Udec Corporation

Emergency lighting regulations can and do vary widely, from major city to city. For example, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and New York each require specific emergency lights approved for the city. Because of the wide variations in environmental conditions, one constant challenge is to match emergency lighting with necessary national standards.

Costs of manufacturing are a critical consideration. One method of making sure emergency lighting manufacturing meets minimal standards is through effective legislative education. One important partner in these efforts is the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. The range of alphabet-soup federal agencies can be staggering for a single manufacturer…OSHA and ADA requirements have become especially important considerations. With energy awareness becoming a key factor, EPA standards are increasingly playing a part in helping the market match manufacture.

But cities are increasingly expected to become more complicated in emergency lighting requirements, as well. Though building codes are becoming increasingly standardized, the ability to enforce codes in renovations remain a concern in major cities. The other emerging call is for safety standards that exceed emergency lighting standards. This would make building codes a minimum standard.

The test would be for emerging technologies to be adopted voluntarily. “Smart” technology, including the newest LED systems, are now entering the market. The range of new technologies and techniques will be, at the least, a bright idea whose time is coming.