The hidden costs of
emergency lighting

Hidden Costs of Emergency Lighting Header

Emergency lighting is a critical safety feature in any building, ensuring safe evacuation during power outages or emergencies. However, many facility managers and building owners are often unaware of the hidden costs associated with maintaining and operating these systems. In this blog post, we'll explore the various expenses involved and often overlooked when planning emergency lighting.

Understanding the Costs of Emergency Lighting

Installation Costs

Installing emergency lighting involves more than just buying the lights. You also need to factor in expenses for wiring, labour, and any necessary modifications to your building's electrical system. These costs can accumulate quickly, especially in larger facilities.

For large-scale installations, it's essential to get at least three quotations. Be sure to compare product warranties and technologies, and ensure the products are from a reputable and established manufacturer. Most Building managers can typically expect to pay anywhere between $200 to $260+GST per emergency luminaire when replacing standard emergency or exit lighting.

We always recommend using a reputable FPA Australia accredited provider which can be found here. Alternatively you can contact us directly and we can put you into contact with a reputable provider.

Calculating the costs of emergency lights.

Energy Consumption

Traditional emergency lighting systems that use fluorescent tubes can consume significant amounts of energy, leading to higher utility bills. Most fluorescent fittings use up to 44% more energy than their LED counterparts. This is especially true for older systems that often still have outdated fluorescent fittings installed.

However, with modern fittings and the latest sensor technology, such as our Beacon occupancy sensors, which only use lighting when and where it’s needed, energy savings of up to 85% are easily achievable. For larger buildings, the annual savings can be substantial.

Most modern emergency and exit signs use LEDs, but it always pays to check before purchasing.

Maintenance and Testing

Emergency lights require testing every six months to ensure that they are in safe working condition. The test needs to be conducted by a trained service provider who is required to test the lights for a total of 90 minutes. Testing needs to be conducted, verified and documented by a reputable FPA Australia accredited provider. See How do I test Emergency and Exit Lighting?

The cost of emergency lighting testing can add up significantly over time. This includes expenses associated with typical failures, the time required to conduct the tests, coordinating with external contractors, and notifying building occupants. Additionally, if the tests need to be conducted outside of standard business hours, the costs can be even higher.

Self-Test

Self-Testing Emergency Lights

Our Self-Test range automatically conducts tests on each emergency fitting, with results available via a mobile app or status indicator. Collect results in seconds instead of waiting for a standard 90 minute drop test. Schedule tests outside business hours to minimize disruptions and save on your six monthly and annual tests.

Explore Self-Test

Networking

Automatic Emergency Lighting System

Upgrade to our monitored emergency lighting system to automate testing and collect test results straight to the cloud. While monitored systems generally come with a higher upfront cost, they often prove to be considerably more cost-effective in the long run. Powered by Plexus, a leading indoor mesh network.

Explore Networking

Replacement Parts

Over the lifespan of your emergency lighting system, various components may need to be replaced, including lamps and drivers, but the most frequently replaced component is the battery.

Traditionally, the industry practice has been to replace the entire emergency batten fitting when it fails the six-monthly test. However, with proper diagnosis, often the only component that needs replacement is the battery, providing a significantly cheaper alternative. Elumen's Kwicky module allows for a safer battery replacement in LED emergency battens without the need to power down the electricity supply.

The Elumen Kwicky module being replaced in an Elumen Bondi batten light.

Cleaning, Plastering, and Painting Costs

Regular cleaning of emergency lights is crucial to prevent internal hardware failures caused by dust build-up. Ensuring the covers are clean also maintains optimal lighting levels in an emergency.

Plastering and painting often become necessary when replacing emergency lights with fittings of different brands, sizes or shapes, particularly in recessed exit sign installations. This can lead to visible differences in paint color, cleaner areas compared to surrounding surfaces, or noticeable holes, especially when trying to match a large footprint using smaller or cheaper brand fittings.

Elumen addresses these challenges with our Palm emergency exit sign, the largest recessed exit footprint available on the market today. It can replace any brand of failed exit sign without leaving behind visible paint marks or gaps in the ceiling, providing a seamless solution.

Ensure your emergency devices are not painted over.

How Elumen Can Help You Save

At Elumen, we understand the importance of efficient and reliable emergency lighting. Our products are designed to minimize these hidden costs through advanced technology and superior design:

Energy-Efficient LED Lighting: Our LED emergency lights consume less power, reducing your energy bills.
Long-Lasting Components: With longer-lasting LEDs and batteries, as well as our modular systems you'll spend less on replacements and maintenance.
Automated Testing: Elumen's self-test emergency lighting systems automatically perform regular tests, reducing labour costs and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Robust and Durable: Our weatherproof and vandal-proof designs mean fewer replacements and repairs, even in harsh conditions.

By understanding and addressing the hidden costs of emergency lighting, you can make more informed decisions that enhance safety and efficiency in your building. Elumen's range of emergency lighting products offers reliable, cost-effective solutions that help you save money while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.

Elumen

Explore our Elumen emergency lighting products today and discover how we can help you reduce costs and enhance safety in your facility. Contact us for a consultation or to learn more about our innovative solutions.

The hidden costs of emergency lighting