Emergency & Exit Lighting: The OBC and CEC Requirements That Get Buildings Rejected
"The exit signs are installed." Great. But are they on a transfer switch? Do the battery units provide 30 minutes or 120 minutes? Is the illumination at floor level actually 10 lux? These are the questions building inspectors ask - and the ones that delay occupancy permits when the answers are wrong.
Two Codes, One System
Emergency lighting in Ontario is designed to two separate codes that must be satisfied simultaneously; testing falls under the Ontario Fire Code:
| Code | Governs | Key Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Building Code (OBC) | Where emergency lighting is required, illumination levels, exit sign placement | OBC 3.2.7.3 (Emergency Lighting), 3.2.7.4 (Emergency Power for Lighting), 3.4.5 (Exit Signs) |
| Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), adopted in Ontario as the OESC | How the system is wired, power sources, transfer requirements | CEC Section 46 (Emergency Power), Rule 46-400 |
Where Is Emergency Lighting Required? (OBC 3.2.7.3)
- All exit corridors, stairwells, and passageways
- Principal routes providing access to exit from open floor areas
- All underground walkways and pedestrian tunnels
- Rooms with occupant loads of 60 or more (assembly areas)
- Principal routes to exits in service rooms, such as electrical rooms
- Elevator cars (required by CSA B44, not the OBC)
Illumination Requirements
| Location | Average Illumination (min. 1 lux) | Measurement Point |
|---|---|---|
| Exit corridors & stairways | 10 lux | At floor level |
| Open floor areas (principal routes) | 10 lux | At floor level along the route |
| Elevator cars | Per CSA B44 | Elevator code (TSSA) |
The 10 lux average must be maintained at the end of the battery duration period - not at full charge. Battery units dim as they discharge. Designers must account for lumen depreciation and ensure 10 lux at the 30-minute (or 1-hour or 2-hour) mark.
Battery Duration: 30 Minutes, 1 Hour, and 2 Hours
| Building Type | Required Duration | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Other buildings not listed for longer duration | 30 minutes | Minimum duration under OBC 3.2.7.4 for many standard applications |
| Certain Group B and other listed buildings | 1 hour | Confirm occupancy and building classification under OBC 3.2.7.4 |
| High buildings in the scope of OBC 3.2.6 | 2 hours | Extended evacuation and life-safety operation time |
| Generator-backed emergency lighting | Per OBC/NBC and CSA C282 | Duration, transfer, fuel supply, and testing depend on building classification and generator standard requirements |
Exit Sign Requirements (OBC 3.4.5)
- Green pictogram exit signs (running man symbol, ISO 7010) are required in new construction - red "EXIT" text signs do not comply
- Must be visible on approach to the exit (OBC 3.4.5.1)
- Directional arrow signs where no exit is visible
- Must be continuously illuminated - internally, externally or photoluminescent (CAN/ULC-S572)
- Must have integral battery backup or be on emergency power circuit
Exit signs and emergency lighting along an exit route
A typical exit corridor and stair, not a specific building. Light cones are illustrative.
Detail A: exit sign types
Green pictogram signs are required in new construction
Parts
Exit sign over the exit door: green running-man pictogram (ISO 7010), visible on approach, continuously illuminated (internally, externally or photoluminescent to CAN/ULC-S572). OBC 3.4.5
Directional exit sign with an arrow where no exit is visible. OBC 3.4.5
Emergency battery unit: connected to a receptacle on a normal lighting circuit in the area served; exit signs have integral batteries or an emergency power circuit. Rules 46-304, 46-400
Mounting height: unit equipment with the bottom at least 2 m above the floor, wherever practicable. Rule 46-302
Illumination at floor level: 10 lux average (1 lux minimum) along exit corridors, stairs and principal routes, still met at the end of the 30 min, 1 h or 2 h duration. OBC 3.2.7.3, 3.2.7.4
Exit stair: emergency lighting in every exit stairwell, corridor and passageway. OBC 3.2.7.3
Testing: a monthly functional test and an annual full-duration test (30 min, 1 h or 2 h), with records kept under the Ontario Fire Code.
- Green running-man exit sign
- Emergency battery unit
- Emergency light on the egress path
- Egress path
CEC Section 46 - Emergency Power Supply
CEC Section 46 governs emergency power supplies, unit equipment and exit sign wiring:
| CEC Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 46-108 | Emergency system wiring shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring - it may share an enclosure only in transfer switches and in exit signs and emergency lights supplied from two sources (Subrule 4) |
| 46-202 | Emergency power supply types: generator conforming to CSA C282 or central battery system. Automatic transfer equipment required (Rule 46-206) |
| 46-302 | Unit equipment shall be mounted with the bottom at least 2 m above floor level, wherever practicable |
| 46-304 | Unit equipment supply connections - typically connected to a receptacle on a normal lighting circuit in the area served, using flexible cord and attachment plug |
| 46-400 | Exit signs - must be on a dedicated connection to a power supply; location requirements set by the Ontario Building Code |
Monthly & Annual Testing Requirements
| Test | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Functional test (verify lights turn on) | Monthly | No set duration |
| Full duration test | Annually | Full design duration: 30 min, 1 h or 2 h |
| Generator transfer test | Monthly | 60 min at 30 % or more load (CSA C282) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must emergency lights stay on?
OBC 3.2.7.4 sets the duration by building type and occupancy: commonly 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours. CEC Section 46 governs the electrical emergency power supply and wiring. See our fire detector guide.
Where is emergency lighting required?
Exits, public corridors, principal routes (including service rooms) and assembly areas of 60+ occupants per OBC 3.2.7.3.
What are the testing requirements?
Monthly functional test, annual full-duration test; keep records per the Ontario Fire Code.
