Emergency Lighting Requirements

 

KNOW THE LAWS: Emergency Lighting Requirements

Here are the requirements for emergency lighting in the OHS regulations in each jurisdiction:

FED Canada OHS Regulations, Part VI:

1. Emergency lighting must be provided to illuminate the following areas within buildings:

a. exits and corridors;

b. principal routes providing access to exits in open floor areas; and

c. floor areas where employees normally congregate [Sec. 6.10(1)].

2. Except in the case of a primary grain elevator in which hand-held lamps are used for emergency lighting, all emergency lighting provided in accordance with the above must:

a. operate automatically in the event that the regular power supply to the building is interrupted;

b. provide an average level of lighting of not less than 10 lx; and

c. be independent of the regular power source [Sec. 6.10(2)].

3. Where a generator is used as a power source for emergency lighting, the inspection, testing and maintenance of the generator must be in accordance with the requirements referred to in Sec. 6.7 of the National Fire Code, as amended from time to time [Sec. 6.10(3)].

4. Where a central storage battery system is used as a power source for emergency lighting or where emergency lighting is provided by a self-contained emergency lighting unit, the battery system or the unit must be tested:

a. monthly by hand; and

b. annually under simulated power failure or electrical fault conditions [Sec. 6.10(4)].

5. Where a battery, other than a hermetically sealed battery, is tested in accordance with the above, the electrolyte level of the battery must be checked and, if necessary, adjusted to the proper level [Sec. 6.10(5)].

6. Where a self-contained emergency lighting unit is tested in accordance with the above, all lamps forming part of the unit must be operated for the time period set out in Sentence 3.2.7.3(2) of the National Building Code, as amended from time to time, that’s applicable to the class of buildings to which the building in which the unit is installed belongs [Sec. 6.10(6)].

7. Every employer must make a record of the results of each test performed in accordance with the above requirements and keep the record for two years after the test [Sec. 6.10(7)].

AB OHS Code 2009:

1. An employer must ensure that there’s emergency lighting at a work site if workers are in danger if the normal lighting system fails [Sec. 186(3)].2. Emergency lighting must generate enough light so that workers can:

a. leave the work site safely;

b. start the necessary emergency shutdown procedures; and

c. restore normal lighting [Sec. 186(4)].

BC OHS Regulation:

1. If failure of a lighting system would create conditions dangerous to the health and safety of workers, an emergency lighting system must be provided for the workplace and the exit routes [Sec. 4.69(1)].

2. An emergency lighting system must provide dependable illumination while the primary lighting system is off to enable all emergency measures to be carried out, including:

a. emergency shutdown procedures; and

b. evacuation of workers from the premises [Sec. 4.69(2)].

3. An emergency lighting system in a fixed facility must meet the requirements of Sec. 3.2.7 (Lighting and Emergency Power Systems) of the BC Building Code with regard to:

a. illumination level;

b. use of recessed fixtures;

c. duration of emergency lighting;

d. the use of self-contained emergency lighting units; and

e. emergency electrical power supply [Sec. 4.69(3)].

4. The emergency lighting system must be inspected, tested and maintained to meet the requirements of Sec. 6.8 (Emergency Power Systems and Unit Equipment for Emergency Lighting) of the BC Fire Code [Sec. 4.69(4)].

MB Workplace Safety & Health Regulation:

An employer must ensure that a workplace is equipped with adequate emergency lighting that operates if the regular lighting system fails and provides sufficient lighting to enable workers to do the following:

a. perform necessary emergency shut-down procedures;

b. leave the workplace safely; and

c. restore the regular lighting system [Sec. 4.14(1)(a)(ii)].

NB OHS Regulation:

1. Where failure of the normal lighting system may constitute a danger to a worker’s health or safety, an employer must ensure that emergency lighting is available that:

a. is independent of the normal lighting source; and

b. provides a minimum of 50 lux of lighting so as to enable a worker to leave the place of employment safely [Sec. 27(1)].

2. An employer shall ensure that the emergency lighting referred to above is frequently tested to ensure that it’ll function in an emergency [Sec. 27(2)].

NL OHS Regulations, 2012:

1. Where a failure of a lighting system would create conditions dangerous to the health and safety of workers, an emergency lighting system must be provided for the workplace and the exit routes [Sec. 40(1)].

2. An emergency lighting system must provide dependable illumination while the primary lighting system is off to enable all emergency measures to be carried out, including:

a. emergency shutdown procedures; and

b. evacuation of workers from the premises [Sec. 40(2)].

NT/NU General Safety Regulations:

1. Emergency lighting must be provided in places of employment that are normally used during periods of darkness or that don’t have an available source of natural light [Sec. 19(2)].

2. Emergency lighting must provide a minimum level of 10.763 lx (1 foot-candle) at exits from the place of employment [Sec. 19(3)].

3. Where emergency lighting is required, it must be from a power source independent of that for the general lighting or shall be controlled by an automatic device that will operate reliably to switch the circuit to an independent secondary power source in the event of failure of the primary power source [Sec. 19(4)].

NS OHS Regulations: Where failure of the normal lighting system may constitute a danger to the health or safety of a person, the employer must ensure that emergency lighting is available [Sec. 17].
ON OHS Regulations don’t have general emergency lighting requirements, although they do have such requirements for specific circumstances such as work in tunnels or compressed air.
PE OHS Regulations:

1. Emergency lighting must be provided in places of employment normally used during periods of darkness. Such emergency lighting must provide a minimum level of 10 lux (1 f.c.) at all means of egress from the place of employment [Sec. 6.2].

2. The employer must ensure that in an area of a building where a failure of the regular lighting system would create conditions that might endanger the safety of any person in the building, emergency lighting is provided which:

a. turns on automatically when the regular lighting fails;

b. is independent of the regular lighting source;

c. provides adequate lighting for evacuation of the area; and

d. is tested at least once every three months to ensure the system will function in an emergency, but not less frequently than recommended by the manufacturer [Sec. 6.3].

QC Regulation respecting occupational health and safety: Alarm and detection systems as well as emergency lighting must always be in good working order [Sec. 38].
SK OHS Regulations:

Where failure of the regular lighting system is likely to create conditions dangerous to the health or safety of workers, an employer, contractor or owner must provide appropriate emergency lighting of at least five decalux for the worksite and

exit routes from the worksite [Sec. 69(3)].

YT OHS Regulations:

An emergency lighting system must be installed and maintained at a workplace that’s used during hours of darkness or where a source of natural light isn’t available and shall:

a. provide an adequate level of illumination for the area, but not less than 10.8 lux (1 foot candle) at all exits;

b. be powered by a source independent of the general lighting system;

c. be controlled by an automatic device that’ll activate the secondary source of power; and

d. be inspected and maintained annually [Sec. 1.57].