Escape route lighting guidance

Citation

(1998), "Escape route lighting guidance", Facilities, Vol. 16 No. 1/2. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.1998.06916aab.009

Escape route lighting guidance

Escape route lighting guidance

Design guidance on emergency lighting and wayfinding systems for the visually impaired and for the normally sighted has been published in BRE Information Papers IP9/97 and IP10/97.

With computers and other devices, there are many jobs that are now possible for visually impaired people and this in turn has increased their presence in commercial buildings. IP9/97 presents findings from an investigation of nine route-finding lighting systems which were tested by 60 visually impaired volunteers.

Three systems were conventional overhead lighting, four were powered wayfinding systems (electroluminescent, incandescent and LED), one was an unpowered wayfinding system (photoluminescent), and one was a combination of overhead and LED wayfinding lighting. The studies assessed walking speeds and people's opinions on difficulty and satisfaction.

In each case visually impaired people preferred wayfinding systems to the basic traditional overhead emergency lighting and the enhanced overhead lighting was preferred to the basic overhead lighting. The combined wayfinding and basic overhead emergency lighting was preferred to either of the systems individually. Handrails on both sides of a stair and a change in the flooring material approaching a stair were recommended.

The paper explains and details its recommendations for both emergency lighting and powered wayfinding systems.

In IP10/97 BRE summarises studies of emergency lighting and wayfinding systems in smoke and assesses their visual performance using neutral density test filters placed in front of the eyes. This interim method is intended for use while a suitable standard for testing in smoke is developed.

BRE testing in smoke has shown that electrically powered wayfinding components have a higher visibility performance than photoluminescent components.

The assessment of systems took place in a straight corridor using a series of neutral density filters for the observer to look through. The new testing method has enabled BRE to:

• •

  provide data on the different visibility characteristics of lighting and wayfinding systems;

• •

  assess visibility performance of different light technologies;

• •

  consider the visibility of a proposed design system;

• •

  assess in situ visibility performance of wayfinding systems; and

• •

  avoid the difficulties of generating and distributing suitable smoke.

Against this filters do not replicate light scattering and veil effects, says the paper, and the effects on visibility owing to irritancy of smoke are not replicated. Other factors to be considered in establishing a standard test would include the visual capabilities of observers, variations and number of observers, light adaptation and viewing positions as well as the correct replication of installations.

The paper assesses systems ranging from electroluminescent and incandescent systems to LED, and photoluminescent systems. These systems use signs and markings to guide escapees to safety. The paper examines recognition distances using neutral-density filters and simulated smoke.

Copies of IP 9/97 "Emergency lighting and wayfinding systems for visually impaired people" and IP 10/97 "Emergency wayfinding systems: their effectiveness in smoke" are available from CRC Ltd, 151 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4QX. Tel: 0171 505 6622; Fax: 0171 505 6606.