Emergency lighting in theaters

[Guest RichardRh]

I am a member of two small amateur drama groups in South Manchester, each with their own theatre, 100 seats and 160 seats respectively. At this size, the standard luminaires glare out during blackouts. From forums, I can see that this is a regular problem for small cinema and theatre auditoriums, but can find no authoritive guidance. Some people think that there is an "official" dispensation to reduce the luminaire ligh levels. Sorry I cannot offer advice but I think this would be a popular subject for you to discuss. I have used your website for help with my office fire safety and found it most useful.

Regards.

[Tom Sutton]

Download and check out, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14890/fsra-theatre-cinema.pdf and it recommends the following publications.

BS 5266-1: 2011 Emergency lighting. Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises other than cinemas and certain other specified premises used for entertainment.

BS EN 1838: 2013. Lighting applications. Emergency lighting.

Association of British Theatre Technicians, District Surveyors Association, Institute of Licensing. Technical standards for places of entertainment Technology press 2009.

BS 5266 Pt 1 2011 does stipulate the levels of illumination required. Where the recommended maintained illuminance of 1 Ix is likely to affect normal working, it is considered acceptable to reduce this level to not less than 0.02 Ix, provided the system is so arranged that, in the event of failure of the normal lighting within the a auditoria, the emergency escape lighting illuminance is automatically restored to a minimum of 1 lx within 5 s.

Full details of lighting requirements for places of entertainment are given in technical standards for places of entertainment. For areas of cinema and theatre auditoria with seating which is fixed to the floor, the minimum illuminance of emergency lighting should be 0.1 lx on a plane 1 m above the floor. All other emergency lighting parameters should be as required for open areas. However the gangways should be treated as escape routes.

For full information you need to study the standards.

[Guest Richard Rhodes]

That's really helpful! many thanks

Richard Rhodes

[Guest Hunarch]

Does the allowable reduction to 0.02 Ix still apply in the latest version of the code?
Thank you.

[AnthonyB]

From the current (2016) standard:

Non-residential premises used for recreation
NOTE 1 This class includes such premises as theatres, cinemas, concert halls, exhibition halls, sports halls, public houses and restaurants.
People using such premises can be expected to be unfamiliar with the layout.
Also, it might be desirable to reoccupy the premises once the normal lighting has been restored, or to delay evacuation after the initial failure of the normal
supply, if this is permitted.

Based on these considerations, 3 h duration emergency lighting should be installed.
Where the normal lighting might be dimmed or turned off, a maintained or combined emergency escape lighting system should be installed. However, it is
not necessary for the full emergency lighting level to be provided when the normal lighting system is functioning. In other premises used for recreation,
where there is no dimming, it is necessary only for exit signs to be maintained or combined and internally illuminated.
For some cinema and theatre auditoria where the recommended maintained illuminance of 1 lx is likely to affect normal working, it is considered acceptable
to reduce this level to not less than 0.02 lx, provided the system is so arranged that, in the event of failure of the supply to the normal lighting within the
auditorium, the emergency escape lighting illuminance is automatically restored to a minimum of 1 lx within 5 s.

NOTE 2 Full details of lighting requirements for places of entertainment are given in Technical standards for places of entertainment [36].

For areas of cinema and theatre auditoria with seating which is fixed to the floor, the minimum illuminance of emergency lighting should be 0.1 lx on a
plane 1 m above the floor. All other emergency lighting parameters should be as required for open areas. However, the gangways should be treated as escape
routes.

NOTE 3 Provided that cinema and theatre seating is fixed to the floor, the seating rows direct people to the aisles, so these do not need to be treated as open areas.
This includes seating fixed to the floor which is removable with the aid of a tool, for example to provide access for wheelchair users

[36] ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH THEATRE TECHNICIANS, CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, DISTRICT SURVEYORS ASSOCIATION, INSTITUTE
OF LICENSING. Technical standards for places of entertainment. Cambridge: Published Entertainment Technology Press 2015.