Industrial batten lighting is essential for operations and emergencies. Sean Carroll looks at what electricians need to be aware of when installing.

Some of us may remember the day’s first class in school. If the room hadn’t been used beforehand, students had to wait a few counts while the fluorescent battens had to ‘warm up’ and fully illuminate the space. On a cold winter morning, it sometimes took up to a minute before the room was usable.

Fluorescent lighting has all but gone the way of the dodo, with the European Union outlawing T8 fluorescent lighting in September 2023 and several lighting manufacturers, including some in Australia, moving toward more efficient alternatives as they become harder to ignore.

Traditionally, industrial batten lighting was always fluorescent. With several alternatives on the market, what do electricians and installers need to consider when working on an industrial lighting installation?

IP65 rating

Given the nature of the installation, the first and foremost concern is an IP65 rating and ensuring the battens can withstand some of the toughest conditions. In industrial settings, there’s a high chance that various particles like dust or moisture will be flying around the room and the lighting needs to be dust-tight.

A rating of IP65 would mean complete protection from dust and protection from low-pressure jets of water from all directions. IP65 is the general recommendation for industrial settings but if there’s a chance of high-pressure water jets damaging the battens, IP56 is recommended as it gives the end user a higher level of water protection.

Light, temperature and colour

Another consideration is the actual colour of the light that the battens output. Light plays a significant role in influencing mood and levels of activity, with more bright, white lighting keeping people awake and alert while warmer colours help calm people down.

ABB market development manager and distribution sales manager Sunil Abraham explains the range of solutions on offer from the company, who work in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

“The characteristics of artificial lighting should closely match those of sunlight to ensure a positive impact on individuals’ wellbeing and productivity,” he says.

“ABB i-bus KNX Premium DALI Gateways offer ‘Tunable White’ and ‘Dim2Warm’ functions which control the warmth of the lighting. An office manager can adjust the lighting to match people’s daily rhythms to enhance their motivation, wellbeing and productivity.”

Emergency lighting classification

The AS/NZS 2293 series of Standards covers the system design, installation, operation, service, maintenance and production of emergency lights and exit signs.

AS/NZS 2293.1:2018 specifies a minimum light level of 0.2lx with a minimum average of 0.5lx at floor level under emergency lighting conditions. For stairwells, this should be a minimum of 1lx. This emergency light level should be maintained for a minimum of 90 minutes upon failure of power supply to normal lighting.

The level of light at the floor or the tread of a step depends upon the lumen output and light distribution of the fitting and the mounting height of the fitting above floor level.

Types of batteries

AS/NZS 2293.3 outlines specific requirements for the batteries used in emergency lighting systems to ensure their effectiveness in various applications. Below are the listed types of batteries:

• Lead-acid batteries
• Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries
• Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries
• Lithium-ion batteries
• Sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries
• Testing and maintenance

AS/NZS 2293.3 outlines the specific requirements for the installation and testing of all listed batteries.