NBC 2025 Guide: Lighting Requirements for Exit Signs on Page 353
Sarah's Expert Insight
Senior Consultant at empcontracting.ca Inc.
"At empcontracting.ca Inc. your construction contractor in London, Ontario, we emphasize that these updated illumination standards are critical for passing city inspections and ensuring long-term liability protection. With the NBC 2025 focus on standardized green pictograms, builders must ensure that emergency power circuits are correctly integrated during the early framing and electrical rough-in phases to avoid costly retrofits."
Understanding the National Building Code (NBC) 2025 is vital for modern egress safety. Page 353 specifically outlines the technical specifications for exit sign illumination, ensuring that in the event of an emergency, occupants can navigate to safety with zero ambiguity.
General Illumination Requirements
According to the NBC 2025 standards, all exit signs must be illuminated continuously while the building is occupied. The code mandates that the face of the sign must be lit to a level that provides clear visibility from a distance of at least 30 meters. This illumination can be achieved through internal lighting or external light sources directed at the sign face.
Emergency Power Supply
A critical update in the NBC 2025 remains the requirement for emergency power. In the event of a primary power failure, exit signs must be connected to an emergency power source, such as batteries or a generator, capable of maintaining the required light levels for a minimum of 30 minutes. For high-rise buildings or complex institutional occupancies, this duration may be extended based on specific regional fire safety requirements.
Standardized Green Pictograms (Running Man)
The 2025 code reinforces the transition to the ISO-standard green 'Running Man' pictogram. These signs are preferred due to their universal recognition. If using photoluminescent signs, they must be charged by a reliable light source during normal building operation and meet specific luminance decay ratings to ensure they remain visible throughout the required evacuation period.
Installation and Placement Standards
Signs must be placed at every exit door and at points where the direction of travel to an exit is not immediately apparent. Proper mounting height and unobstructed lines of sight are mandatory to ensure that smoke accumulation near ceilings does not immediately obscure the signage.