The Path to Success in Emergency Lighting

by Darlene Bremer
Mandated by building codes such as the National Fire Protection Association's LiIe
SaIety Code and the National Electrical Code (NEC) emergency lighting systems and
exit signs are used in every commercial and industrial setting throughout the country.
Estimates Ior the emergency lighting market-including exit signs ballasts and single-
and three-phase emergency systems Ior UPS and inverter backup platIorms-range Irom
$300 to $500 million dollars.
'During 2003 and the Iirst quarter oI 2004 the emergency lighting and exit-sign market
was predominantly Ilat observed Doug Andrews general manager oI Chloride Systems
Inc. a Genlyte Thomas Group company in Burgaw N.C. Causes Ior the market slump
include price erosion Irom the inIlux oI imported products as well as reduced industrial
and capital investment spending in a soIt new-construction environment.
'Emergency lighting typically represents 2 to 3 percent oI lighting purchases in a
commercial or industrial construction project but since new construction has been Ilat or
declining so has the emergency lighting segment said Russ Hall product manager Ior
Lightolier Inc. oI Fall River Mass. another Genlyte Thomas Group company.
However the latest economic indicators look positive which should translate into modest
growth over the next three to Iive years at rates oI about 2 percent by the end oI 2004.
'It should be noted though that the lighting market does lag behind the building
construction cycle by a Iew months since the lighting tends to be installed toward the
latter stages oI the construction process cautioned Victor Sandhage director
Emergency Systems Group oI Lithonia Lighting Conyers Ga.
Technological Advancements
Paving the way Ior more economical energy-eIIicient exit signs has been the longer-
lived lower-wattage light emitting diode (LED).
'LEDs have been popular in exit signs since the mid -1990s but the technology has not
been easily applied to emergency lights because oI the higher cost and the weak
perIormance oI white LEDs in general illumination said Andrews.
White LEDs have also not proven themselves as a viable technology Ior exit signs Irom
either an economic or a light-output standpoint according to Rich Dillon general
manager and vice president Ior Dual-Lite a brand oI Hubbell Electrical Products
Cheshire Conn. 'White LEDs are beginning to become more prevalent in general
illumination applications but Ior pathway and egress lighting white LEDs although
long-lived are currently too expensive to be cost-eIIective in emergency lighting he
said. In addition the white LED's light output still has too much color shiIt to be
considered consistent enough Ior exit sign and emergency lighting applications.
However because LED light sources are smaller in size they enable manuIacturers to
redesign emergency lighting systems and Iixtures with smaller Iootprints and with more
architecturally aesthetic Ieatures. 'LEDs are eIIectively used in edge lighting where light
is cast downward along acrylic panels to illuminate the letters within the exit or other
emergency sign added Mike King product manager industrial lighting Ior Cooper
Crouse-Hinds Syracuse N.Y.
Engineering-grade thermoplastics have also reduced the cost improved the aesthetics
and increased the ruggedness and durability oI exit signs and emergency lighting system
products according to Sandhage.
'And new battery technologies such as nickel metal hydride are Iinding their way into
the emergency lighting market he said. Nickel metal hydride batteries are a higher-
capacity alternative to nickel cadmium. The same size nickel metal hydride battery
powers a greater load and is more environmentally Iriendly with Iewer toxic materials
used in production. The downside however is that nickel metal hydride batteries are
more sensitive to a deep discharge and need a more sophisticated charging algorithm.
'Nickel metal hydride batteries are slightly more expensive today than nickel cadmium
but this should change over the next new years Sandhage said.
Finally diagnostic Ieatures are being increasingly incorporated into emergency lighting
systems providing Iacility and building operators with data on battery status Iault
indication volts amps and power status according to King.
'Diagnostic capabilities provide the end-user with the ability to locally access
inIormation concerning the condition oI the emergency lighting system and provides
remote access to data over the Ethernet or Internet communication protocols King said.
arket Trends
For years emergency lighting manuIacturers have tried to balance Iunctionality and Iorm
by searching Ior new and innovative ways to conceal or reduce the Iootprint oI their
designs to have minimal impact on the space. Older housing designs made oI rectangular
steel boxes were utilitarian looking and obtrusive. Today's designs incorporate the latest
in injection-molding techniques and are intended to blend into the immediate
surroundings. 'Compared to 20 years ago today's emergency lighting units have a much
lower proIile and are more aesthetically pleasing said Sandhage.
According to King today's exit sign market is shiIting toward the increased use oI
multilingual signs to satisIy global and U.S. market demands the replacement oI
incandescent light sources in exit signs with either LEDs or compact Iluorescent lights
(CFLs) and the development oI vandal-prooI signs.
'In response to increased security concerns vandalprooI exit signs now come with
nonremovable screws and have higher impact resistance he said.
What may be the most important trend oI all however is the increased shiIt toward
emergency lighting systems in outdoor applications to extend the path oI egress beyond
the building itselI.
'Codes are notoriously ambiguous about outdoor emergency lighting causing the design
community to be extremely creative in applying products to comply with those codes
said Hall.
Electrical Contractors Can Light the Way
What then do electrical contractors need to know or do to succeed in the emergency
lighting market? 'Electrical contractors must realize that emergency lighting systems and
exit signs are designed to save lives and that not all products are built to the same quality
and perIormance standards said Sandhage. As more and more building inspectors
become emergency-lighting savvy it will pay Ior the electrical contractor to use the
products that will do the job right the Iirst time.
To get it right electrical contractors need to partner with manuIacturers and distributors
that can provide the necessary technical support and that are invested in the U.S.
emergency lighting market.
'There has been an explosion in the number oI companies that do not produce service or
invest in the industry but that market emergency lighting products. The net eIIect is that
the end-user may be purchasing a product that is Irom overseas that may be counterIeit
or Irom a source with no or limited technological expertise or ability to provide technical
support said Andrews. Dillon agrees and cautions electrical contractors who want to
enhance their reputations to avoid low-cost imports and provide their customers with
systems that maintain their operational eIIectiveness.
Electrical contractors also need to be aware oI the existing and emerging codes Ior
outdoor emergency lighting particularly when involved with a design-build project
according to Andrews. 'That's the best way to ensure against any non-compliance issues
as new codes Ior outdoor emergency lighting are developed.
Other ways to help guarantee success in the emergency lighting market is Ior electrical
contractors to understand the various NEC Divisions and International Electrotechnical
Commission Zones Ior hazardous locations as well as understanding mounting
considerations the available power supply and the light output required Ior emergency
conditions and egress routes. Electrical contractors can also provide a value-added
service to their customers by being aware oI the more architecturally designed products
that are available on the market and oIIer them as part oI a completely integrated and
aesthetic lighting system.
uture Outlook
According to King the outlook Ior the emergency lighting market is good as residential
commercial and industrial construction remains strong. 'In addition people are more
aware oI saIety issues and are willing to make the investments to comply with
increasingly rigorous codes and enIorcement he said.
Hall also sees a Iavorable Iuture Ior the market as more attention is Iocused on security
and building owners and electrical contractors become more educated about existing and
emerging codes and their increased enIorcement.
'These Iactors can't help but have a positive impact on the market and its growth which
we expect should expand at a rate oI 3 to 8 percent over the next two years Hall said.
Also since companies are always looking Ior ways to cut energy costs and improve
eIIiciency the market should continue to grow as it services the needs oI end-users as
they replace older less eIIicient systems with newer technology