What is the minimum required duration of emergency lighting power during a power outage in healthcare facilities?

What is the minimum required duration of emergency lighting power during a power outage in healthcare facilities?

• A. 0.5 hours
• B. 1 hour
• C. 1.5 hours
• D. 2 hours

Answer: (C)

Emergency lighting is there to keep exit paths visible during a power outage so people can move to safety or be relocated without ambiguity. In healthcare facilities, patients, staff, and equipment create a more complex environment, and outages can last longer or require careful patient transfers. To account for these needs, the minimum emergency lighting duration is set longer than in many other buildings: 1.5 hours. This ensures corridors, stairways, exits, and critical care areas stay illuminated long enough for safe egress, for staff to manage patient movement or care, and for any necessary shutdowns or recoveries to be completed without losing visibility. Shorter durations—such as 0.5 or 1 hour—may not provide adequate time in a large or patient-intensive setting, while 2 hours goes beyond the typical minimum.

Emergency lighting is there to keep exit paths visible during a power outage so people can move to safety or be relocated without ambiguity. In healthcare facilities, patients, staff, and equipment create a more complex environment, and outages can last longer or require careful patient transfers. To account for these needs, the minimum emergency lighting duration is set longer than in many other buildings: 1.5 hours. This ensures corridors, stairways, exits, and critical care areas stay illuminated long enough for safe egress, for staff to manage patient movement or care, and for any necessary shutdowns or recoveries to be completed without losing visibility. Shorter durations—such as 0.5 or 1 hour—may not provide adequate time in a large or patient-intensive setting, while 2 hours goes beyond the typical minimum.