The Difference Between Maintained and Non-Maintained Bulkhead Emergency Lights

The Difference Between Maintained and Non-Maintained Bulkhead Emergency Lights

While emergency lighting is required in almost all public buildings as part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document B, there are many different options available for installation. Understanding the difference between maintained and non-maintained bulkhead emergency lights empowers individuals and businesses to select the ideal system for their particular environment. Various factors influence the decision, including operational needs, compliance requirements, and the nature of the premises.

The primary difference between maintained and non-maintained systems is their respective functionality during power outages and emergency situations. Maintained emergency light systems operate continuously, seamlessly integrated into a premises’ regular lighting infrastructure and ensuring visibility at all times. This approach is effective in spaces where constant illumination is critical for safety or operational reasons, such as corridors and stairwells.

Alternatively, non-maintained systems remain dormant during standard operation and activate solely when triggered by a power failure or emergency situation. This feature is particularly suitable for confined spaces or storage rooms, as the fixtures are discreet and don’t contribute to energy consumption during regular operations. They also provide targeted illumination, focusing on areas that need it most without consuming unnecessary power.

A key benefit of a non-maintained bulkhead emergency light is that it saves on maintenance costs. The batteries are able to provide illumination for the duration of the emergency, meaning that they need to be replaced only when they reach their end-of-life. This is typically around 3 years for nickel-cadmium batteries and longer for lithium batteries, depending on the manufacturer. Using lithium batteries is not only more cost-effective than replacing the bulbs, but it also ensures that the fixture continues to function as intended and complies with regulations regarding battery health monitoring.

Maintaining a proper emergency lighting regime is crucial for the safe evacuation of occupants in the event of an incident. This includes checking the batteries regularly and storing them correctly to maintain their functionality. In addition, it is important to have a clear emergency lighting scheme that outlines the location of each unit and identifies the function they serve. This will help to reduce confusion and enable a swift and smooth response to any emergency scenario.

Our range of non-maintained bulkhead emergency lights includes the EM153C, which comes with an easy-to-install removable battery pack. The battery pack uses LiFePO4 technology, which offers many benefits over the nickel-based products such as a longer lifetime, better discharge behaviors and is produced in a more welfare friendly way. We also stock the more traditional Apex bulkhead, which is supplied with a sticker legend pack so that you can customise it with an up, down, right or left arrow, or the highly recognisable running man symbol.

Regardless of which model you choose, it is essential to have a fire resistant cable installed from the bulkhead to the central battery system. This is especially important in buildings with more than one emergency light fitting as they will require a 4-core cable to join each fitting to the central battery system.

Tags:2 head emergency spot light | 8w non-maintained bulkhead emergency light | bulkhead emergency light unit