How Long Do Emergency Light Batteries Last?
When an emergency occurs in your workplace, and the power supply shuts down, your first plan of action should be to evacuate the premises as safe and quickly as possible. Exit signs and emergency lights illuminate the path, helping people see clearly. Without it, it will be harder to find your way out. That's why having effective lighting is crucial, which is why the law also requires it. In this article, I’m going to tell you how long do emergency light batteries last so you can prevent emergency lights from failing to work.
What is an Emergency Light?
If an accident triggers the lights to go out, emergency lighting should stay on to lead you quickly towards the closest exit.
Emergency lights can stay on for up to 3 hours following power loss to ensure that everyone in the building can navigate their way out. When the electricity is back on, the lamps will then refresh themselves, and they will be able to start to function should they need to again.
Emergency lighting can be seen over exit signage, fire protection appliances, emergency doors, and escape routes and stairs.
For constant charging of internal batteries, emergency lighting is connected to the building's power source to provide backup electricity. It means that during a power failure, emergency lights stay, enabling people to quickly find the exits if they need to leave the building.
Types of emergency lighting you can see in the workplace:
- Escape route lighting
- Open area lighting such as basement lights
- High-risk area lighting
- Standby lighting
What are Batteries for Emergency Lights?
Emergency lights and lighted exit signs use a battery to light up. Those batteries are rechargeable to ensure constant preparation and activity of the emergency lamp. Within the emergency light, the hardware also activates the cell and maintains it stays powered.
There are two styles of batteries which are used in emergency lighting
- Sealed lead-acid batteries
- Nickel-cadmium batteries
Lead Acid Batteries
Sealed lead-acid batteries reflect the oldest available rechargeable battery. They are labeled lead-acid because they comprise plates of lead metal soaked in acid. The acid tears the plates apart, releasing the electrons charged for electricity. Lead-acid battery technology has advanced, enabling completely sealed systems to retain the acid content, and do not need water.
Nickel Cadmium Batteries
The nickel-cadmium batteries are the first rechargeable batteries ever to be pure of no acid required. Many developments have evolved ever since, and they are usually more expensive. In a nickel-cadmium battery, the two metals are isolated by a dielectric non-conductive film, which allows the metals to react magnetically against each other, creating the electrons charged that generate electricity.
Where to Use Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting starts when a power outage is encountered, or the usual light source fails. Consequently, emergency lighting runs via a battery and does not depend on the main power supply.
Most emergency lighting systems are built of incandescent light bulbs, although modern systems have light-emitting diodes LED with high intensity.
In high structures, including apartments, college dormitories, modern commercial and structures, emergency lighting is usually built. Emergency lighting allows sufficient light for residential hotels, clinics, classrooms, stores, and approved buildings.
Regulations frequently mandate that any open space greater than 60 square meters will have mounted emergency lighting. There is a large degree of fear during an incident, and it is necessary to get the environment illuminated to prevent injuries.
Regulations require that emergency lighting will be mounted within a horizontal span of 2 meters over the fire alarm or equipment. Emergency lighting is offered in some situations to improve the health of those employed in an extremely unsafe environment.
Things You Should Know About Emergency Light Batteries
When removing an emergency light battery, try to ensure that you first notice the old battery form, voltage, and amperage. Sealed lead-acid and nickel-cadmium are the primary internal power supply for most lights. Because of the sealed lead-acid smaller appearance, nickel-cadmium batteries are quickly replacing the lead-acid.
Emergency light batteries come in various shapes and sizes. The 6 volts 4.5 amp sealed lead acid cell is one of the most commonly used types for emergency light fixtures. It's priced cheaply and efficiently and will ship today.
Emergency lighting does not work correctly when building AC control is in a hazardous condition, such as a storm. The requirements for OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) include routine emergency maintenance to guarantee that the devices operate during a power failure.
How Long Do Emergency Light Batteries Last?
For all emergency lighting, the battery check buttons come as usual. The emergency light device changes from AC power to emergency battery power by clicking the check button. It allows you to display the remaining charge of the battery.
As needed by UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a completely charged battery in good condition will power an emergency light for at least 90 minutes. When the battery can not work for 90 minutes, a repair will be made. The UL 924 rating is only valid on batteries that satisfy or meet UL's stringent check procedures.
Some of today's emergency light fixtures come with a self-testing feature that enables the appliance to operate monthly and yearly. These checkups eliminate the need for maintenance and increasing the reliability of emergency lighting.
Emergency lights can stay on for up to 3 hours following a power outage and ensure that everyone has ample time to find their way out. When the power is back on, the lights can then reset to enable them to start operating if they need it again.
Emergency lighting batteries have a life of four years, but they can survive past that in certain situations.
How Often Should Emergency Light Batteries Be Replaced?
Emergency light owners will carry out daily routine maintenance at monthly and yearly intervals per OSHA guidelines. If either the 90-second or 90-minute emergency alert checks are unsatisfactory, the lights will need to change the emergency light battery.
Fortunately, the maintenance required is quick and easy because most new luminaries have a push-to-test function that gives you the correct reading of the batteries. Through clicking this check button, the disconnect circuits of the unit are triggered and will trip the battery.
The lights don't turn on while the battery is down. It requires the replacement of the charger.
Conclusion
Replacing emergency light batteries doesn't require an electrician because you can do this task. Understanding how long do emergency light batteries last enables you to comply with the law and prepare you ahead before an emergency happens. Keep in mind that it's better to be ready at all costs.
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