In a high-rise building, what is the function of emergency lighting?

Emergency lighting plays a critical role in high-rise buildings during an emergency. Its primary function is to illuminate evacuation routes when the regular lighting system fails, typically due to power outages caused by emergencies such as fires. This ensures that occupants can safely navigate their way to exits without encountering hazards or obstacles in low visibility conditions.

The importance of illuminating evacuation routes cannot be overstated, as it directly contributes to the safety and effective evacuation of occupants. During emergencies, visibility can quickly diminish, and having clearly lit pathways is essential for guiding people to safety.

While decorative lighting may enhance the aesthetics of a building, it does not serve a functional purpose in emergencies. Additionally, systems like HVAC are focused on environmental control and comfort rather than safety during a crisis, and controlling fire door access is more about security and fire safety compliance rather than providing immediate assistance to evacuees. Therefore, the function of emergency lighting in high-rise buildings is singularly focused on facilitating safe evacuation.