Providing reliable illumination during a power outage is critical for commercial and industrial facilities. Emergency lighting ensures safe egress by illuminating exit paths, corridors, stairwells, and exit points when normal power fails. Beyond safety, emergency lighting is also a code requirement — and non-compliance can create liability risks for building owners and operators.
Integrating LED emergency battery backup systems into your lighting infrastructure provides peace of mind, operational security, and code compliance.
Emergency Lighting Codes & Requirements
Emergency lighting systems are governed by multiple regulatory bodies, including:
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
• NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)
• JCAHO
• ANSI / UL 924
• Local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)
Under NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, emergency systems must provide:
• Minimum 1 foot-candle average along egress paths at floor level
• After 90 minutes: minimum 0.6 foot-candle average
• At no point less than 0.1 foot-candle
Most emergency drivers are designed to supply at least 90 minutes of backup illumination, meeting these requirements.
Two Types of LED Emergency Drivers
There are two primary emergency backup driver configurations used in LED lighting systems:
1. DC-Input Emergency Drivers
(Direct to LED Light Source / LED Chips)
These emergency drivers supply power directly to the LED light engine rather than the main driver.
Key Characteristics
• Bypasses the fixture’s standard LED driver
• Powers the LED board directly during outages
• Typically factory-installed inside the fixture
• Clean, integrated emergency solution
At RevolveLED, DC-input emergency drivers are usually pre-installed at our facilities before shipment, ensuring proper wiring, sealing, and code compliance.
Common DC Emergency Models RevolveLED offers
• KEMIU08LV155
• KEMIB08LV60
• KEMIB08LV155
• KEMIB20LV260
• KEMIB30LV260
These solutions are widely used in:
• Wall packs
• Vapor tight fixtures
• High bays
• Linear fixtures
• Outdoor luminaires
Some models feature LiFePO4 batteries for improved temperature tolerance, making them suitable for cold or hot environments.
2. AC-Input Emergency Drivers
(Supply Power to the LED Driver)
AC emergency drivers operate differently — they supply backup AC power to the fixture’s existing LED driver rather than directly to the LED chips.
Key Characteristics
• Field-installable
• Works with existing LED fixtures
• Ideal for retrofits
• More flexible for contractors
Installers can add these units to:
• Existing LED fixtures
• RevolveLED fixtures without factory EBB
• Retrofit upgrade projects
Common AC Emergency Models RevolveLED offers
• EMUFO-40170-YY
• EMUFO-25170-YY
• KPV-EB-40
• KPV-EB-25
• KEMEP08LV170
These are commonly used for:
• High bays
• Linear fixtures
• Troffers
• Downlights
• Strip lights
Indoor vs Outdoor Emergency Solutions
Indoor Applications
We offer multiple internal and external battery backup drivers suitable for:
• Troffers
• Panels
• Strip lights
• Downlights
• Linear high bays
Outdoor Applications
For wall packs, flood lights, and area lights, field-install external battery packs can be used.
Emergency Backup Kits with Integrated Light Source
Some retrofit scenarios require an independent emergency light engine.
Example:
KEMIB08LV-KT-1200
• Includes battery + LED module
• Converts fluorescent fixtures to UL924 emergency compliance
• Works with older T5 / T8 housings
How Emergency Drivers Operate
All emergency backup drivers function similarly:
1. Charge when normal power is present
2. Detect power loss automatically
3. Switch to emergency mode
4. Provide ≥90 minutes illumination
5. Self-test monthly / annually
Choosing the Right Emergency Driver
| Application | Recommended Type |
|---|---|
| New fixture order | DC-input (factory installed) |
| Retrofit project | AC-input |
| Outdoor extreme temp | LiFePO4 DC driver |
| Fluorescent conversion | Emergency kit w/ light source |
Shop Emergency Backup Solutions
You can view our full emergency driver collection here:
https://revolveled.com/collections/emergency-backups
