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Specifier·5 min read

How to spec emergency lighting in 6 steps

The workflow most specifiers actually follow.

Six concrete steps from receiving a project to delivering a spec'd emergency lighting submittal package — and where Sage's tools fit in each step.

1. Identify the egress paths

Pull the architect's floor plans and identify all means-of-egress paths: corridors, exits, exterior pathways. NFPA 101 sets the minimum illumination requirements (1 fc average, 0.1 fc minimum) along these paths.

2. Choose central battery vs. unit equipment

Decide your architecture. For most commercial work, central battery is the right answer — see the Central Battery vs. Unit Equipment article. This decision shapes everything that follows.

3. Lay out emergency luminaires

Place emergency luminaires (Sage Phoenix, Aspen, Orion, etc. — or general-lighting fixtures with ELC) along egress paths. Use photometric .ies files in AGi32 / DIALux / Visual to prove the placement meets NFPA footcandle requirements. Sage publishes .ies files for every product where they apply (download links on each product page).

4. Place exit signs

Per NFPA 101, exit signs must be visible from all points along the egress path. Sage Exits & Emergencies (Jasper, Opalite, Luma, Rowan) all integrate with the central battery system as remote (RE) units.

5. Size the central battery

Sum the wattage of all emergency-mode loads (luminaires + exit signs + ELC outputs) and select a Sage Keystone, Volta, or Olympus sized appropriately. Add 25% headroom for future expansion.

6. Build the submittal package

Use Sage's Submittal Builder (add each spec'd product to your cart, fill in project info, optionally upload your firm logo, click Download). The result is a project-personalized ZIP of spec sheets ready to drop into your submittal package.