Emergency lighting replacement: This should be taken into account

Replacing existing emergency lighting is a job best left to an expert. It is important here that the installation of new, modern LED emergency lighting is always done according to existing laws and regulations. The wishes of the insurance company should also be kept in mind. 

When old emergency lighting needs replacing, a licensed electrician should always be called in to install new LED emergency lighting fixtures. In doing so existing legislation must be followed. Relevant standards include the Building Decree, the NEN-EN 50172 standard on requirements for emergency lighting systems and the NEN 1010 standard around regulations for electrical installations. 

Functions such as autonomy time, illuminance, colour temperature, but also correct placement of emergency lighting are relevant here. In our Deetronix product line, we take this into account as standard, which is convenient for the user. 

The emergency versions of Deetronix luminaires also come with a convenient self-test function. This makes it easy to carry out the mandatory annual maintenance yourself.

When should emergency lighting be replaced? 

Although there are no specific laws and regulations stating how often emergency lighting should be replaced, in most situations, battery life will cause (parts of) the emergency lighting present should be replaced preventively every 4 years. 

In general, an emergency lighting battery will still function after 4 years. But the manufacturer can no longer guarantee sufficient light output when the lighting system switches to 'autonomous function' (this is a situation where the mains power supply fails). 

Emergency lighting is also required by law to be renewed in case of defects. This usually involves loose parts, but it can also happen that test results during an inspection no longer match the requirements set by the government or insurer. 

When an emergency occurs, the emergency lighting present always needs to be replaced. This could be fire, for example, but prolonged power outages can also cause the installed batteries of LED emergency lighting to have to be replaced.  

Periodic inspection of emergency lighting is mandatory 

The high safety standard of emergency lighting is also reflected in its mandatory periodic inspection. Periodic maintenance and inspection of installed luminaires and their components are subject to strict requirements. It is up to the owner of the premises to follow these requirements, who is always ultimately responsible. 

Annually, all emergency lighting components (together with the emergency plan) must be checked and analysed. This is not only a legal obligation, but also an important requirement for insurance purposes. In addition, checks also give the employees present additional security, a guarantee of a safe working environment. 

What does maintenance for emergency lighting consist of? 

According to existing laws and regulations, emergency lighting must undergo annual maintenance. This periodic maintenance includes the following important aspects: 

• Visual inspection: Possible presence of damage, checking the degree of brightness during a possible calamity, testing the robustness of the installation. As described in NEN-EN 50172, this information must be kept in a mandatory logbook. 

• Functional inspection: Functioning of the luminaires in the event of a power failure, checking that the test function works correctly, measuring the illuminance present and checking that it is within the applicable values, checking that the colour temperature of the lighting is appropriate. Standard NEN-EN 50172 describes a detailed test procedure to check the operation of this emergency lighting. 

• Control of autonomy: Is the required autonomy time of the emergency lighting achieved. This is the time that emergency lighting must remain on during an emergency situation (on battery, without power supply). On average, the autonomy time is one hour, but this requirement may vary depending on the type of building. The autonomy time may not be achieved due to an aging battery, environmental factors (such as temperature), or load on the luminaire from other components may negatively affect the battery. 

• Adequate management: A concrete plan should be in place for regular maintenance to ensure and assess the periodic inspection of emergency lighting. 

In addition, the NEN 1010 standard talks about the safety of electrical installations. Although much of this standard talks about the lighting system as a whole, it also specifically talks about the maintenance of emergency lighting. 

For example, the connections must be installed according to applicable regulations and kept safe. Emergency lighting must also be protected against short circuits and possible overloads on the mains. 

Cleaning the emergency lighting can also be relevant during maintenance. This can positively affect the luminosity. If defects are found, repair (or replacement of specific lighting components) will be necessary. 

Making budget to replace emergency lighting 

Anyone looking to replace existing or old emergency lighting with new, modern LED emergency lighting must consider the financial aspects involved, in addition to the applicable laws and regulations. 

A budget must be drawn up, which will first require an inventory. A detailed survey should be made of all already installed emergency lighting fixtures that need to be replaced. Document the type of lighting, its location in the interior space, as well as relevant technical data. 

Next, the cost of replacement needs to be considered. This goes beyond making a budget for the replacement luminaires. Relevant cost items will generally fall into one of the following four categories: 

1. Acquisition costs: The parts that need to be purchased to replace emergency lighting. In consultation with the lighting expert, select the right luminaires, create a lighting plan together for installation and take this as the basis for the required procurement. 

2. Installation costs: All costs associated with removing the old emergency lighting and replacing it with new, modern emergency lighting. Consider labour costs, call-out costs and any other additional cost items. Get a quote for details around the costs involved. 

3. Maintenance costs: Annual maintenance is required by law, which includes testing the emergency lighting. Maintenance also includes repair or cleaning of the emergency lighting. 

4. Unexpected costs: Keep some reserve in the budget for unforeseen costs. Consider, for example, damage during installation or maintenance, or the need to switch to a different type of luminaire. 

Discover the power of Deetronix LED modules 

The emergency versions in the Deetronix product line are ideal for business parties looking to switch to the latest generation of LED emergency lighting. A lighting expert will be happy to provide more insight into the options we can offer in terms of professional emergency lighting. 

Feel free to contact one of our consultants when emergency lighting needs replacing. You can do so by using the link below:  

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