Exit signs and egress lighting

[Apurva Dave]

I have exit signs in officetenant soace inside multioccupancy bulidng. The tenant space have exit signs and exit sign with wall mounted bug eye combination that can ne turned off by wall switch under normal power. However they also have unswitched line so in the event of power loss they will turn on and bypass wall switch. See attached attachment for wiring and device used.

However I am thinking that IBC 2018 says that exit lights need to be on all the time.

Same thing with egress lighting.

So I have three questions:

1. Does the IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit sign inside have to be on all the time?

2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress lighting have to be on all the time?

3. Can the device attached be used for exit sign switching and still be IBC 2018 compliant or not?

 

[ADAguy]

must be viewable at all times, power source may be nuclear vs wired or battery

 

[cda]

I have exit signs in officetenant soace inside multioccupancy bulidng. The tenant space have exit signs and exit sign with wall mounted bug eye combination that can ne turned off by wall switch under normal power. However they also have unswitched line so in the event of power loss they will turn on and bypass wall switch. See attached attachment for wiring and device used.

However I am thinking that IBC 2018 says that exit lights need to be on all the time.

Same thing with egress lighting.

So I have three questions:

1. Does the IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit sign inside have to be on all the time?

2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress lighting have to be on all the time?

3. Can the device attached be used for exit sign switching and still be IBC 2018 compliant or not?

no attachment

 

[cda]

I have exit signs in officetenant soace inside multioccupancy bulidng. The tenant space have exit signs and exit sign with wall mounted bug eye combination that can ne turned off by wall switch under normal power. However they also have unswitched line so in the event of power loss they will turn on and bypass wall switch. See attached attachment for wiring and device used.

However I am thinking that IBC 2018 says that exit lights need to be on all the time.

Same thing with egress lighting.

So I have three questions:

1. Does the IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit sign inside have to be on all the time?

2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress lighting have to be on all the time?

3. Can the device attached be used for exit sign switching and still be IBC 2018 compliant or not?

Please clarify your terms

There is exit signs, which as stated above, on at all times.

There are emergency lights, that use battery back up, or generator to power, in case of power lose.

There is normal exit way illumination so can you can see where you are going.

Have not seen emergency lights, with a wall switch….. If that is the set up,,, when the switch is turned off,,,, the emergency should than come on..

Do you want to restate the question

 

[Apurva Dave]

no attachment

I cannot attach pictures?? Do you know how?

 

[cda]

I cannot attach pictures?? Do you know how?

The easy way is become a Forum Supporting “Sawhorse””

And you can direct upload from almost anything

Or make it a link and post the link or something like Flickr,,, which none of this I know how to do

 

[Apurva Dave]

Please clarify your terms

There is exit signs, which as stated above, on at all times.

There are emergency lights, that use battery back up, or generator to power, in case of power lose.

There is normal exit way illumination so can you can see where you are going.

Have not seen emergency lights, with a wall switch….. If that is the set up,,, when the switch is turned off,,,, the emergency should than come on..

Do you want to restate the question

Yes I have the following question:

1. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit lights stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?
2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress light have to stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?

 

[cda]

Yes I have the following question:

1. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit lights stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?
2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress light have to stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?

check the wording in your book


1013.5 Internally Illuminated Exit Signs

Electrically powered, self-luminous and photoluminescent exit signs shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 924 and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and Chapter 27.
Exit signs shall be illuminated at all times.

 

[cda]

Yes I have the following question:

1. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit lights stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?
2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress light have to stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?

There may be other sections that apply

Such as stairs


1008.2 Illumination Required

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied

 

[cda]

1008.2.3 Exit Discharge

Illumination shall be provided along the path of travel for the exit discharge from each exit to the public way.

 

[Apurva Dave]

There may be other sections that apply

Such as stairs


1008.2 Illumination Required

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied

Ok I am not talking about stairs or other location. I am also not talking about just providing illumination. I am talking about inside office tenant space in building one floor only following:

1. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that exit lights stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?
2. Does IBC 2018 say anywhere that egress light have to stay on all the time? If yes then what code section in IBC 2018?

 

[Apurva Dave]

I found for exit signs in

IBC 2018 1013.5 Internally illuminated Exit Signs need to be illuminated at all times.

Is their one for egress light office tenant space, one story inside building that says egress light have to be on at all times or not?

 

[e hilton]

Dave … where are you going with this? You keep asking the same question, and they have already given a solid answer. Are you ignoring the responses?

 

[Paul Sweet]

IBC 1008.2.1 requires at least 1 footcandle illumination. In most cases every third or fourth light is left on at all times and the rest are switched.

IBC 1013.5 and 1013.6.3 both require exit signs to be "illuminated at all times."

​

 

[steveray]

Important to differentiate between "normal" egress lighting and emergency lighting......Can (and often is), two different systems....

 

[Apurva Dave]

Important to differentiate between "normal" egress lighting and emergency lighting......Can (and often is), two different systems....

I dont follow?

 

[Mech]

Normal vs emergency lighting example:

Normal lighting: Person arrives at work in the morning and turns light switch on. All the lights turn on.
Emergency lighting: During the work day, the power fails. The lights turn off even though the switch is turned on. Emergency lights with battery backup or connected to alternate power source turn on.

 

[cda]

1008.2 Illumination Required

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied

 

[Apurva Dave]

1008.2 Illumination Required

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied

So even in daylight in room and light switch turn off and if space is occupied then egress light remains on?

 

[cda]

So even in daylight in room and light switch turn off and if space is occupied then egress light remains on?

I would say yes

 

[Paul Sweet]

So even in daylight in room and light switch turn off and if space is occupied then egress light remains on?

Small, one or two occupant offices generally don't need special egress lights because the door is nearby and there would be adequate light through the door once it is opened. Large open offices and circulation spaces need egress lights so you can find your way to the door if power goes off.

The code doesn't address it directly, but it should be allowable to use a photocell to switch off egress lights along with the other lights when there is adequate daylight in the room.

 

[cda]

Small, one or two occupant offices generally don't need special egress lights because the door is nearby and there would be adequate light through the door once it is opened. Large open offices and circulation spaces need egress lights so you can find your way to the door if power goes off.

The code doesn't address it directly, but it should be allowable to use a photocell to switch off egress lights along with the other lights when there is adequate daylight in the room.

To include stairways???

 

[steveray]

1008.2 Illumination Required

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied

Does not say artificial or natural.....I could see an intelligent lighting system with daylight and occupancy sensors that would make it work...Fail/ on of course...

 

[Paul Sweet]

I don't see why stairways shouldn't be included if they have enough natural light. Photosensors need to be positioned to sense the darkest part of the stairway. One of the colleges I used to work with had glass exterior walls on all staircases on new buildings.