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New York City–Approved Emergency Lights

New York City–Approved Emergency Lights

Meet NYC’s stricter code with New York City–approved emergency lights engineered for Local Law 26 and FDNY requirements. Start here: browse the NYC-approved emergency lighting collection, pair with NYC-approved exit signs, or choose all-in-one NYC-approved exit sign & emergency light combos.

NYC Approved Local Law 26 UL 924 90-Min Backup Metal Housing Wet Location Self-Testing
Buyers Guide Tips

What to Look for in NYC-Approved Emergency Lights

  • Local code compliance: Verify UL 924 listing plus NYC/FDNY acceptance (e.g., Local Law 26 requirements and any Certificate/COA references on submittals).
  • Runtime & testing: Minimum 90-minute operation; include push-to-test and status indicator. Self-testing electronics help automate monthly/annual checks.
  • Egress illumination: Design layouts to achieve roughly ≥1 fc average and ≥0.1 fc minimum along paths of egress at 90 minutes (coordinate with your AHJ).
  • Construction: Durable metal housings (steel/aluminum) with tamper-resistant hardware where required by project spec or occupancy type.
  • Optics & aiming: Adjustable, low-glare LED heads; choose corridor/open-area optics to push light where needed without hotspotting or spill into residences.
  • Environment rating: Select damp/wet-location models for stair towers and exterior egress; consider impact resistance for high-traffic areas.
  • Electrical: Universal 120/277 VAC, brownout/surge protection, and solid-state charger/automatic transfer; confirm fault monitoring on diagnostics SKUs.
  • Battery chemistry: Maintenance-free Ni-Cd or LiFePO4; verify recharge time, cycle life, and any cold-weather heater options for unconditioned spaces.
  • Mounting: Wall or ceiling hardware compatible with NYC substrates; check projection/clearances near doors, sprinklers, signage, and sprinklers/MEP runs.
  • Remote capacity: For added coverage, specify remote-capable units and confirm total watt load and voltage-drop limits to remote heads.
  • Documentation: Provide cut sheets, installation instructions, and NYC-specific compliance notes on submittals for plan review and inspections.

These NYC-approved emergency lighting fixtures use high-output LEDs and maintenance-free batteries to deliver a minimum 90 minutes of egress illumination during power failure. Durable steel or aluminum housings, sealed optics, and universal mounting hardware support hospitals, multifamily, schools, and high-rise projects across the five boroughs. For placement flexibility, see wall-mount emergency lights and ceiling-mount emergency lights.

Choose recessed emergency lights or surface-mount heads for clean architecture, wet-location emergency lights for exposed stair towers, and self-testing emergency lights to automate monthly/annual checks. Many SKUs offer remote-capable emergency lights, cold-weather emergency lights, and lithium (LiFePO4) battery options—verify runtime and temperature ratings per submittal.

NYC checklist: UL 924 listing, Local Law 26/FDNY compliance, 90-minute battery, metal housing, and illumination levels that meet egress requirements. For exit signage specifics (8" red letters, 1" stroke), see NYC-approved exit signs or NYC-approved exit sign & emergency light combos.

Specs vary by model—confirm job drawings, temperature codes, and wet-location ratings before submittal.

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NYC-Approved Emergency Lights – Spec Guide

  • Local code & listing: UL 924 listed and NYC/FDNY accepted (Local Law 26 as applicable); include cut sheets and compliance notes on submittals.
  • Egress illumination: Layout to achieve roughly ≥1 fc average and ≥0.1 fc minimum along paths of egress at 90 minutes (coordinate with AHJ).
  • Runtime & testing: Minimum 90-minute battery operation; include push-to-test and status indicator; consider self-testing for automated monthly/annual checks.
  • Construction: Metal housings (steel/aluminum) with tamper-resistant hardware where required; low-glare optics/clear lenses for finished interiors and corridors.
  • Optics & aiming: Adjustable LED heads with corridor/open-area distributions; verify tilt/swivel range and locking to avoid hotspotting or spill into dwellings.
  • Electrical: Universal 120/277 VAC, solid-state charger/automatic transfer, brownout/surge protection, low-voltage disconnect, and fault indication on diagnostic SKUs.
  • Battery chemistry: Maintenance-free Ni-Cd or LiFePO4; confirm recharge time, cycle life, and ambient temperature limitations (heater options if needed).
  • Environment rating: Select damp/wet-location models for stair towers/exterior egress; evaluate impact resistance for high-traffic or vandal-prone areas.
  • Mounting: Wall or ceiling hardware compatible with NYC substrates; verify projection/clearances near doors, signage, sprinklers, and MEP runs.
  • Remote capacity: If extending coverage, specify remote-capable units and calculate total watt load and voltage-drop limits to remote heads.
  • Nameplate & documentation: Ensure label lists input voltage, wattage/capacity, ambient range, and required NYC/FDNY identifiers; include installation/maintenance instructions for inspections.

FAQs About NYC-Approved Emergency Light Fixtures

What makes NYC-approved fixtures different?

NYC rules call for 8″ red letters (1″ stroke) on exit signs, a durable metal housing, and emergency illumination that achieves the city’s higher light levels along the egress path. The code doesn’t require a specific wattage per head—choose lamp heads/output (lumen or watt) sized to meet NYC’s lighting targets for your layout.

How is illumination measured?

NYC mandates 2 fc (22 lux) average and 0.2 fc minimum at the floor along exit routes—about twice the national minimum—so plans often call for higher-output heads, closer spacing, or both.

Are photoluminescent options accepted?

Yes. NYC-approved photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) exit signs and markings are allowed under Local Law 26, especially in high-rise applications. Verify placement and charging light levels with your local fire marshal or building inspector.

Do combo units include emergency heads?

Absolutely. Combo fixtures pair the red-letter exit sign with adjustable emergency heads. Select head output (lumen/watt) and spacing to meet NYC’s 2 fc average/0.2 fc minimum along the path of egress.

Are they wet-location rated?

Many NYC-approved models carry NEMA 4X or IP65+ ratings for wet or exposed areas like exterior stairs or covered entries. Check the spec sheet for exact ratings.

Is self-testing required?

Not strictly, but automated self-test diagnostics are highly recommended to streamline monthly 30-second checks and the annual 90-minute test for UL 924 compliance.