp works only
as emergency lighting as a non-permanent type appliance.

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Safety lighting

Permanent lighting emergency appliance with reduced luminosity

An appliance in which the emergency lighting lamps are always powered. Even
though they come under the category of permanent lighting appliances, permanent appliances with reduced luminosity differ because they maintain
reduced light in the presence of power and higher luminosity in an emergency.
Non-permanent lighting emergency appliance
An appliance in which the emergency lighting lamps only work when emergency power fails. Non-permanent type appliances are therefore normally off
when there is power and come on when the ordinary power supply fails.

Escape

Anti-panic

High risk
activities

Combined emergency appliance

An appliance containing two or more lamps, at least one of which is powered
by the emergency circuit and the others by the ordinary power supply. A combined appliance can give permanent or non-permanent lighting.

Safety lighting
Safety lighting is designed to guarantee personal safety should ordinary
lighting fail.
It can have one or more of the following functions:
allow escape
prevent panic
prevent danger in workplaces as a consequence of a sudden failure in ordinary lighting.

Lighting

System of signs

Lighting in the
event of a fire

Safety lighting of escape routes

To allow the evacuation of persons present in a certain environment,
safety lighting must allow escape routes to be easily identified and
allow persons to follow escape routes in a safe way.
For this reason, the designer must not only create appropriate visibility conditions in terms of illumination, but must ensure that escape routes can be identified immediately using a suitable system of safety signs.

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System of signs
The safety sign system is defined on a European level by Directive 92/58,
acknowledged in Italy by legislative decree 493. It is worth clarifying that the
main purpose of the safety sign system is to indicate and not illuminate, escape
routes and emergency exits. Illumination, on the other hand, is the responsibility of actual safety lighting of escape routes.
This does not mean that emergency appliance used for the safety sign system cannot contribute to illuminating escape routes.
The safety sign system can be created with:
emergency lighting appliances which are responsible permanently or nonpermanently for illuminating signs with white pictograms on a green background.
appliances for emergency lighting on which suitable screens with white pictograms on a green background are applied. This second solution is more
common as it allows greater visibility of the sign.
The pictogram is an image which represents a situation or orders specific
behaviour, which can be understood even by those who do not know how
to read.
Below, there are some useful notions for designing a sign system for escape
routes.

LUCE UTILE

The safety sign system which indicates escape routes (emergency

exits) must be a square or rectangular shape, with a white pictogram
on a green background which covers at least 50% of the surface.
In the case of backlit safety signs, there is often a doubt about whether to use
non-permanent (commonly called only emergency) or permanent (commonly called always on) type appliances.
Appliances with reduced permanent lighting (PS), which maintain low luminosity when there is power and high output in an emergency, represent an excellent solution.
These appliances are advisable in facilities for public entertainment, for
example nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and multi-use rooms where escape
routes are difficult to identify because of the darkness during shows.
In places where there is normally a certain value of lighting, it may be enough
to use non-permanent type appliances, as in ordinary conditions, the pic227

INDEX

tograms can be clearly identified.

Visibility Distance
In order for the sign to be legible, its uniformity takes on particular importance.
The green background must have a luminance of at least 2 cd/m2 and the
luminance ratio between the white area and the green area must not be lower than five. In addition, the colours must be sufficiently uniform: the maximum
luminance of the colour green must not be greater than ten times the minimum one; the same goes for the colour white.
This uniformity of colour is not easy to achieve applying generic adhesive pictograms onto high power lighting appliances, therefore this practice is not advisable. It is advisable to use pictograms specifically provided for by the manufacturer.
The sign must be visible up to a distance (L) equal to: L2 = Ax2000
where A is the surface of the emergency sign, (Legislative Decree 493/96, Ax.
II, art.1.5.1). This formula applies in the case of signs which are externally lit
and for visibility distances lower than 50 m.
The dimensions of a safety sign, according to whether it is lit by an external
source or whether it is backlit, influences its visibility distance in an important
way. The parameters which influence the maximum visibility distance come
from the following formula:
d = sxp (UNI EN 1838)
where p represents the maximum vertical dimension of the sign express in
metres, s is a constant whose value is 100 for externally lit signs and 200 for
internally lit signs (backlit), d is the maximum visibility distance of the sign, measured in metres.
Lighting in the event of smoke from a fire
Among the conditions which can thwart even a carefully designed safety lighting system is the eventual presence, in emergency conditions, of smoke from
a fire which reduces visibility and consequently the indication of the escape
routes. The necessity to guarantee sufficient lighting and indication of the
escape routes is essential, above all in these difficult situations, and the lighting must be integrated with guidance systems which allow people to reach
a safe place. It is therefore important to use appliances which give visible luminous indications even in the presence of smoke, for example, a laser beam
to point out the nearest exit and directional guiding lights to spotlight points
of particular importance.
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Anti-panic safety lighting

