Emergency & Exit Lighting Design in Australia: A Complete Guide to AS/NZS 2293 Compliance
Why emergency and exit lighting design matters
When the power fails during a fire or emergency, occupants have seconds to find their way out. Emergency and exit lighting is what lights the path of travel and points people to the nearest exit.
In Australia, emergency lighting design is not optional. It is an essential safety measure under the National Construction Code (NCC) and must comply with AS/NZS 2293. A poor design can fail the occupancy permit, the annual essential safety measures inspection, or worse, fail people in a real evacuation.
At J George Consulting, we provide emergency lighting design and exit lighting design for commercial, education, healthcare, industrial and residential buildings across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. This guide explains what a compliant design involves and what building owners, builders and contractors should look for.
Australian standards for emergency and exit lighting
Emergency lighting in Australia is governed by the NCC and the AS/NZS 2293 series. A compliant design must address all of them.
Key design requirements under AS/NZS 2293.1 include:
Minimum illuminance along the path of travel, measured at floor level
A minimum 90-minute battery duration for emergency luminaires and exit signs
Exit signs visible from every point in the path of travel, sized to their classified viewing distance
Directional exit signs wherever the exit is not directly visible
Spacing based on the luminaire's tested classification, or a point-by-point lighting calculation
State regulations then add their own layer. In Victoria, emergency lighting is an essential safety measure under the Building Regulations 2018 and needs an annual essential safety measures report. NSW requires an annual fire safety statement, and Queensland requires occupiers to maintain fire safety installations under the Building Fire Safety Regulation.
Our emergency lighting design process
A good emergency and exit lighting design starts with the building's egress strategy, not the luminaire catalogue. Our process:
Review the egress paths – we confirm exits, paths of travel, stairs, ramps and fire-isolated passages with the architect and fire engineer, including any performance solution.
Identify NCC Part E4 requirements – we check classification, rise in storeys and floor area to confirm where emergency lighting and exit signs are mandatory.
Select luminaires and system type – self-contained or central battery, single-point or computer-monitored, with tested AS/NZS 2293.3 classifications.
Lay out and verify – we space luminaires to their classification or run a point-by-point lighting calculation (AGi32) for open areas, high ceilings and complex spaces.
Position exit signs – signs sized to viewing distance, with directional signs at every change of direction.
Document and certify – drawings, schedules, circuiting and a design certificate signed by a CPEng, NER, RPEQ and RPEV registered engineer.
We also review contractor shop drawings and certify installed systems, so the design intent carries through to handover.
Common emergency lighting design mistakes
These are the issues we see most often in design reviews and site audits:
Exit signs blocked from view by bulkheads, signage, ducts or racking added after design
Spacing taken from the wrong classification – using a generic spacing instead of the luminaire's tested data
Missing directional signs at corridor turns and open-plan offices
High-bay and atrium areas designed without a point-by-point calculation
Wrong circuiting – emergency fittings not on the same final subcircuit as the normal lighting they back up
No test facility for six-monthly discharge testing, making maintenance hard and costly
Fit-out changes that move walls and exits but leave the original emergency layout untouched
Emergency lighting testing and maintenance
Under AS/NZS 2293.2, emergency and exit lighting must be inspected and discharge tested every six months. Each luminaire must run on battery for the full rated duration, and results are recorded in a log book.
Failed batteries, lamps or fittings must be repaired promptly. These records support the annual essential safety measures report in Victoria, the annual fire safety statement in NSW and occupier obligations in Queensland.
Design decisions affect maintenance cost for the life of the building. A computer-monitored emergency lighting system can automate testing and reporting, which often pays off in large or multi-building sites such as university campuses and hospitals.
Frequently asked questions
What standard covers emergency lighting in Australia? AS/NZS 2293 is the main standard. Part 1 covers design and installation, Part 2 covers inspection and maintenance, and Part 3 covers luminaires and exit signs. NCC Part E4 sets where they are required.
How long must emergency lights last? Emergency luminaires and exit signs must operate for at least 90 minutes on battery after mains failure.
How often must emergency lighting be tested? Every six months, including a full-duration discharge test, recorded in a log book.
Do I need a new emergency lighting design for a fit-out? Usually, yes. New walls, partitions and exits change the paths of travel, so the layout and exit signage must be reviewed and certified.
What is the difference between emergency lighting and exit lighting? Emergency lighting lights the path of travel when power fails. Exit lighting (exit signs) shows people where the exits are and which way to go.
Need an emergency lighting designer in Melbourne?
J George Consulting provides compliant emergency and exit lighting design, shop drawing reviews and certification for new builds, fit-outs and upgrades across Melbourne, Victoria, Sydney, NSW and Brisbane, Queensland.
Our designs are prepared and signed off by a CPEng, NER, RPEQ and RPEV registered electrical engineer, so you get one consultant for design and compliance in all three states.
Contact us today for a fee proposal on your emergency lighting design project.
Related services: lighting design, electrical design, compliance certification, power systems.
