FIRE PROTECTION - EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND EXIT SIGN - DESIGN, INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
Foreword
TCVN 13456:2022 is developed on the basis of consulting ISO 30061:2007.
The TCVN 13456:2022 is proposed by the Central Department of Fire safety, Firefighting, and Rescue, appraised by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality, and published by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
FIRE PROTECTION - EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND EXIT SIGN - DESIGN, INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
This Standard applies to design and installation of emergency lighting and exit signs in rooms, buildings and constructions during construction, renovation, repair, modification process.
Documents below are necessary for the application of this document. Where a document is included with its publishing year, the specified version will prevail otherwise the latest version (and amendments) will prevail.
TCVN 7722-2-22:2013 (IEC 60598-2-22:2008) Electric Light - Part 2-22: Specific requirements - Electric light for emergency lighting;
ISO 3864-1 Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - Part 1: Design principles for safety signs in workplaces and public areas;
TCVN 4379:1989 (ISO 6309:1987) Fire prevention - Safety signs;
TCVN 8092:2009 (ISO 7010:2003) Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - safety signs in workplaces and public areas;
TCVN 5053:1990 Color of safety signals and signs;
3.1
Escape route
Means a continuous and uninterrupted passage at any point from the inside of buildings and constructions to exit discharge.
3.2
Exit access
Means an exit on escape route leading to a safe area from the area of fire and explosion.
3.3
Emergency lighting
Means to provide lighting to facilitate human evacuation from the site of danger or resolution of dangerous situations prior to evacuation in the event of failure of power supply for regular lighting equipment. Emergency lighting includes lighting for escape route, rooms, and firefighting apparatus.
3.4
Escape route lighting
Means to provide lighting to help distinguish escape routes in buildings and constructions as well as obstacles during evacuation.
3.5
Open area lighting
Means to provide lighting to prevent panic in the even of emergency and allow people to approach locations from which they can find escape route (also referred to as open area lighting or anti-panic lighting).
3.6
Emergency lighting for firefighting facilities
Means to provide lighting to allow operators and users to operate indoors firefighting apparatus in case of emergency.
3.7
Safety sign
Means signs (exit direction signs and escape route signs) that provide exit instructions via a combination of color, shape, and geometry or phrasing (ISO 3864-1 /TCVN 4879:1989 / TCVN 8092:2009). Safety signs consist of 2 types: externally illuminated safety sign and internally illuminated safety sign.
3.8
Externally illuminated safety sign
Means a sign illuminated by an external light source (see Figure A.1).
3.9
Internally illuminated safety sign
Means a sign illuminated by an internal light source.
3.10
Direction escape route sign
Means a sign indicating direction of an escape route.
3.11
Exit sign
Means a sign indicating the exit.
3.12
Illuminance
Means amount of light falling onto a subject, in Lux. 1 Lux translates to the 1 Lumen of luminous flux falling onto 1 m2 of surface area that is 1 m away from light source [3].
3.13
Luminance
Means a photometric measure characterizing light source's ability to cause glare to human eyes. In cd/m2.
3.14
Safe refuge space
Refers to an area which is located on the refuge floor and allows temporary evacuation in case of fire [2].
3.15
Evacuation plan
Refers to a diagram indicating escape route and exit paths in case of fire or emergency.
4.1 The design and installation of lighting facilities and exit signs must conform to requirements and regulations under relevant technical regulations and standards.
4.2 Emergency lights and exit signs include: emergency lights; safety signs; evacuation plans.
4.3 Emergency lighting and exit signs must be selected and installed in a suitable manner so as to guarantee visibility of escape route, clearly indicate escape route, provide warning about potentially dangerous areas during evacuation, and mark firefighting apparatus.
4.4 Installation of emergency lights and safety signs must adhere to TCVN 7722-2-22:2013. Where emergency lights and safety signs are installed inside of buildings, constructions, and work items subject to risk of explosion or high humidity, lights and safety sign resistant to explosion or humidity must be used.
4.5 Where emergency lights and safety signs are powered by backup power supply, they must be able to maintain stable operation for at least 120 minutes in the event of fire or emergency.
4.6 Safety signs must be designed to as to ensure clear readability of the words “LỐI RA” or “EXIT” and other appropriate symbols. Color of safety signs: green background; white lettering and symbol.