LUCE UTILE

Anti-panic lighting is designed to reduce the creation of panic which

can occur in the event of a black-out.
In this case, it is necessary to provide the persons present with conditions of
visibility, even minimal, so that they can identify their nearest escape route in
conditions of relative calm
Anti-panic lighting application are typical in sports facilities, hotel lobbies, shops,
supermarkets, restaurant dining rooms etc.
The minimum illumination required for anti-panic lighting, if not otherwise prescribed, is 0.5 lux on the ground in the whole area, with the exception of a
0.5 m perimetral strip.
This value must be calculated in the absence of reflections.
As the eye needs time to adapt to a reduced level of lighting, the longer the
adaptation time, the greater the reduction in illumination. It is therefore necessary to increase the level of anti-panic lighting where the level of ordinary
lighting is very high.
In buildings for public entertainment, anti-panic illumination of at least 2 lux is
required in any environment where the public has access (CEI 64-8, art.
752.56.5.). In this case, it refers to an illumination value in operating conditions, taking into account reflections.
The ratio between maximum and minimum illumination must be lower than 40.
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Lighting of areas with high risk activities

32 lx

34
lx
38
lx

Working activities which, in the event of a failure of ordinary lighting, can pose a danger for employees require specific safety lighting, according to Italain Presidential Decree 547/55, art. 31 and
Italian Legislative Decree 626/94, art. 33, para. 7.3.
The legislative documents which are currently available (UNI EN 1838), provide for safety lighting on the reference plane of at least 10% of ordinary lighting, with an absolute minimum of 15 lux.
It is also requested that the illumination be uniform, i.e. the ratio between maximum and minimum illumination be lower than 10.
Finally, safety lighting in the defined high risk area must be immediate. For this
reason the value is defined at 0.5 sec (EN1838)
The table which follows shows the reference values which are necessary for
operating illumination according to the type of building, visual tasks or activity (ordinary values are indicated in Regulation UNI 12464-1 and in general are
between 200and 400 lux).
Type of interior,
visual task and activity

Average illumination
maintained (lux)

Offices, writing, typewriting,

letters, data processing

500 lux

Fixed working stations

in production plants

300 lux

Control rooms
(plants, switch rooms)

200 lux

In the design of safety lighting systems for high risk areas, illumination must be obtained with luminous sources which do not create stroboscopic effects (this derives from the need not to create
dangerous effects whenever machines with moving parts are present in the area). For this purpose, it is necessary to use lighting appliances with
incandescent or fluorescent sources with a power supply frequency greater than
50Hz. To understand the role of safety lighting for areas with high risk activities,
a diagrammatic example is shown which highlights the need to connect the
area with an adjacent escape route. This continuity can be easily obtained through
the use of specifically designed photometry.

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Autonomy
The term autonomy refers to the total time during which the safety lighting system must provide the required performance. In general, autonomy depends
on the maximum time required for the evacuation of the occupants, on the
basis of the environmental conditions which can hinder escape and high levels of crowding
In the various international regulations, there are minimum provisions regarding the autonomy of the systems, which varies from 30 minutes in Japan to
3 hours in England. In Europe, the minimum autonomy required is 60 minutes,
in the absence of any particular instructions from the various competent authorities.
In Italy, the minimum general request for autonomy of 60 minutes, with the
exception of educational facilities, in which an autonomy of 30 minutes is
required and in health facilities in which an autonomy of 2 hours is required.
In addition, for many installation situations, from schools to facilities for public entertainment, to hospital installations, the term autonomy is defined after
a partial recharge of 12 hours (while the product regulation defines it after a
charging period of 24 hours).

Design criteria
General considerations
The regulation regarding safety lighting is composed of a group of:
regulations;
laws, decrees, memoranda, etc.
The regulations regard appliances, systems and lighting technology performance.

LUCE UTILE

REGULATION UNI EN 1838

Some criteria which have been explained previously are covered again, referring to the positioning of appliances for safety lighting. When carrying out a
design of an installation, appliances must be present:
At every emergency exit
Near every flight of stairs
Near every change of level
To illuminate safety signs
Near every change of direction
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Near every intersection of corridors

Outside every exit door
Near every first aid point
Near every fire prevention and calling point

NOTE: near is intended as 2 metres

Before proceeding with the safety lighting project, on the basis of the building project it is also necessary to:
identify the escape routes and any difficult passages along the escape
routes themselves;
define any areas which require anti-panic lighting (all areas accessible to
the public in public entertainments facilities);
indicate the points in which on call emergency help devices, fire-prevention apparatus, safety signs and lifts etc. will be installed;
identify any dangerous working activities in the event of a failure of ordinary
lighting.

Design indications
It is necessary to integrate the constraints mentioned above with the practice
and design experience in order to optimise the technical proposal.
Below, there is a list of some aspects which we believe are priorities in order
to proceed towards the correct development of the system dimensions:
knowledge of the type and usage of the environment to illuminate.
verification of the legal obligations and regulations.
indications regarding the future management of the system.
choice of appliance (type, level of protection, autonomy, power, flux, emergency output, installation versatility).
execution of lighting technology calculations in order to establish both the
quantity and cost of the system correctly.

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