Central battery system for emergency lighting: is it worth it?
Emergency lighting is a crucial component of building safety systems, as defined by EN IEC 60598-2-22:2022-11. Its primary role is to ensure adequate light during power outages, enabling safe evacuation. In high-risk industrial areas, emergency lighting also supports continued operations during disruptions.
Emergency lighting systems generally fall into two categories: standalone luminaires with individual batteries and systems powered by a central battery. For instance, OptiLine luminaires come equipped with internal battery power for standalone functionality. However, in extensive industrial settings, luminaires with central battery systems can offer greater efficiency and reliability, as we examine below in terms of benefits and costs.
Central battery-powered emergency lighting system: what are the advantages?
Central battery systems offer longer-lasting power solutions. Under temperature-controlled conditions, a central battery can last up to 10 years, as per EUROBAT guidelines, compared to a maximum of four years for batteries in individual luminaires. Unlike dispersed units that experience temperature fluctuations, central systems maintain consistent conditions, supporting battery longevity.
Streamlined maintenance and monitoring
Central battery systems simplify maintenance by enabling remote monitoring and automatic testing from a single location, as required by EN IEC 60598-2-22:2022-11. This setup reduces human error and allows for more efficient reporting, crucial in large industrial plants.
Automated testing and reporting
With a central battery, luminaires can undergo regular, automated testing according to EN IEC 60598-2-22:2022-11 standards, eliminating the need for manual inspections and enhancing system reliability.
Cost-benefit analysis of central battery systems for emergency luminaires
Installing a central battery system can involve high initial costs. This cost includes not only the purchase of the central battery, but also specialized infrastructure such as cabling and technical cabinets (sometimes fireproof, cf. next section). For smaller sites where the number of luminaires is limited, standalone systems may be a more cost-effective solution.
By regulation, central battery systems must be fail-safe. However, their dependence on a single power source creates a risk if the central battery or main cabling fails. To mitigate this, facilities must often install fireproof cabinets and backup power sources, adding to the complexity and cost. For plants with extensive infrastructure, specialized cabling and system design can present additional challenges, both technical and financial.
Long-term cost-effectiveness of a central emergency lighting battery system
Over a 10-15 year period, central battery systems often prove more cost-effective for larger plants. Reduced maintenance requirements, extended battery life, and automated testing make central systems ideal for large-scale industrial sites where manual monitoring would be prohibitively time-consuming and costly. In plants with hundreds of luminaires, such as those in the chemical industry, manual testing is not only inefficient but impractical.
Moreover, central battery systems, compliant with EN 50171:2022-10, provide a reliable and long-lasting emergency power source, essential for maintaining safety in high-risk areas. This is important because power stability is paramount in industrial settings, where interruptions can halt critical production processes.
The right emergency lighting system: a balance of cost, control and reliability
The decision on which emergency lighting supply system to choose depends primarily on the size of the installation, the specifics of the facility and the operational requirements. In smaller installations, luminaires with built-in batteries may be more cost-effective, but require frequent inspections and are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. In larger facilities, such as chemical industrial plants, systems with a central emergency lighting battery provide better control, automated testing and longer battery life, which translates into lower operating costs for the developer in the long term.