Why Schools Need Reliable Emergency Lighting
A school may need to move hundreds of children out of a building at once. Many are young. Some need help from staff. If normal power fails, lit corridors, stairs and exits help everyone get out.
Emergency lighting is a critical part of a school's life safety system. Like any building, it only works if it is tested and maintained.
Which Codes Apply
NFPA 101: Educational Occupancies
NFPA 101 Chapter 14 covers new educational occupancies. Chapter 15 covers existing ones. Both point to Section 7.9 for emergency lighting design and testing.
NFPA 101 sets which areas of a school need emergency lighting. We confirm yours during the assessment.
For existing schools, emergency lighting that was previously approved may stay in use.
Local Codes in Texas
In Texas, the State Fire Marshal's Office inspects to the 2021 edition of NFPA 101. Those state standards do not apply where a local government has adopted its own fire ordinances. Austin and San Antonio have both adopted the International Fire Code with local amendments.
Your local fire marshal is usually the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Ask which code and edition they apply to your campuses.
Testing Rules
The testing rules are the same as for other buildings:
- A functional test every month for at least 30 seconds
- A 90-minute test every year for battery-powered units
- Written records of inspections and tests, kept for the AHJ
Challenges in School Districts
Many Buildings, Small Teams
A district facilities team may cover many campuses. Walking every unit every month takes time away from other work.
Testing Around the School Day
Cutting power for a 90-minute test is hard while classes are in session. Annual tests often have to wait for after hours or school breaks.
Hard Use
Fixtures in gyms, stairwells and locker areas take impacts and vandalism. Damaged units need to be found and fixed quickly.
Area-by-Area Planning
Corridors and Stairs
These are the main exit routes. NFPA 101 requires at least 1 foot-candle average and 0.1 foot-candle minimum along the egress path at the start of a power loss.
Gyms, Cafeterias and Auditoriums
Large rooms with many occupants need clear paths to exits. Check coverage at bleachers, stages and exit doors.
Portable Buildings and Exterior Routes
Portables, covered walkways and exterior stairs are easy to miss during inspections. Include them in your device list.
How Automated Testing Helps
NFPA 101 permits computer-based self-testing emergency lighting. The ABB Emergi-Lite Nexus Pro system runs these tests and keeps the records:
- Monthly 30-second and annual 90-minute tests run on a schedule or on demand
- Tests can run outside school hours, such as overnight on a weekend.
- Defective units trigger push notifications with the issue and part number
- One dashboard can manage many properties
- Results can be shared with your team and contractors
Nexus Pro has no per-device subscription fees. Nexus Pro comes with a 5-year warranty.
For campus IT teams: the gateway connects to the ABB cloud over a wired network or Wi-Fi. It needs ports 443 (HTTPS) and 123 (NTP) open and carries only Nexus Pro emergency lighting data.
Key Takeaways
- NFPA 101 Chapters 14 and 15 cover schools and point to Section 7.9
- Your local fire marshal decides which code and edition apply
- Monthly and annual tests need written records
- Automated testing can run outside school hours and keep records for you
LivSafe Solutions is an authorized ABB Emergi-Lite distributor and commissioning provider for school districts in Austin and San Antonio.