One of the most frequent questions engineers ask before inspecting Emergency Egress & Exit Lighting Test is: "Which standard should I cite on the certificate, and where do the pass/fail limits come from?" This reference guide maps BS 5266 / NFPA 101 to national regulatory adoptions and provides the complete standard annex tables.
1. National & Regional Standard Equivalence Matrix
| Region / Language | Adopted National Standard & Regulatory Code |
|---|---|
| International / UK (EN) | BS 5266 / NFPA 101 |
| Turkey (TR · Türkçe) | TS EN 1838 / TS EN 50172 / Binaların Yangından Korunması Yön. |
| Germany / DACH (DE · Deutsch) | DIN EN 1838 / DIN EN 50172 (VDE 0108-100) / ASR A3.4/7 |
| France (FR · Français) | NF EN 1838 / NF EN 50172 / NF C 71-800 |
| Spain (ES · Español) | UNE-EN 1838 / REBT ITC-BT-28 / CTE DB-SUA 4 |
| Italy (IT · Italiano) | UNI EN 1838 / CEI EN 50172 / UNI 11222 |
| Gulf / Middle East (AR · العربية) | BS 5266 / NFPA 101 / SASO / DEWA / ADDC |
2. Normative Acceptance Criteria & Mathematical Basis
EN 1838 / BS 5266-1 acceptance: escape route centre line >= 1 lx, anti-panic open area >= 0.5 lx, high risk task area >= 10% of the normal level with a 15 lx floor, diversity <= 40:1, and the full rated duration on discharge.
E_high_risk: E_risk_min = max(15 lx, 0.10 x E_normal) — Minimum emergency illuminance for shutting down hazardous processes per EN 1838 §4.4.
3. Official Standard Reference Tables
EN 1838:2013 Emergency Escape Lighting Photometric & Timing Criteria (EN 1838 §4.2 - §4.5)
| Emergency Lighting Category | Min Illuminance | Max Diversity (Emax : Emin) | Max Response Time (100% Output) | Min Rated Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape Route (up to 2m wide) | >= 1.0 lx on centre line | <= 40 : 1 | 50% in 5 s, 100% in 60 s | 1 h (3 h BS 5266 / sleeping risk) |
| Open (Anti-Panic) Area (> 60 m2) | >= 0.5 lx at floor | <= 40 : 1 | 50% in 5 s, 100% in 60 s | 1 h (3 h typical) |
| High-Risk Task Area (Switchgear/Machinery) | >= 10% of normal (min 15 lx) | <= 10 : 1 | 100% within 0.5 s | Duration of hazard (>= 30-60 min) |