Emergency lighting on campus. From lecture hall to lab.
Full lecture halls in the morning, lab work in the afternoon, evening lectures and events into the night – spread across many buildings of different ages. We design safety lighting for lecture halls, labs, workshops and escape routes and bring the test status of every building into one app.
Universities and vocational colleges are usually treated as special-use buildings; in Germany requirements follow from state building law, state school building guidelines (for vocational schools), the building permit and fire safety concept. Large lecture halls for more than 200 people are often treated like assembly rooms. In labs and workshops where a loss of light is dangerous, EN 1838 requires at least 10% of normal illuminance, at least 15 lx, within 0.5 seconds.
What applies?
- Escape route lighting and illuminated exit signs in corridors, stairwells and foyers of all buildings
- Large lecture halls and auditoriums: assembly room requirements per building permit and fire safety concept
- Labs and workshops: high-risk task area lighting – 10%, at least 15 lx, within 0.5 s
- Vocational schools: state school building guidelines and workplace rules for staff
- Evening use and events: the system must be ready outside core hours too
- Consistent documentation across all buildings for estates, safety officers and inspectors
This describes typical requirements, using Germany as the reference. What applies to your building depends on the building permit, fire safety concept, risk assessment and national or regional rules – exactly what we check during the free on-site survey.
Common mistakes
Old building with central battery, new one with self-contained units, annex without records – nobody knows the overall status.
1 lx is not enough at a fume cupboard or lathe. These need safety lighting with 15 lx.
Lecture halls are booked and tests get postponed. Self-test runs at night and between terms.
How we make it easy
We survey the building, escape routes and existing system and create a standard-compliant emergency lighting design – free and non-binding.
Exit sign, escape route and recessed luminaires plus emergency drivers – with self-test and LiFePO4 battery.
Every test documented digitally, deadlines monitored automatically – ready to show at any inspection.
Annual on-site inspection, all batteries replaced in year 5–6 and repairs – predictable costs instead of surprises.
Matching products
3DExit sign luminaire
Discreet LED exit sign luminaire for ceiling, wall, side or pendant mounting – up to 30 m viewing distance.
3DEscape route luminaire
Surface-mounted luminaire for escape routes, light output adjustable to 90° or 180°.
Emergency drivers
Self-contained emergency drivers with battery and self-test – for existing LED luminaires and LED high-bays up to 300 W.
Frequently asked questions
Does a university need safety lighting?
As a rule, yes. University buildings are usually special-use buildings with many people unfamiliar with them; the building permit and fire safety concept define which areas need safety lighting. Workplace legislation adds requirements for staff.
Do places of assembly rules apply to lecture halls?
That depends on national or state law and the fire safety concept. Large lecture halls for more than 200 people are often treated like assembly rooms – with safety lighting in the hall, illuminated exit signs and often a 3-hour duration. The same applies to events in the auditorium or refectory.
What applies in labs and workshops?
Where a sudden loss of light is dangerous – at fume cupboards, machines or in experiments with hazardous substances – EN 1838 requires at least 10% of normal illuminance, at least 15 lx, within 0.5 seconds. The risk assessment determines which workstations are affected.
How do we keep track of many buildings?
All self-test luminaires report their results via Bluetooth to the app – sorted by building, floor and room. Deadlines, faults and reports for the whole campus are in one place, exportable for inspectors.
Do old systems have to be replaced completely?
Not necessarily. We survey the existing installation on site free of charge and plan building by building: existing LED luminaires can often be made emergency-capable with emergency drivers, and outdated areas are upgraded step by step – for example between terms.
Related knowledge
Emergency Lighting Illuminance: Lux Levels per EN 1838
How bright must emergency lighting be? 1 lx, 0.5 lx, 15 lx, 5 lx: all EN 1838 lux levels, uniformity ratios and response times – with table and planning tips.
Read articleAnti-Panic Lighting to EN 1838: Requirements and Design Guide
Anti-panic (open area) lighting to EN 1838: 0.5 lx on the core area excluding a 0.5 m border, 40:1 uniformity, where it is needed, design tips and luminaires.
Read articleEmergency Lighting Logbook: Contents, Retention, Digital Records
What must an emergency lighting logbook contain under EN 50172:2024, how long should it be kept and are digital logbooks allowed? With a sample entry.
Read articleOther building types
Your contacts
Emergency lighting without worries.
Luminaires, installation and maintenance from a single source – every inspection documented digitally in our app. We start with a free on-site survey and standard-compliant design.