Emergency LED Bulkhead Lights: Regulations & Best Practices

Are you struggling to find the best Emergency LED Bulkhead lights for your spaces? This is actually quite common, as there are tons of options out there for you to choose from! Typical, there are 4 different types of Emergency LED Bulkheads:

• Drum
• POLO
• Wall Pack
• Round Die-cast 

Here at LEDSAVE, we take pride in our expertise in all things LED-related. Please keep reading if you want to learn more and find the right solution for you. 

Finding the Right Emergency LED Bulkhead Light for You

Since there are a few options for emergency LED Bulkhead lights out there, it’s worth thinking about each one to make sure that you’re getting what you need. Here’s some information to help drive your decision. 

LED Drum Bulkheads

LED Emergency Drum Bulkheads are one of the most common types out there. You’ve probably seen them in office buildings and residential areas as well. These typically come in 15-watt variants, which is very efficient, as they have an equivalent fluorescent wattage of 28-watts. 

In a nutshell, this means that you’re getting twice as much lighting for half the power consumption. The Lumen output for these Emergency LED Bulkhead lights is rated at 1400 Lumens when operating normally, and 180 Lumens when in emergency mode. This roughly translates to 93.33 Lumens per watt during normal operation, and 12 during emergency mode. 

They come in a standard colour temperature of 4500K, which is close to Daylight, making them ideal for office spaces to keep productivity up. 

LED POLO Bulkheads

Similarly to LED Drum Bulkheads, LED POLO Bulkheads are also great for both residential and office spaces thanks to their features. Many of these lights also come with a Microwave sensor, which incorporates a function that allows you to vary their intensity from 10 to 100%. 

Another great thing about these LED Emergency lights, is that they require zero maintenance. Especially compared to fluorescent alternatives, which are harder to keep in good condition and will likely need frequent replacements. 

As for Lumen output during normal operation and emergency operation, LED POLO Bulkheads share the same specs as their Drum counteraparts. You can also use these emergency LED lights in areas like flats, hotels and corridors, as they’ll only activate when they detect motion. 

This can go a long way in helping you save money on electricity bills. 

LED Wall Pack Bulkheads

Emergency LED Wall Pack Bulkheads can be great for areas such as industrial warehouses where a lot of dust and other chemicals might be used. The reason for this, is that most of them have an IP65 rating, which we’ll cover more in depth later in this article. 

You can rest assured that an Emergency LED Bulkhead light will last a long time, as it features in aluminium fin heatsink to ensure that the heat produced stays away safely from the electronic components inside it. 

While variants with 3-hour emergency backup light are out there, they’re not as common, so you might have to look hard to find one with this feature. From one of these LED Emergency Bulkhead lights, you can expect to get a 120 degree beam angle in a colour temperature of 5000K. 

Moreover, this LED light is rated to be 60% more energy-efficient than conventional SON models. 

LED Round Die-cast Bulkheads

For many people, Round Die-cast LED Emergency Bulkheads are considered to be the most visually appealing of them all. They typically come in a black and white contrast that looks great. 

These Bulkheads typically come in 18-Watt variants and can either have a simple design or feature a Microwave Sensor and a 3-hour emergency backup. Both can be very efficienty during a blackout.

Products like our 18W Round 3hr Emergency Die-cast Full moon LED Bulkhead light offer three different colour temperatures: 3000K, 4000K, and 5000K. They have the same fluorescent wattage equivalent as the Drum and POLO variants, and they also share the same Lumen output in both normal operation mode and emergency mode. 

Our LED Round Die-cast Bulkheads also feature an IP65 rating. This makes them ideal for industrial applications where conditions might be harsh. 

There are also Half Moon variants, which are partially covered, reducing their beam angle significantly. This can be great for applications where you want the light source to be pointing downwards.

IP Ratings 

At this point, you’re probably wondering what the IP Ratings mean and what all the fuss is about them. These ratings tell how resistant LED Bulkhead and other LED lights are to certain elements, including dust and water sprays. 

Most LED lights with an IP rating have an IP65 Rating, which means they can resist dust and low-pressure water sprays. There are also some LED lights that are rated for high-pressure water sprays. However, those are reserved for more specific applications. 

If you’re going to place your Emergency LED Bulkhead outside, where dust and rain can get to it, your best bet will be to get one with an IP65 rating. On the other hand, if you’re planning to keep your Emergency LED Bulkhead indoors, then you likely don’t need that. 

UK Emergency Light Requirements

Like any other country in the world, the UK has some specific emergency light requirements that you must comply with. According to the Surrey Fire & Safety Department, there are 4 different types of emergency lighting: 

• Escape route lighting: meant to illuminate routes to fire escapes and emergency exits.
• Open area emergency lighting: Also called “anti-panic” lighting. These are typically installed in open areas to provide enough lighting for people to be able toe scape safely in an emergency. 
• High-risk task area lighting: Designed to be placed in areas where high-risk work, such as using industrial tools is needed. These must operate in the event of an emergency and stay on long enough for workers to escape safely and stop working. 
• Standby lighting: These are not required by law, and they’re only meant to keep spaces lit in the event of a blackout. 

The best places to install emergency lights are stairwells, areas with changes in the floor level, toilet areas greater than 8 square metres, intersections in corridors, and areas where there are changes in direction of the escape route. 

Which Emergency LED Bulkhead Light Do You Need?

While there’s no cookie-cutter answer to this question, the type of emergency LED Bulkhead light that you choose will greatly depend on your needs. 

If you have a warehouse, you’ll want to choose an emergency light with an IP65 rating that can withstand dust and light water sprays. And if you want to place these lights in a hotel or workspace, then any other alternative will do as long as it has a 3-hour emergency backup feature. 

If you have any questions regarding our products, please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@ledsave.co.uk, or give us a ring at 01652 638840. We’re open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Please check out our contact page for more information.