Extended Run-Time Emergency Lights

Standard emergency lights of whatever type are designed to provide illumination for a minimum of 90 minutes, in the case of power loss. This specification has been determined by officials to provide enough time for building evacuation in all normal circumstances. However, what if the circumstances are not normal; would 90 minutes be enough in all cases?

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Not all power loss situations are such that there are additional hazards associated with the loss of power. While some can be associated with severe weather or a major accident, this isn’t necessarily true in all cases. However, abandoning operating equipment, because of a power loss, can in some cases create a more serious hazard. In those cases, 90 minutes may not be enough time to shut everything down before evacuating the facility.

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The earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan in March of 2011, workers battled for days to contain the heat and radiation from the plant, without available electrical power. A 90 minute emergency light would not have been enough to solve their problem, nor would an 8 hour emergency light. Nevertheless, this accident clearly shows the need, in some cases, for longer running emergency lights, than the standard 90 minutes that governmental regulations require.

Benefits of Extended Run Time Emergency Lights

Of course, the reason for the extensive problems in shutting down the plant, was because of the severe damage that was done to it; first by the earthquake/tsunami combination, then by the heat caused by the ongoing nuclear reaction, and finally by the explosions in two of the reactors. However, even without the damage created, 90 minutes would probably have not been sufficient to shut down the facility and evacuate it.

Extended Run Time Emergency Light Applications

Nuclear power plants aren’t the only place where lengthy shutdowns of equipment exist. Many automated manufacturing facilities, petroleum refineries and other similar types of facilities have an extensive shutdown procedure. In any such cases, providing emergency lighting that will stay illuminated for more than the required shutdown time is only prudent.

Locations Experiencing Power Loss Often

Another place where longer run time may be needed for emergency lights is in cases where power losses are frequent. It generally takes 24 hours for the batteries in an emergency light to fully charge. Once charged, they are designed to provide enough power to illuminate the unit for 90 minutes.

How about a case where there is a 60 minute power outage, followed by a short period of time where there is power, then another power outage. In a case such as this, the battery wouldn’t have enough time to recharge before having to provide power again. In the second power outage, the battery would only have enough power to illuminate the lamps for 30 minutes, not 90.

Worldwide Application of Extended Run Time Emergency Lights

Situations like this are common in developing countries. With more and more offshore manufacturing, this is a concern that must be taken into account. Even without going offshore, there are places in the United States which are susceptible to severe weather, which could cause the exact same situation of power cycling on and off.

Extended run-time emergency lights provide an added level of safety for your personnel, in these situations where standard 90 minute emergency lights may not provide adequate safety.