Landlords' Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland - Association of ...

Escape Route Lighting
The premises should be provided with escape route lighting to the extent necessary
to ensure that in the event of an outbreak of fire within the building, illumination is
provided to assist in escape and to aid staff/residents in implementing the emergency
fire action plan.
Escape route lighting utilises the artificial lighting within the building. Every part of an
escape route should have artificial lighting supplied by a protected circuit that provides
a level of illumination not less than that recommended for emergency lighting. The
escape route lighting need not be supplied by a protected circuit if the building has an
emergency lighting system installed.
In protected zones the artificial lighting should be supplied via a protected circuit
separate from that supplying any other part of the escape route, unless a system of
emergency lighting is installed in the protected zone. A protected circuit is a circuit
originating at the main incoming switch or distribution board, the conductors of which
are protected against fire. It may be easier to rely on self-contained emergency lighting
luminaires than to install a protected circuit to an existing lighting system.
If there are escape routes that are not permanently illuminated, such as external stairs,
then a switch, clearly marked ‘Escape lighting’, or some other means of switching on
the lighting should be provided at the entry to that area.
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The Electrical Safety Council Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland