The Ontario Building Code | Emergency Lighting
9.9.12.3. Emergency lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting
(1) Emergency lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting shall be provided in,
(a) exits,
(b) principal routes providing access to exit in an open floor area,
(c) corridors used by the public,
(d) underground walkways, and
(e) public corridors.
(2) Emergency lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be provided from a source of energy separate from the electrical supply for the building.
(3) lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be designed to be automatically actuated for a period of not less than 30 min when the electric lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting in the affected area is interrupted.
(4) Illumination from lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be provided to average levels of not less than 10 lx at floor or tread level.
(5) The minimum value of the illumination required by Sentence (4) shall be not less than 1 1x.
(6) Where incandescent lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting is provided, lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting equal to 1 W/m² of floor area shall be considered to meet the requirement in Sentence (4).
(7) Where self-contained emergency lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting units are used, they shall conform to CSA C22.2 No. 141, "Emergency lighting="http://thehandyforce.com/electrical/" title ="East York Electrician">lighting Equipment".
Section 9.10. Fire Protection
9.10.1. Definitions and application
In Plain Language
Emergency lighting, which activates automatically if normal power fails, is required in the locations set out in this article, keeping the egress path visible during a power outage.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.