5. Design and installation requirements
5.1.1 Emergency lights must be installed at the following areas in buildings and constructions:
a) Evacuation staircases;
b) Escape routes and where exit direction changes and where corridors meet;
c) Where elevation changes along escape routes;
d) Exit discharges and exit accesses;
e) Parking garages;
f) Occupied rooms where the distance from the furthest point in the rooms to the nearest escape route is greater than 13 m. Where these rooms are equipped with escape routes, it is permissible to install emergency lights solely at the escape routes;
g) Rooms where electrical substations are located, power generator rooms, elevator machine rooms, refuge safe spaces;
h) Fire command centers, fire pump rooms, and where other firefighting apparatuses are equipped.
Installation of emergency lights and exit signs is not required in:
- Roofless courtyards and rooftops ;
- Single-storey buildings where floor area does not exceed 200 m2, area of openings on exterior wall takes up 80%.
5.1.2 Emergency lighting for escape route
In respect of an escape route with maximum width of 2 m, average illuminance measured within a space that is at least half the width of the escape route must be at least 50% of the average illuminance measured along the centerline of said escape route which must be at least 1 lux (see Figure A.2).
NOTE: Wider escape routes can be considered a series of 2 m wide strips or treated as open area lighting (anti-panic lighting).
5.1.3 Emergency lighting in rooms
Average illuminance measured on the floor at the center of open area must not be lower than 0,5 lux, excluding 0,5 m perimeter of the open area (see Figure A.3).
5.1.4 Ratio of the highest illuminance and the lowest illuminance measured along the centerline of escape routes to open area lighting (anti-panic lighting) must not exceed 40:1.
NOTE: In order to prove the ratio, a system of electrical network compliant with CIE S 015, Chapter 4.3.3 should be used.
5.1.5 Minimize risk of temporary glare by limiting luminous intensity at maximum lighting capacity in emergency operating mode ofevery light within visible range. To be specific:
- In respect of lighting along horizontal escape route, lighting for rooms, and lighting for firefighting apparatus, luminous intensity of lights within 60o to 90o angle must not exceed values under Schedule 1 (see Figure 1).
- In respect of other escape routes, luminous intensity of lights must not exceed values under Schedule 1 regardless of angle (see Figure 2).
NOTE: Inappropriate installation of emergency lights may cause glare and obstruct visibility of people in the process of evacuating to safe places.
Figure 1 - Areas potentially causing temporary glare along horizontal escape route
Figure 2 - Area potentially causing temporary glare along other escape route
Schedule 1 - Temporary glare limits
Installation height from floor level (m) | Maximum luminous intensity of escape route and room (cd) |
H < 2,5 | 500 |
2,5 ≤ H <3,0 | 900 |
3,0 ≤H <3,5 | 1 600 |
3,5 ≤H <4,0 | 2 500 |
4,0 ≤H <4,5 | 3 500 |
4,5 ≤ H | 5 000 |
NOTE: The values are compared to specifications of electric lights | |
5.1.6 Central fire alarm panels, fire alarm call points, and firefighting apparatuses must receive adequate lighting to facilitate easy navigation and, if they are not located on escape route or in open area, must receive at least 5 lux at surrounding floor surface (see Figure A.4).
5.2.1 Exit sign
Additional exit signs are required at all entrances and exits of evacuation staircases, escape routes on all storeys, and all exits of rooms having at least 2 escape routes;
Installation of exit signs is not required in:
- Rooms equipped with emergency lighting and also satisfying any of the following requirements:
+ There is only one way in or out; or
+ There is one exit leading to single-loaded corridor or outdoor space.
- Rooms not equipped with emergency lighting and also satisfying any of the following requirements:
+ There is only one way in or out and the maximum distance from any point of the room to the nearest exit access is 7 m;
+ Maximum distance from any point of the room to the way in or out is 13 m, at least 50% of wall segment adjoining corridor is glass, and at least one of the following conditions is met:
. Doors opened into corridors are outfitted with emergency lighting;
. Doors opened into single-loaded corridor or directly outside.
- Single-storey buildings where floor area does not exceed 200 m2, area of openings on exterior wall takes up at least 80%.
5.2.2 Direction escape route sign
Direction escape route signs must be installed along escape route, in rooms, and areas where visibility to escape route is obstructed.
Direction escape route signs are not required in:
- Roofless courtyards and rooftops.
- Single-storey building with only roofs (with no surrounding walls) where floor area does not exceed 200 m2 and area of openings takes up at least 80% of total exterior wall area.
5.2.3 Low-level safety signs
Low-level exit signs and direction escape route signs are required on storeys where lounges are located in hotels of at least 7 storeys or minimum total volume of 5.000 m3 having exit corridor longer than 10 m.
The lowest point of low-level signs must be 150 mm to 200 mm above the floor surface. Each low-level sign must be at most 10 m away from one another. In respect of emergency exit doors, safety signs must be positioned above or adjacent to the doors where sides of the signs that are nearest to the doors are at most 100 mm away from door frame (see Figure A.5).
Low-level safety signs are designed to guide inhabitants and employees in buildings to reach exit accesses in case smoke obscures exits or direction escape route signs above doors and are not meant to replace standard safety signs.
5.2.4 Luminance
Luminance of safety signs must meet requirements below:
- During normal operating mode: luminance must conform to ISO 3864-1.
- Emergency operating mode: minimum luminance of signs regardless of direction is 2 cd/m2; where visibility is potentially affected by smoke produced by the fire, minimum luminance must be 10 cd/m2 (see Figure A.8).
5.2.5 Uniformity
- Uniformity of colors: Uniformity of luminance within range of safe color and contrasting color is measured by the ratio between maximum and minimum luminance of the color which must be greater than 1:5.
NOTE: Where luminance of safety signs exceeds 100 cd/m2, the ratio between minimum and maximum luminance of the color must be greater than 1:10.
- Uniformity between colors: The ratio between luminance Lcontrasting color and adjacent luminance Lsafe color must not be lower than 5:1 and must not be greater than 15:1 (see Figure A.8).
5.2.6 Safety signs installed along escape routes must meet TCVN 8092:2009 (ISO 7010:2003); TCVN 5053:1990; ISO 3864-1.
Each safety sign (not including low-level safety signs) must be at most 25 m away from one another.
5.2.7 Height of safety signs corresponding to viewing distance
Minimum height of safety signs is determined using the formula below:
where:
h - minimum height of safety sign (m);
L - viewing distance (m);
Z - a constant where z equals 100 in case of externally illuminated safety sign and 200 in case of internally illuminated safety sign.
NOTE: The determination of viewing distance in accordance with this technical parameter demands that the ratio between height of safety sign and height of lettering complies with ISO 3864-1.
Figure 3 - Minimum height of sign
5.2.8 Installation height of safety sign
Safety signs (not including low-level safety signs) must be installed at between 2 m to 2,7 m above floor level or above the door if the door is taller than 2,7 m. In respect of areas that are not protected by smoke protection causing accumulated smoke to obscure safety signs, safety signs should be at least 0,5 m below the ceiling and must not be externally illuminated.
5.2.9 Evacuation plan
-Evacuation plan is required on storeys larger than 1000 m2 or having at least 2 escape routes (see Figure A.6).
- Evacuation plan is also required in lounges of hotels, accommodations, and rooms for rent (see Figure A.7).
- Evacuation plan consists of 2 parts: instruction in writing and instruction in diagram. Evacuation plan must be posted in visible, logical, and frequented locations (see Figure A.6).
+ Diagram consists of plan view of the storey; exits and escape route direction; staircases; location of evacuation plan on the storey; where firefighting and rescue apparatus are located (symbols compliant with TCVN 4879:1989 and TCVN 5053:1990).
+ Written instruction consists of course of actions to be taken in case of fire.
- Dimension of evacuation plan depends on characteristics of activities; area of storey, rooms; exit plan and is not lower than:
+ 600x400 mm - for evacuation plan of storey;
+ 400x300 mm - for evacuation plan in rooms.
- Evacuation plan must be installed in a way that the lowest point of the evacuation plan is between 1,5 m ± 0,2 m from floor level.
Example illustrations regarding emergency lighting and exit sign
Figure A.1 - Externally illuminated safety sign
Figure A.2 - Illuminance of emergency lighting on escape route
Figure A.3 - Emergency lighting for open area (anti-panic)
Figure A.4 - Lighting for firefighting and rescue apparatus
Figure A.5 - Low-level safety sign
Figure A.6 - Evacuation plan for storey
Figure A.7 - Evacuation plan for room
Figure A.8 - Characteristics of safety sign
REFERENCE
[1] ISO 30061:2007 Emergency lighting;
[2] QCVN 06:2021/BXD National Technical Regulation on Fire Safety for Buildings and Constructions;
[3] QCVN 22:2016/BYT National Technical Regulation on Lighting - Permissible lighting at workplaces;
[4] TCVN 3890:2009 Firefighting Facilities for Buildings and Constructions - equipment, installation, inspection, maintenance;
[5] ISO 16069 Graphical symbols - Safety signs - Safety way guidance systems (SWGS);
[6] Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings 2018.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Reference documents
3 Definitions
4 General provisions
5 Design and installation requirements
5.1 Emergency lighting
5.2 Exit instruction
Appendix A (reference): Example illustrations regarding emergency lighting and exit sign
Reference