Chloride Systems

The following excerpts are provided as a quick overview and may help as a guide in the selection, specification, and layout of emergency lighting products.

SECTION 7.9 EMERGENCY LIGHTING
7.9.1 General.
7.9.1.1 Emergency lighting facilities for means of egress shall be provided in accordance with Section 7.9 for the following: (1) Buildings or structures where required in Chapters 11 through 42. (2) Underground and limited access structures as addressed in Section 11.7. (3) High rise buildings as required by other sections of this Code. (4) Doors equipped with delayed-egress locks. (5) The stair shaft and vestibule of smokeproof enclosures, for which the following also apply: (a) The stair shaft and vestibule shall be permitted to include a standby generator that is installed for the smokeproof enclosure mechanical ventilation equipment, (b) The standby generator shall be permitted to be used for the stair shaft and vestibule emergency lighting power supply, (6) New access-controlled egress doors in accordance with 7.2.1.6.2.
7.9.1.2 For the purposes of 7.9.1.1, exit access shall include only designated stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, and passageways leading to an exit. For the purpose of 7.9.1.1, exit discharge shall include only designated stairs, ramps, aisles, walkways, and escalators leading to a public way.
7.9.1.3 Where maintenance of illumination depends upon changing from one energy source to another, a delay of not more than 10 seconds shall be permitted.

7.9.2 Performance of System.
7.9.2.1 Emergency illumination shall be provided for not less than 1½ hours in the event of failure of normal lighting. Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is no less than an average of 1 ft-candle (10.8 lux) and, at any point, not less than 0.1 ft-candle (1.1 lux), measured along the path of egress at floor level. Illumination levels shall be permitted to decline to not less than an average of 0.6 ft-candle (6.5 lux) and, at any point, not less than 0.06 ft-candle (0.65 lux) at the end of the 1½ hours. A maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded.
7.9.2.2 New emergency power systems for emergency lighting shall be at least Type 10, Class 1.5, Level 1, in accordance with NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems.
7.9.2.3 The emergency lighting system shall be arranged to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting due to any of the following: (1) Failure of public utility or other outside electrical power supply. (2) Opening of a circuit breaker or fuse. (3) Manual act(s), including accidental opening of a switch controlling normal lighting facilities.
7.9.2.4 Emergency generators used to provide power to emergency lighting systems shall be installed, tested, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 110, Emergency and Standby Power Systems. Stored electrical energy systems, where required in this Code, shall be installed and tested in accordance with NFPA 110, Standard on Stored and Electrical Energy Emergency and Standby Power Systems.
7.9.2.5 Unit equipment and battery systems for emergency luminaires shall be listed to UL 924, Standard for Emergency Lighting and Power Equipment.
7.9.2.6 Existing battery-operated emergency lights shall use only reliable types of rechargeable batteries provided with suitable facilities for maintaining them in properly charged condition. Batteries used in such lights or units shall be approved for their intended use and shall comply with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code.
7.9.2.7 The emergency lighting system shall be either continuously in operation or capable of repeated automatic operation without manual intervention.

7.9.3 Periodic Testing of Emergency Lighting Equipment.
7.9.3.1 Required emergency lighting systems shall be tested in accordance with one of the three options offered by 7.9.3.1.1, 7.9.3.1.2, or 7.9.3.1.3.
7.9.3.1.1 Testing of required emergency lighting systems shall be permitted to be conducted as follows: (1) Functional testing shall be conducted at 30-day intervals for not less than 30 seconds. (2) Functional testing shall be conducted annually for not less than 1½ hours if the emergency lighting system is battery powered. (3) The emergency lighting equipment shall be fully operational for the duration of the tests required by 7.9.3.1.1(1) and 7.9.3.1.1(2). (4) Written records of visual inspections and tests shall be kept by the owner for inspection by the authority having jurisdiction.

SECTION 7.10 MARKING OF MEANS OF EGRESS
7.10.1 General.
7.10.1.1 Where required. Means of egress shall be marked in accordance with Section 7.10 where required in Chapter 11 through Chapter 42.
7.10.1.2 Exits, other than main exterior exit doors that obviously and clearly are identifiable as exits, shall be marked by an approved sign that is readily visible from any direction of exit access.

