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Section 1008 Means of Egress Illumination

Building Code 2018 of Illinois > 10 Means of Egress > 1008 Means of Egress Illumination

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1008.1 Means of Egress Illumination

Illumination shall be provided in the means of egress in accordance with Section 1008.2. Under emergency power, means of egress illumination shall comply with Section 1008.3.

1008.2 Illumination Required

The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied.

Exceptions:

Occupancies in Group U.
Aisle accessways in Group A.
Dwelling units and sleeping units in Groups R-1, R-2 and R-3.
Sleeping units of Group I occupancies.

1008.2.1 Illumination Level Under Normal Power

The means of egress illumination level shall be not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface.

Exception: For auditoriums, theaters, concert or opera halls and similar assembly occupancies, the illumination at the walking surface is permitted to be reduced during performances by one of the following methods provided that the required illumination is automatically restored upon activation of a premises' fire alarm system:

Externally illuminated walking surfaces shall be permitted to be illuminated to not less than 0.2 footcandle (2.15 lux).
Steps, landings and the sides of ramps shall be permitted to be marked with self-luminous materials in accordance with Sections 1025.2.1, 1025.2.2 and 1025.2.4 by systems listed in accordance with UL 1994.

1008.2.2 Group I-2

In Group I-2 occupancies where two or more exits are required, on the exterior landings required by Section 1010.1.6, means of egress illumination levels for the exit discharge shall be provided such that failure of a single lamp in a luminaire shall not reduce the illumination level on that landing to less than 1 footcandle (11 lux).

1008.2.3 Exit Discharge

Illumination shall be provided along the path of travel for the exit discharge from each exit to the public way.

Exception: Illumination shall not be required where the path of the exit discharge meets both of the following requirements:

The path of exit discharge is illuminated from the exit to a safe dispersal area complying with Section 1028.5.
A dispersal area shall be illuminated to a level not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface.

1008.3 Emergency Power for Illumination

The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises' electrical supply.

1008.3.1 General

In the event of power supply failure in rooms and spaces that require two or more means of egress, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

1008.3.2 Buildings

In the event of power supply failure in buildings that require two or more means of egress, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

Interior exit access stairways and ramps.
Interior and exterior exit stairways and ramps.
Exit passageways.
Vestibules and areas on the level of discharge used for exit discharge in accordance with Section 1028.1.
Exterior landings as required by Section 1010.1.6 for exit doorways that lead directly to the exit discharge.

1008.3.3 Rooms and Spaces

In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:

Electrical equipment rooms.
Fire command centers.
Fire pump rooms.
Generator rooms.
Public restrooms with an area greater than 300 square feet (27.87 m²).

1008.3.4 Duration

The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Section 2702.

1008.3.5 Illumination Level Under Emergency Power

Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is not less than an average of 1 footcandle (11 lux) and a minimum at any point of 0.1 footcandle (1 lux) measured along the path of egress at floor level. Illumination levels shall be permitted to decline to 0.6 footcandle (6 lux) average and a minimum at any point of 0.06 footcandle (0.6 lux) at the end of the emergency lighting time duration. A maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded. In Group I-2 occupancies, failure of a single lamp in a luminaire shall not reduce the illumination level to less than 0.2 footcandle (2.2 lux).