Safety is paramount when considering the protection of your site and its occupants. In the event of emergencies such as fires, power failures, or natural disasters, emergency measures should be in place to minimise the risks and ensure smooth evacuation. While internal emergency lighting solutions are a legal requirement under UK law, exterior lighting often gets overlooked. However, emergency LED bollards can help guide people to safety, providing clear paths and marking exit routes.
Emergency LED Bollard: How They Work
Emergency LED bollards are equipped with a battery backup system, ensuring they stay on during a power failure. These bollards automatically switch on when the power goes out, providing vital illumination for evacuation routes. The battery backup works with various bollard styles, including stainless steel bollards, grey bollards, louvered bollards, round bollards, and flat top bollards, as well as different mounting options like surface mount, flange plate mount, or root mount bollards. For flexibility, you can choose from various colour temperatures, such as a 3000K warm white light, for a tailored emergency lighting solution. Additionally, all our emergency LED bollards come with a DALI self-test feature, removing the need for manual checks and allowing the DALI control system to manage testing automatically.
Choosing the Right Emergency LED Bollard
When selecting an emergency LED bollard, you’ll need to decide between maintained or non-maintained options. Maintained bollards serve as regular lighting bollards during normal conditions and switch to emergency mode when necessary, offering a cost-effective solution. On the other hand, non-maintained bollards are off as standard and only activate in emergencies, which requires additional standard lighting in the same area.
Quality is crucial when choosing emergency lighting. Low-quality bollards may not perform effectively when running on battery backup systems, failing to provide the necessary illumination for the required period of time. It’s important to choose products from reputable manufacturers to ensure reliability and longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Why Are Emergency LED Bollards Important?
In emergencies, panic and confusion can make it difficult for people to safely navigate to an exit. Emergency LED bollards enhance safety by providing clear, illuminated pathways during power outages, fires, or other crises. They are designed to guide individuals safely to emergency exits and meeting points.
Are Emergency LED Bollards a Legal Requirement?
While UK law mandates emergency lighting for internal non-domestic properties (as stated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005), there is no legal requirement for exterior lighting. However, Gemma Lighting recommends adding emergency LED bollards to your exterior as an added safety measure, especially in high-traffic areas or complex sites.
Can Emergency LED Bollards Be on All the Time?
Yes, but with limitations. Our Emergency LED E3 HR bollards are maintained and operate as standard lighting under normal conditions. In the event of a power failure, the bollard switches to its battery backup for up to 3 hours, providing light output, depending on the performance power selected. see our BLF (ballast lumen factor) chart for more information.
Where Should Emergency LED Bollards Be Placed?
Emergency LED bollards should be strategically placed along walkways, near emergency exits, and in areas like private parks, car parks, and entrances. A professional lighting designer can help create a layout that adheres to the latest lighting and safety standards to ensure proper coverage for your project.
How Many Emergency LED Bollards Do You Need?
The number of emergency LED bollards needed depends on the size and layout of your site. As a general guideline, consider having at least one in every three bollards as an emergency unit, with a additional units for emergency exits. A lighting consultant or Gemma Lighting’s design team can assist in determining the precise number and placement based on your specific needs.
Emergency LED Bollard with PIR Sensor?
For a more tailored solution, consider opting for an integral PIR sensor alongside your emergency LED bollard for additional energy savings and functionality. Additionally, maintained emergency conversion packs can be added to existing bollards, offering a cost-effective alternative to standalone emergency lighting solutions.
Contact us Today
Gemma Lighting is an Award-Winning LED Bollard Manufacturer with over 40 years of experience in designing and manufacturing electronics, and 20 years of manufacturing high-quality, long-lasting exterior lighting solutions for our clients, including Emergency LED bollards.
If you need assistance in finding the right bollard for emergency lighting, book a consultation with our dedicated Sales team or contact us directly at +44 (0) 800 999 5201.
