| Exit corridors | Corridor length, turns, intersections, doorways, changes in level, and any areas that could be obscured by shelving or partitions. | Use emergency luminaires selected to provide continuous visibility along the escape route when normal power fails. | Check the full route, including bends and junctions. Use photometric calculations for spacing; suitable spacing depends on mounting height, luminaire output, obstructions, and applicable code requirements. |
| Stairs and ramps | Landings, changes in direction, handrails, steps, ramps, and transitions between floors. | Provide emergency illumination that helps occupants see walking surfaces and changes in level. | Assess each flight and landing, with particular attention to corners and changes in elevation. Confirm that fixtures and their power supply remain available during a power outage. |
| Exit doors and exit discharge | Exit locations, door hardware, exterior steps, ramps, sidewalks, and the route from each exit toward a safe public way or designated safe area. | Provide emergency illumination where needed along the route to and through exit doors, and outside where the discharge path requires it. | Check that occupants can identify the exit and see the route immediately beyond it. Exit signs and emergency lighting serve different functions; assess both where required. |
| Large open areas | Open-plan offices, assembly areas, and other spaces where furniture, temporary partitions, or crowd movement may make routes difficult to identify. | Consider broad-area or anti-panic coverage as required by the building layout and applicable life-safety rules. | Review the space from likely occupant positions, not only from the main aisle. Reassess coverage when layouts or partitions change. |
| Electrical and mechanical rooms | Panels, controls, equipment access points, and the route workers use to leave the room. | Consider emergency illumination at work and access locations when loss of normal lighting could create a hazard or obstruct safe egress. | Base coverage on a documented hazard assessment and applicable workplace and building requirements. Do not treat task lighting as a substitute for required egress lighting. |
| Warehouses and loading areas | High racks, aisles, vehicle routes, changes in floor level, loading docks, and potential obstructions to light. | Select fixtures and mounting locations to suit the actual ceiling height and aisle arrangement. | Check that racks and stored goods will not block the light reaching escape routes. Review dock edges and stairs, and coordinate pedestrian egress lighting with vehicle operations. |
| Outdoor escape routes | Weather exposure, route surfaces, steps, gates, exterior corridors, and the connection to a safe destination. | Choose equipment rated for its installed environment and suitable for the expected temperature and moisture conditions. | Confirm the fixture’s environmental rating, mounting details, and emergency power arrangement. Include exterior portions of the escape route in the site survey. |
| Power source and system type | Building size, circuit arrangement, outage duration requirements, maintenance capacity, and whether a central emergency power system is available. | Compare self-contained battery-backed luminaires with fixtures supplied by an approved central emergency power system. | Verify compatibility with the emergency supply, battery or system capacity, charging arrangements, and the required operating duration under locally adopted rules. |
| Inspection and testing | Access to test controls, indicator visibility, maintenance records, battery condition, and the ability to test the complete system. | Select equipment that can be inspected and tested in accordance with its instructions and the applicable regulations. | Set a documented inspection and test schedule. In the United States, adopted life-safety rules commonly include a 90-minute emergency-operation test; confirm the requirements and test intervals for the local jurisdiction. |
