Building Safety and Lighting Requirements

August 3, 2015

Lighting requirements can be found in many industries – and many of these have specific regulations regarding lighting for building safety. Major medical and emergency centers have lighting requirements that necessitate backup generators. Depending on city and state ordinances, other places such as parking lots, parks, businesses, and public spaces may have minimum lighting requirements. These requirements are often based on concepts regarding accessibility – being able to find, access, and use spaces easily – and for public safety.  Well-lit roads, business fronts, and other areas have been thought to help prevent crime and improve safety of those who utilize those spaces.

One challenge with legal or suggested guidelines on minimum lighting standards is that these can be costly additions to a business. What if a business owns a large parking lot? What if the company operates well into the evening? Certainly a company wants to be lit well enough to ensure the safety of its customers and provide a good environment to those nearby during its operating hours.  Indeed, companies that have failed to provide adequate lighting or have poorly designed exterior elements that create poorly lit areas may face legal liabilities should a customer or employee suffer an injury under those conditions.

Typical litigation issues brought against businesses are based primarily on the problem of negligence. An example may be of a company or property owner who didn’t replace a dimming or burnt out bulb which may have caused uneven lighting conditions or prevented a security camera from operating properly. The good news is that a program that gives the business control over their lighting methods can help prevent these problems from occurring, and address issues of minimum lighting standards to meet regulatory requirements in medical or other settings.

Igor can help businesses owners by giving them control. Igor’s software can let hospitals or nursing homes set minimum – or maximum – lumen requirements for specific hours of the day or night as they are needed.  Once set, Igor will work to make sure lighting remains on at a set rate during the hours specified.  Igor’s software can also work with exterior LED lighting. It can be set to go on or off at certain times, and can be programmed to notify the business when the LED is nearing the end of its useful life, or when it starts to dim. Unlike traditional incandescent lighting, Igor also creates a record to show compliance with regulations and proof of adequately maintained lighting should litigation arise on a company’s property.  This actionable data collection becomes even more important when tied to occupancy, daylight, temperature or other sensors that improve health, safety and security.

Using LED lights alone will improve your energy savings, and their long life means they are less likely to burn out after several years of operation, unlike incandescent lighting. The power of Igor is the ability to take control of the lighting to help boost energy savings while improving lighting safety.

Click here for more information about how Igor’s Power over Ethernet Lighting Works.