Blog for Emergency LED Tech
Choosing the Right Emergency Lighting Unit Battery
Choosing the Right Emergency Lighting Unit Battery
Emergency lighting units illuminate hallways and stairs during power outages, providing safe egress routes in a disaster.emergency lighting unit battery They rely on internal batteries that recharge during normal operations, and must be tested regularly to verify functionality. Choosing the right battery type is crucial for optimal performance and compliance. This article provides an overview of the most common battery chemistries and their tradeoffs, as well as how to maintain and replace them safely.
Most modern fixtures include a test button that simulates a power failure and activates the battery-powered lights.emergency lighting unit battery Pressing the button for 30 seconds is an easy way to see if your exit light battery is still charged enough to provide illumination during an emergency. However, a dead battery may also prevent the light from activating or stay on for the required duration of 90 minutes during a power outage, so you must test the battery often to catch problems early.
The most common types of emergency light batteries are sealed lead acid (SLA) and nickel cadmium (NiCd).emergency lighting unit battery SLA batteries feature a similar construction to automotive batteries, using lead alloy plates and an acid electrolyte to produce electricity. They're valued for their low cost and dependable performance over a wide temperature range, though they're bulkier than alternatives and should be mounted upright. Nickel cadmium batteries have a longer lifespan and are less costly than SLA, but require proper maintenance to avoid "memory effect" that reduces capacity over time. NiCd batteries are typically used in slim thermoplastic exit signs and high-output emergency lights.
Emerging battery trends are transforming the emergency lighting industry, allowing manufacturers to design smaller and lighter fixtures with higher-output batteries that can meet minimum UL ratings for duration tests. New lithium-ion and solid-state chemistry options offer greater energy density, faster charging, and longer service life compared to traditional SLA batteries, improving fixture size and battery replacement costs. Engineers should establish maintenance schedules based on manufacturer recommendations, building environmental conditions, and expected battery lifespan to ensure that emergency lights will function properly during emergencies.
Battery-backed emergency lighting is the most universal, code-accepted path to reliable egress illumination, making it an excellent choice for hospitals, schools, offices, apartments and other commercial spaces. Today, battery-backed lights integrate cleanly with building management systems and fire alarm controls for centralized monitoring, automatic testing, and digital maintenance logs, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of false alarms. This is especially important in large, complex buildings where multiple maintenance teams may be responsible for testing and repairing the equipment. If you're installing new facilities or updating existing ones, a battery-backed emergency light system is an affordable and simple solution. It can be installed in a variety of ceiling, wall and floor locations, and works seamlessly with NFPA/OSHA testing routines and automated hazard detection technologies.
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