7.10.1.5 Exit Access.
7.10.1.5.1 Access to exits shall be marked by approved, readily visible signs in all cases where the exit or way to reach the exit is not readily apparent to the occupants.
7.10.1.5.2 New sign placement shall be such that no point in the exit access corridor is in excess of the rated viewing distance or 100 ft (30 m), whichever is less, from the nearest sign.

7.10.3 Sign Legend.
7.10.3.1 Signs required by 7.10.1 and 7.10.2 shall read as follows in plainly legible letters, or other appropriate wording shall be used: EXIT.

7.10.4 Power Source. Where emergency lighting facilities are required by the applicable provisions of Chapter 11 through Chapter 42 for individual occupancies, the signs, other than approved self-luminous signs and listed photoluminescent signs in accordance with 7.10.7.2, shall be illuminated by the emergency lighting facilities. The level of illumination of the signs shall be in accordance with with 7.10.6.3 or 7.10.7 for the required emergency lighting duration as specified in 7.9.2.1. However, the level of illumination shall be permitted to decline to 60 percent at the end of the emergency lighting duration.

7.10.5 Illumination of Signs.
7.10.5.1 General. Every sign required by 7.10.1.2 or 7.10.1.5, or 7.10.8.1, other than where operations or processes require low lighting levels, shall be suitably illuminated by a reliable light source. Externally and internally illuminated signs shall be legible in both the normal and emergency lighting mode.

7.10.5.2 Continuous Illumination.
7.10.5.2.1 Every sign required to be illuminated by 7.10.6.3, 7.10.7, and 7.10.8.1 shall be continuously illuminated as required under the provisions of Section 7.8, unless otherwise provided in 7.10.5.2.2.
7.10.5.2.2 Illumination for signs shall be permitted to flash on and off upon activation of the fire alarm system.

7.10.6 Externally Illuminated Signs.
7.10.6.1 Size of Signs. Externally illuminated signs required by 7.10.1 and 7.10.2, other than approved existing signs, unless otherwise provided in 7.10.6.1.2, shall read EXIT or shall use other appropriate wording in plainly legible letters sized as follows: (1) For new signs, the letters shall be not less than 6 in. (150 mm) high, with the principal strokes of letters not less than 3/4 in. (19 mm) wide. (2) For existing signs, the required wording shall be permitted to be plainly legible letters not less than 4 in. (100 mm) high. (3) The word EXIT shall be in letters of a width not less than 2 in. (51 mm), except the letter I, and the minimum spacing between letters shall be not less than 3/8 in. (9.5 mm). (4) Sign legend elements larger than the minimum established in 7.10.6.1.1(1) through 7.10.6.1.1(3) shall have letter widths, strokes, and spacing in proportion to their height.

7.10.6.2 Size and location of Directional Indicator.
7.10.6.2.1 Directional indicators, unless otherwise provided in 7.10.6.2.2, shall comply with the following: (1) The directional indicator shall be located outside of the EXIT legend, not less than 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) from any letter. (2) The directional indicator shall be of a chevron type, as shown in Figure 7.10.6.2.1. (3) The directional indicator shall be identifiable as a directional indicator at a distance of 40 ft (12 m). (4) A directional indicator larger than the minimum established for compliance with 7.10.6.2.1(3) shall be proportionately increased in height, width and stroke. (5) The directional indicator shall be located at the end of the sign for the direction indicated.

7.10.6.3 Level of Illumination. Externally illuminated signs shall be illuminated by not less than 5 ft-candles (54 lux) at the illuminated surface and shall have a contrast ratio of not less than 0.5.

7.10.7 Internally Illuminated Signs.
7.10.7.1 Listing. Internally illuminated signs shall be listed in accordance with UL 924, Standard for Safety Emergency Lighting and Power Equipment, unless they meet one of the following criteria: (1) They are approved existing signs. (2) They are existing signs having the required wording in legible letters not less than 4 in. (100 mm) high. (3) They are signs that are in accordance with 7.10.1.3 and 7.10.1.6.

7.10.9 Testing and Maintenance.
7.10.9.1 Inspection. Exit signs shall be visually inspected for operation of the illumination sources at intervals not to exceed 30 days or shall be periodically monitored in accordance
with 7.9.3.1.3.

7.10.9.2 Testing. Exit signs connected to or provided with a battery-operated emergency illumination source, where required in 7.10.4, shall be tested and maintained in accordance
with 7.9.3.

272 West Stag Park Service Road Burgaw, NC 28425 phone: (910) 259-1000 | fax: (800) 258-8803