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For your business to meet the standards established by municipal codes, emergency and exit lighting must be installed. To comply with Alaska state laws, lights must be easily identifiable, sized properly, and regularly maintained. They serve the critical role of illuminating exits and evacuation routes in the event of an emergency. Here are three different options to consider.

3 Emergency & Exit Lighting Tips to Keep Your Building Up to Code

1. Exit Lights

emergency and exit lightingBuildings must have clear exit signs that are easy to spot from a distance, as this is critical in an emergency situation. The signs must be illuminated either from an external or internal source. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that externally powered lights must be lit to five foot-candles, or 54 lux, while self-luminous lighting must be a minimum of .06 foot-lamberts. While there are no color requirements, the sign must be visible even under normal conditions, and the “exit” letters should be at least six inches high and 3/4” wide.

2. Emergency Lights

While there are many types of emergency lights available, they must all be prepared to illuminate either instantly or within 10 seconds of a power outage. After that, the lights must remain powered for a minimum of 90 minutes. These lights must be placed at emergency exits and any routes that lead to those doors, including stairwells, hallways, escalators, and ramps.

3. Task Lights

For focused emergency and exit lighting, consider installing task lights. They’re designed to provide enhanced visibility for a specific purpose in the event of a problem. For example, they can help you read instructions on a safety device, use a fire alarm or extinguisher in a dark hallway, or brighten a naturally dim spot to make it safer to exit the building.

 

Don’t take your safety for granted. The team at GMW Fire Protection is the leading source for emergency and exit lighting in Anchorage, AK. Locals trust the company for commercial and residential safety needs, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and backflow prevention systems. The team will ensure that your building is in compliance with state and federal regulations and that all of your exit routes are properly illuminated for everyone’s protection. Visit the company’s website for more information, or call them at (907) 336-5000.

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