Battery-backed lighting that automatically activates inside the elevator car upon loss of normal mains power, providing a minimum illuminance to prevent passenger panic during entrapment, as required by EN 81-20.
Full Definition
EN 81-20 requires emergency lighting (also called standby lighting) in the elevator car that: (1) activates automatically on failure of the normal car lighting supply; (2) provides a minimum illuminance of ≥1 lux at car floor level (sufficient to prevent complete darkness and panic); (3) is powered by a dedicated battery with sufficient capacity to maintain illumination for at least 1 hour after mains failure; (4) includes an audible alarm bell accessible to trapped passengers (the alarm battery must also power the bell for at least 1 hour); (5) is tested as part of LOLER thorough examinations and regular maintenance. The emergency lighting battery is typically sealed lead-acid or lithium chemistry, located in the car top junction box or behind the COP panel. Battery testing: EN 81-20 requires periodic functional testing (simulated mains failure test) and battery capacity testing. The two-way intercom system in the car must also function on the emergency power supply, as it is required to be operational during entrapment. Some modern installations use LED emergency lighting modules with integrated self-test functionality that automatically runs a test every 30 days and logs the result. Car illumination under normal operation: EN 81-20 requires ≥50 lux at car floor level under normal power.
