BS EN 1838:2024 Lighting applications. Emergency lighting for Buildings

BS EN 1838:2024

What is BS EN 1838:2024 - Lighting applications. Emergency lighting about?

Applicable to the vast majority of UK buildings, BS EN 1838:2024 details requirements for the brightness of both emergency escape lighting and standby lighting systems.

Who is BS EN 1838:2024 - Lighting applications. Emergency lighting for?

• regulators;
• local authorities;
• insurers;
• safety professionals;
• developers;
• responsible persons for built environment premises with a public or communal aspect;
• responsible persons on premises, eg: facilities managers or similar;
• electrical/lighting engineers; and
• fire services.

What does BS EN 1838:2024 - Lighting applications. Emergency lighting cover?

This European standard specifies the luminous requirements for emergency escape lighting and standby lighting systems installed in premises or locations where such systems are required. BS EN 1838:2024 is principally applicable to locations where the public or workers have access.

Why should you use BS EN 1838:2024 - Lighting applications. Emergency lighting?

• Improved safety: BS EN 1838:2024 is designed to help occupants leave a building in an emergency; or remain in the event of a normal power outage. This revision introduces a requirement to illuminate the total width of escape routes - whether corridors or open plan areas - rather than just the centre line as before. It also updates the procedure to illuminate escape routes that pass through open areas; and includes the addition of local area lighting. These changes improve safety if an evacuation is required, and help fire services entering a building. They also improve the safety of people remaining in a building in a power cut by averting the need to evacuate.
• Compliance: BS EN 1838:2024 forms part of the requirements for emergency lighting and is therefore central to helping users maintain compliance with building regulations. As such, regulators, electrical and lighting engineers, and responsible persons should know about the latest requirements to ensure their implementation.
• Future-proofing: When considering new developments or refurbishments, developers should know the revised requirements in BS EN 1838:2024 as they impact the planning needed for regulators and local authorities.
• Insurance: As part of their requirements for insuring premises, insurers will want to take the changed requirements in BS EN 1838:2024 into account in policies.

What has changed?

BS EN 1838:2024 supersedes BS EN 1838:2013. In comparison with the previous edition, the following changes have been made:

• The requirements for illumination of escape routes now covers the total width of open spaces rather than just the centre line.
• The procedure to illuminate a safety escape route that passes through open areas is updated.
• It incorporates recommendations for “local area lighting” which aids occupants who are allowed to remain in the premises during normal lighting supply outages.
• It aligns with BS EN 50172 and provides improved measurement of the required illuminance levels throughout the life of the system.

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