Fire safety code compliance financed
by LED – A “best of both worlds” solution

Lighting regulations and fire egress compliance in multifamily buildings may not be on any best seller list, but fire safety in any building should be a top priority for every building manager and owner. Newer buildings, which have been built to code, generally are in compliance. But as you move on to older buildings, you will start to see instances of code compliance shortfalls, especially involving public corridor and fire stairs lighting as well exit signage. Even in older well run buildings, don’t be surprised to find some very serious deficiencies including inadequate egress illumination, no exit signage and no battery backup emergency lighting for corridors or fire stairs. These deficiencies
can only be described as a window of opportunity for bad things to happen – a window that needs to be closed as soon as possible. Andrew Pisani of the Metropolis Group, a recognized NYC Building Code expert, advises that “NYC Building code requires that illumination for required paths of egress in multifamily buildings shall not be less than one ft. candle at the walking surface at all times. This includes public corridors, in a residential building, as a path of egress to the required exit stairs. At exits in buildings, the minimum illumination shall be two ft. candles. In addition, emergency lighting in stair cases shall be provided by emergency power systems in case of power failure. For buildings without a backup power generator, the power shall be provided by battery backup for a duration of not less than 90 minutes.

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