Emergency lighting is one area where I see real confusion during LED retrofits. Can you just swap the fittings? What about the batteries? Does the whole system need reassessing?

Let me walk through the key considerations.

AS/NZS 2293: The Core Standard

Emergency lighting in Australia is governed by AS/NZS 2293 “Emergency lighting and exit signs for buildings.” It has multiple parts:

• Part 1: System design, installation and operation
• Part 2: Inspection and maintenance
• Part 3: Emergency luminaires and exit signs

Any work on emergency lighting needs to comply with this standard. That’s not negotiable.

How Emergency Lighting Works

Quick refresher for those less familiar:

Emergency luminaires provide illumination when normal power fails. They might be:

• Self-contained: Battery and charger built into the fitting
• Central battery: Multiple fittings powered from a central battery system
• Hybrid: Some combination

Exit signs show people how to get out. Modern ones are typically:

• Self-contained LED with integral battery
• Central battery fed

Emergency lighting isn’t just about brightness. It’s about:

• Duration (typically 90 minutes minimum)
• Coverage (specific lux levels on escape paths)
• Reliability (regular testing, maintained batteries)
• Compliance documentation

LED Conversion Options

Option 1: Full Emergency Fitting Replacement

If your existing emergency fittings are aging, a complete replacement makes sense. Modern LED emergency fittings offer:

• Lower standby power consumption
• Longer battery life in many cases
• Better light output per watt
• Built-in self-testing features (some models)

When you replace a fitting, the new product must be tested and certified to AS/NZS 2293.3. Reputable manufacturers will have this documentation.

Advantages:

• Modern, reliable products
• Fresh batteries
• Potentially better features
• Clean compliance story

Disadvantages:

• Higher upfront cost than conversion
• May require design review if locations change

Option 2: LED Lamp Conversion in Existing Fittings

Can you just put LED lamps into existing emergency fluorescent fittings?

This is where it gets complicated.

Self-contained emergency fittings are designed as complete systems. The lamp, battery, charger, and control gear are matched. Simply swapping the lamp can:

• Change the discharge time (LED might use less power but battery isn’t sized for it)
• Create mismatches with the control gear
• Void the fitting’s certification

If you’re modifying an existing emergency fitting, technically you’re creating a new product that needs to comply with AS/NZS 2293.3. That’s a big deal.

My view: For self-contained emergency fittings, replacement is usually cleaner than conversion. The cost difference isn’t huge, and you avoid compliance ambiguity.

For central battery systems, LED conversion is more straightforward because the fittings are essentially just luminaires powered by the central system. But you still need to verify the luminaire meets AS/NZS 60598 requirements, and the overall system still needs to comply with AS/NZS 2293.

Option 3: Add Emergency Function to Standard LED Fittings

Many modern LED panels and battens are available with optional emergency battery packs. You can order the fitting with emergency functionality built in, or some manufacturers offer add-on modules.

This can be cost-effective: you’re getting standard lighting and emergency lighting from one fitting.

Considerations:

• The emergency function must be certified to AS/NZS 2293.3
• Battery packs add cost—typically $80-150 per fitting
• You need the right number and placement of emergency fittings (design requirement)
• Some emergency battery packs reduce normal output during mains operation while charging

Design Implications

Here’s what many people miss: emergency lighting isn’t just about products. It’s about system design.

AS/NZS 2293.1 specifies requirements for:

• Minimum illumination on escape routes (0.2 lux horizontal minimum, typically designed for much more)
• Anti-panic areas (0.5 lux minimum)
• Exit sign visibility and spacing
• Maximum spacing between fittings

When you change fittings, you potentially change the light distribution. What if the new LED emergency luminaire has a narrower beam than the old fluorescent? You might need more fittings to achieve the same coverage.

Best practice: For any significant emergency lighting upgrade, have the design reviewed by someone competent in AS/NZS 2293. This might be your electrical contractor, a lighting designer, or a fire safety consultant.

Testing and Maintenance

AS/NZS 2293.2 specifies testing requirements:

• Monthly: Brief functional test (lamp check)
• Six-monthly: 90-minute discharge test
• Annually: Full duration test and detailed inspection

Modern LED emergency fittings with self-test features can automate some of this, reducing maintenance burden. The fitting tests itself and indicates faults via an LED or transmits status to a monitoring system.

If you’re upgrading emergency lighting anyway, consider specifying self-testing models. The ongoing maintenance savings can be significant for larger installations.

Exit Sign Considerations

Exit signs are a specific category with their own requirements in AS/NZS 2293.3. The key points:

• Must be visible and legible
• Green running person pictogram is standard
• Specific size and luminance requirements
• Must be illuminated or self-luminous

Modern LED exit signs are efficient and long-lasting. If your exit signs are aging, this is an easy upgrade. Just ensure the replacement signs comply with AS/NZS 2293.3.

Rebate Eligibility

Here’s an important note: emergency lighting typically doesn’t generate ESCs or VEECs under standard activity definitions.

Why? Because emergency lighting operates in standby mode most of the time. The actual energy consumption is minimal—charging batteries and running at low power until needed. The energy savings from LED conversion are real but small.

If you’re doing a general lighting retrofit and adding emergency function to some LED fittings, the emergency battery add-ons aren’t part of the rebate calculation. Budget accordingly.

Practical Recommendations

1. Assess current compliance first: Before upgrading, understand what you have. Is the existing emergency lighting system compliant? Are there gaps?

2. Don’t mix objectives carelessly: A general lighting LED retrofit is one project. An emergency lighting upgrade is a different project with different considerations. They can happen together, but think about them separately.

3. Get competent advice for the design: Emergency lighting is a safety system. Get the design right.

4. Document everything: Keep records of what was installed, certification documents, and ongoing test results.

5. Consider self-testing models: For larger installations, the maintenance automation is worth the premium.

6. Budget realistically: Emergency fittings cost more than standard fittings. Factor that into your project costing.

Emergency lighting is serious business. Get it right, and it’s a building asset that protects people. Get it wrong, and you’ve got compliance problems and potential safety issues.

Worth taking the time to do properly.