Emergency Exit Lights/Exit Signs/Central Lighting Inverter Systems FAQs

My emergency lights turned on when there was a power outage, but they stopped working after about an hour. Why?
To aid in exiting the facility, emergency and exit lighting serves this purpose. According to NFPA 101 regulations, the battery backup must run the emergency and exit lighting for one and a half hours, or 90 minutes, giving people time to safely exit the building. A unit may have a weak battery or require repair if it shuts off before 90 minutes have passed. Your emergency and exit lights will automatically replenish the batteries once the AC power is restored. However, it will take around 24 hours to fully recharge the device.

Exit signs and emergency lights are available from internet retailers. The benefits of purchasing from Fox Valley Fire & Safety
Codes: Chicago-rated metal and glass units are required in the City of Chicago, and certain suburbs' AHJs (Authority Having Jurisdiction) also mandate green exit signs. You risk making an expensive error by trying to cut costs. Years of servicing, inspecting, repairing, and installing experience are available from our professionals and safety experts. Fox Valley Fire & Safety offers and installs devices with a work and parts warranty.

Why am I unable to personally check the emergency and exit lights?
While it may be tempting to cut corners on inspections, doing so might wind up costing you much more in the long term. According to NFPA 101, batteries must pass a load test to prove they can power the device for 90 minutes. Not all code requirements are satisfied by a straightforward push-button test. Each product is properly inspected and tested by our factory-trained personnel.

What kinds of problems are typically discovered during an inspection?
Batteries are brittle, may completely fail, or may be found to be performing below code and require replacement. Perhaps a bulb needs to be changed. The device might need to be changed if it can no longer operate correctly.

Are my emergency lights due for a checkup as the inspection label says last year?
The latest inspection is indicated by the year written on the label coupled with the month that is hole-punched. On the sticker, the technician adds their initials and the current date. In most circumstances, you won't need to get another inspection for another year after that. Certain theaters, nursing homes, and facilities under IDPH jurisdiction are exceptions to this rule and may demand semi-annual or quarterly inspections.

All of my devices received new stickers, with the exception of one. Did the technician overlook this one?
The technician will not apply a new inspection sticker showing this device passed inspection if a problem was discovered during the inspection and the technician does not have the necessary repair part or authorization to conduct the repair. A new sticker will be put on as soon as the item is fixed or replaced and passes inspection.

Are emergency lights checks necessary?
Absolutely, Section 7.9.3 of NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code details the organization's specifications for routine testing of emergency lighting equipment. Both a monthly minimum activation test and a yearly test during which the lights are turned on for 1.5 hours are necessary. The AHJ shall have access to written records of the monthly and annual tests for inspection. The norm is NFPA, however certain AHJs, such the Chicago Municipal Code, have further requirements.

A central lighting inverter system: what is it?
A battery backup system is a central lighting inverter system, commonly known as a UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply. It transforms your light fittings into emergency illumination that complies with building codes during a power outage. A collection of DC batteries and electronics known as inverter systems are used to convert the DC power from the batteries into the AC power source required for emergency lighting demands. While switching from battery to AC power, the lighting remains on. This allows for a safe exit from the facility in an emergency by illuminating the specified egress path.