Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting is a backup illumination system that activates automatically when the main power supply fails. It provides safety lighting to guide occupants safely along egress routes and emergency exits. These power outage lights are also a mandatory requirement in most commercial and public buildings across Australia, including hospitals, schools, data centres, and industrial facilities.

RS Australia stocks a comprehensive range of emergency lights in maintained and non-maintained configurations, across ceiling-recessed, surface-mount, and wall-mount fitting types. LED emergency lights from trusted brands including RS PRO, Schneider Electric, and ABB are available in wattages from 1.6W to 700mW.

How Do Emergency Lights Work?

Emergency backup lights operate through a self-contained battery and switching system built into each fixture. The key stages of operation are:

• Normal Operation: When mains power is active, the fixture connects to the building's AC supply. A charging circuit continuously trickles charge into the internal battery pack, keeping it fully ready for use while the emergency lamp remains off.
• Power Failure Detection: An internal sensor continuously monitors the mains supply. The moment a voltage drop is detected from a grid failure, tripped breaker, or electrical fault, it triggers an automatic switch.
• Instant Switchover: A relay or solid-state switching circuit reroutes current from the battery directly to the lamp, typically within 0.5 seconds, providing immediate safety lighting with no human intervention required.

Benefits of Emergency LED Lighting

Emergency LED lighting systems deliver advantages across safety performance, operating costs, and long-term system reliability:

• Safe Egress and Panic Prevention: Illuminated exit paths guide occupants safely through corridors, stairwells, and exits during power outages and emergencies, reducing the risk of injury, confusion, and panic in low-visibility conditions.
• Security: Well-lit areas during power outages deter potential intruders, adding a layer of security to commercial and residential properties when mains lighting fails.
• Energy Efficiency: LED emergency lights consume up to 90% less electricity than incandescent alternatives, reducing strain on battery backup systems and lowering ongoing operating costs.
• Longer Lamp Life: LED technology lasts up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Select units in the RS Australia range rated up to 100,000 hours, reducing replacement frequency and maintenance costs.

How to Choose Emergency Lighting

Selecting compliant emergency lights for a building requires matching several key variables to the installation requirements under AS/NZS 2293:

• Battery Duration: Australian buildings must have emergency lighting capable of operating for a minimum of 90 minutes following a power failure. Select units with a rated runtime that meets or exceeds this requirement.
• Exit Sign Viewing Distance: Standard exit signs are rated at 24 metres viewing distance for most corridors. Longer sight lines require 40-metre rated signs or additional signs positioned along the egress path.
• Ceiling Height and Fixture Type: Ceiling height, corridor width, and building layout determine the required fitting classification and spacing. Recessed units suit standard ceiling installations; surface-mount or wall-mount options suit areas where recessing is not possible.
• IP Rating for Environment: Damp, wet, or outdoor locations including parking structures, loading docks, and covered walkways require fittings rated to at least IP65 to ensure sealed, weather-resistant operation.
• Maintained vs Non-Maintained: Maintained units remain illuminated during normal operation and continue on battery backup during a power failure. Non-maintained units activate only on power loss, making them more energy efficient for storage areas and switchrooms.

Applications of Emergency Lighting

Emergency LED lights and emergency exit lighting systems are required across a wide range of building types in Australia, including:

Public Buildings

Schools, hospitals, theatres, and places of worship are required to have safety lighting in all areas accessible to the public. In schools, emergency lights ensure students and staff can evacuate during power failures or fire events. In hospitals, maintained lighting units support continuity of critical care operations during outages.

Infrastructure Hubs

Airports and railway stations rely on emergency backup lights to maintain safe passenger movement during power disruptions. These high-traffic environments require exit and emergency lighting systems capable of covering large concourse areas and long egress paths at adequate illumination levels.

Tunnels and Hazardous Environments

Road and rail tunnels require dedicated power outage lights along the full length of the tunnel to allow safe pedestrian egress and emergency service access when normal lighting fails. Chemical plants and laboratories also require emergency LED lighting rated for potentially hazardous atmospheres.

Commercial Spaces

Offices, retail stores, warehouses, and car parks are required to install emergency exit lights above every door leading to a required exit and at each change of direction along the egress path. This ensures occupants can navigate to safety in low-visibility conditions.

Emergency Light Types

Emergency lighting units can be categorised by how they operate under normal power conditions and by their physical form factor:

Non-Maintained Emergency Lights

These units remain off during normal operation and activate only when the mains power supply fails. Non-maintained emergency lights are well suited to workplaces and storerooms that are adequately lit when occupied and only require emergency illumination during a power outage.

Maintained Emergency Lights

Maintained emergency lights remain illuminated at all times during normal mains power supply and switch automatically to battery backup when mains power fails. Maintained systems are commonly specified for public assembly areas including theatres, shopping centres, cinemas, and building lobbies where continuous visibility is required for both daily use and safe evacuation. Fire exit signs and recessed ceiling downlights are the common maintained formats.

Recessed Emergency Light Fixtures

Recessed emergency lights are installed flush with the ceiling, making them suitable for corridors, hallways, and stairwells where a low-profile fitting is preferred. They provide area illumination along egress paths without projecting below the ceiling line.

Surface-Mount and Wall-Mount Units

Bulkhead-style and wall-mount fittings are installed where ceiling recessing is not possible. These emergency lighting units are common in industrial environments, plant rooms, and external covered walkways.

Buy Emergency Lighting Online from RS Australia

RS Australia is a trusted supplier and distributor of emergency lighting. We offer a broad selection of LED emergency lights, exit and emergency lighting units, and maintained and non-maintained fittings from reliable brands including RS PRO, Schneider Electric, and ABB. All products are available at competitive prices, with clear specifications to help you choose the right product.

Round out your power backup setup by adding UPS systems, industrial transformers, and power unit accessories to a single order and expect fast delivery across Australia. For full details on shipping options and costs, visit our Delivery page.