What to Look for When Choosing an Emergency Batten

When it comes to emergency lighting, selecting the right emergency batten is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance in various environments. Emergency battens play a critical role in providing illumination during power outages, allowing safe egress and preventing accidents. With a plethora of options on the market, it's essential to focus on certain key features to make the right choice. Here are the main aspects to consider: 

For areas exposed to moisture, dust, or potential water splashes, an IP65-rated emergency batten is non-negotiable. This rating ensures that the luminaire is dust-tight and can withstand water jets from any direction, making it ideal for wet locations such as outdoor settings, washrooms, and industrial spaces. 

A high emergency classification is paramount for optimized luminaire spacing. This feature ensures adequate illumination over a more extensive area, reducing the number of luminaires needed and lowering installation costs. The improved spacing also enhances safety by providing better visibility during emergencies. 

The flexibility to adjust the light color temperature and power settings can make a significant difference in ensuring the appropriate ambiance and intensity for various environments. Tri-colour settings, typically offering warm, neutral, and cool options, cater to different needs, while multiple power settings allow for adaptable illumination levels, providing versatility across a range of applications. 

In large projects, aesthetic consistency is crucial. Choosing a brand that offers both standard and emergency versions of their luminaires ensures uniformity in design, allowing for seamless integration throughout the project. This consistency not only enhances the visual appeal but also simplifies maintenance and part replacement. 

The choice of battery technology greatly impacts performance, reliability, and longevity. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are a must due to their long cycle life, stable discharge voltage, and better thermal and chemical stability. They also offer faster charging times and are more environmentally friendly compared to traditional batteries. 

It's essential that the chosen emergency batten is fully tested and compliant with the Australian and New Zealand standard AS/NZS2293. This ensures the luminaire meets the necessary safety and performance requirements for emergency lighting and exit signs, providing peace of mind that the product will function correctly during an emergency.

Simplifying the installation process saves time and reduces labor costs. Look for emergency battens that feature large terminal blocks, which make connections straightforward and accommodate various wiring configurations. This ease of installation is especially critical for larger projects where multiple units need to be installed quickly and efficiently. 

When selecting an emergency batten, prioritize features that ensure durability, flexibility, safety, and ease of installation. By focusing on IP65 rating, emergency classification, color and power settings, aesthetic consistency, battery technology, compliance, and installation, you'll make an informed decision that ensures optimal safety and performance in your space. The right emergency batten will serve you reliably during critical moments, providing much-needed illumination when it matters most.