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Emergency Lighting Requirements for Industrial Facilities in Australia

Industrial facilities (factories, warehouses, processing plants, etc.) have unique emergency lighting needs due to high-risk environments, complex layouts, and occupational safety regulations. Below is an overview of the requirements under Australian regulations.

1. Governing Standards & Regulations

Commercial emergency lighting must comply with:

National Construction Code (NCC) – Volume 1 (Building Code of Australia, BCA)
AS/NZS 2293.1:2018 – Emergency lighting & exit signs
AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules) – Electrical safety
Work Health & Safety (WHS) Regulations – Safe evacuation compliance
Industry-specific codes (e.g., hazardous areas under AS/NZS 60079)

2. When Is Emergency Lighting Required?

Mandatory in:

All customer exit paths (aisles, corridors, fire exits)
High-risk zones (machinery areas, chemical storage, confined spaces)
Large open work areas (if part of an escape route)
Loading docks, warehouses & mezzanine floors
Areas with hazardous materials (flammable/explosive atmospheres)

3. Key Technical Requirements

A. Illumination Levels

Area	Minimum Lux	Duration
Escape routes	0.2 lux	90 minutes
Exit doors & stairwells	1 lux	90 minutes
Hazardous work zones	1 lux (or higher if specified by risk assessment)	90 minutes

B. Exit Signage

Black & green pictograms (AS 2293.1 compliant)
Mounted 2-2.7m high, unobstructed
Directional arrows where exits aren’t visible
Required at all final exits and stairwell entries
Explosion-proof signs required in hazardous areas (AS/NZS 60079).
Jumbo exits recommended in warehouse application

4. Design & Placement

Escape routes: Additional lighting in high-risk areas.
Stairways & ramps: Each tread must be clearly lit (anti-slip markings recommended).
Machinery zones: Emergency lighting near emergency stop buttons.
Hazardous areas: ATEX/IECEx-certified luminaires for flammable atmospheres.

5. Testing & Maintenance

Test	Action
6-Monthly	90-minute test as per AS 2293.2
Annually	90-minute test and additional testing as per AS 2293.2
Documentation	Logbook - Required for audits

6. Sector-Specific Considerations

Manufacturing plants: High-ceiling areas may require higher classification emergency luminaires.
Mining/oil & gas: Explosion-proof lighting (Zone 1/Zone 2 classifications).
Cold storage: IP65-rated fittings for moisture resistance.
Warehouses: Motion-activated lighting permitted (must still meet 0.2 lux minimum).
Stairwells & Carpark: Microwave sensor products recommended for reduced energy consumption

7. Compliance Timeline

8. Non-Compliance Risks

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