Emergency exit lighting and signage are among the most important safety features of any business.
In the event of fire, smoke, power outage, or other dangerous situations, emergency exit lighting illuminates safe evacuation routes when other systems are not functioning.
While fire alarms alert occupants and sprinkler systems extinguish flames, lighting systems are crucial in guiding people outside to safety.
To ensure commercial properties are up to code, compliant with state and township requirements, and these systems function, it is important property managers ensure their proper installation, inspection, and maintenance.
To help, here are several important considerations and insights from the experienced technicians at Double R Security regarding these critical, life-saving systems.
To protect building occupants from the dangers of fire, smoke, and toxic fumes, all commercial properties are required to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) code.
Created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), these NFPA 101 Life Safety Code regulations set the minimum standards for building design, construction, maintenance, and operations.
While comprehensive, there are a few key emergency exit lighting protocols all businesses must follow:
To be compliant with these requirements, all emergency exit lighting must be properly installed and remain operational.
It is important to ensure safety procedures are followed during an installation, and it is best practice to consult an experienced technician for help or to install the unit for you.
During installation, consider the following protocols for wall- and ceiling-mounted emergency exit lighting:
Before You Start: Although emergency lighting is connected to a building’s electrical wiring, it will switch to battery power if disconnected during a fire or outage. To prevent electrocution during installation, ensure you turn off the house circuit you’re connecting the unit to, and that your fuse box safety tag reads “Do Not Energize.”
Mounting Options: There are two main mounting options you might consider when installing emergency exit lighting: wall or ceiling.
Here is how to mount units in both locations:
To ensure your emergency exit lighting systems are running properly when you need them most, preventative maintenance is key for any business.
Aside from being a regulatory requirement with violations punishable by fines, these crucial systems help building occupants find exit routes and safely evacuate in the event of fire, smoke, power outages, and other emergencies.
It’s of utmost importance they therefore function optimally all the time—achievable through consultations with experienced technicians specializing in preventative inspections, maintenance, and service.
“I would like to get out of this, ‘Okay, this company tests and inspects our exit emergency signs and lighting and there's a problem,’ and into, ‘We'll know that they work,’” explains Derek Splendorio, Vice President of Double R Security.
“In case of emergency, if the exits are not lit, people can be trapped within a space,” he continues. “If the means of egress are not lit, people can get lost and delay their exits, and things can happen.”
To avoid violations and fines, and most importantly, prioritize the safety of employees and customers, property managers should seek trusted industry professionals for robust inspections, maintenance, and proactive service.
Depending on your city or state, your commercial systems should be inspected monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually.
New Jersey is required to perform monthly preventative maintenance, auditing the following:
To ensure your business is keeping up with required maintenance at appropriate intervals, Double R provides robust inspection services on a pre-scheduled monthly, quarterly, biannual, or annual basis. This way, you can manage your property knowing every facet of your emergency exit lighting is functioning optimally, at all times.
The Double R team covers the following areas and actions during emergency lighting inspections:
Relying on experienced technicians to ensure all your systems function optimally at all times grants invaluable peace of mind, and improves efficiencies.
Our trusted team of experts has more than 30 years of industry experience in the medical, industrial, surgical, retail, dental, and commercial industries, throughout the Northeast.
Fully licensed, National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)-certified, and holding a New York City Fire Department (FDNY)-approved Certificate of Fitness, among others, we will ensure your systems remain operational and compliant in emergencies.
From reliable installation to comprehensive inspections, our one-stop shop’s number one priority is your safety, at all times.
Double R is an industry leader in the installation, inspection, and servicing of emergency exit lighting, carbon monoxide detectors, CCTVs, generators, and more. To ensure your systems are compliant and functioning optimally, contact our experienced team today.