Anti-panic lighting, called open area lighting in EN 1838, is the part of emergency escape lighting that reduces panic in larger spaces without defined escape routes and helps people reach an escape route when the power fails. It must provide at least 0.5 lx horizontally on the empty floor area, excluding a 0.5 m border at the walls, with a uniformity ratio of no more than 40:1. Whether a space needs it depends on its size and use, the risk assessment and national building rules.
What is anti-panic lighting?
Anti-panic lighting is the part of emergency escape lighting intended to reduce panic and enable people to reach a place from which an escape route can be identified. EN 1838 uses the term open area lighting; in the UK and in German practice (Antipanikbeleuchtung) the term anti-panic lighting is common. Together with escape route lighting and high-risk task area lighting, it is one of the three types of emergency escape lighting, see Types of emergency lighting.
When the lights go out in a large room, people can see neither obstacles nor exits. A basic level of light across the whole floor lets people recognise furniture, shelving, steps and each other, and move calmly to the nearest escape route. Anti-panic lighting is orientation light for areas, while escape route lighting is orientation light for routes.
What does EN 1838 require?
| Criterion | Requirement for anti-panic lighting |
|---|---|
| Illuminance | at least 0.5 lx horizontally at floor level |
| Assessed area | empty core area, excluding a 0.5 m border along the walls |
| Uniformity | Emax : Emin no more than 40:1 |
| Response time | 50 % within 5 s, 100 % within 60 s |
| Rated duration | at least 1 h; national rules often require longer |
| Colour rendering | at least Ra 40 |
| Glare | luminous intensity in the field of view limited according to mounting height |
These are minimum values over the whole operating period: they must still be met at the end of the rated duration and with aged, dirty luminaires. Reflections from walls and ceiling are normally ignored in the design; only direct light from the luminaires counts. All escape lighting lux values side by side are listed in Emergency lighting illuminance.
What does "core area excluding a 0.5 m border" mean?
The core area is the floor area of a room minus a 0.5 m wide strip along all walls. The border is excluded because people rarely move there during an evacuation and because illuminance naturally drops towards the walls.
Example: a room measures 20 × 12 m, i.e. 240 m². The core area is (20 − 1) × (12 − 1) m = 19 × 11 m = 209 m². Every point on this area must reach at least 0.5 lx, and the brightest point may be no more than 40 times brighter than the darkest.
Where is anti-panic lighting needed?
There is no single area threshold binding across Europe. EN 1838 specifies how open area lighting must perform; whether it is required follows from national law, the risk assessment and the fire safety strategy of the building. A floor area of more than 60 m² is often cited as a guide, for example in UK practice under BS 5266-1. Smaller rooms may also need it, for instance if an escape route passes through them or if many people unfamiliar with the building are present.
Typical areas:
- sales floors and shops
- assembly halls, auditoriums, foyers, canteens
- open-plan offices and training rooms
- sports and multi-purpose halls
- production halls and warehouses without defined aisles
- restaurants, bars and clubs
- waiting areas in surgeries, public offices and transport buildings
National rules translate this differently. In Germany, for example, the special building regulations for places of assembly and retail premises require safety lighting that covers such areas, and in workplaces the employer's risk assessment decides. The general triggers are covered in When is emergency lighting required?. For a specific building, the building permit and fire safety strategy are decisive.
How does it differ from escape route lighting?
| Feature | Anti-panic (open area) lighting | Escape route lighting |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | orientation across an area, reaching an escape route | using a defined escape route safely |
| Assessed area | core area excluding 0.5 m border | centre line and central band, routes up to 2 m wide |
| Minimum value | 0.5 lx | 1 lx on the centre line |
| Uniformity | no more than 40:1 | no more than 40:1 along the centre line |
| Typical optic | wide, rotationally symmetrical | elongated, corridor lens |
| Typical locations | halls, auditoriums, sales floors | corridors, stairs, exits |
Both types often occur in the same room. If a defined escape route runs through a hall, 1 lx applies on the route and 0.5 lx on the rest of the floor. In addition, exits, stairs, changes of direction and safety equipment have their own requirements – for example 5 lx vertical at fire extinguishers and first aid points.
How do you design anti-panic lighting correctly?
Compliant open area lighting comes from calculation, not estimation. A proven approach:
- Define the areas: mark open areas, escape routes and mandatory positions such as exits, stairs and safety equipment on the floor plan.
- Determine the core area: deduct the 0.5 m border. Fixed fittings such as shelving or counters affect light distribution and should be included in the model.
- Set the mounting height: EN 1838 calls for escape lighting luminaires to be mounted at least 2 m above the floor. Greater heights allow wider spacing, but illuminance at floor level drops.
- Calculate with photometric data: with the luminaires' light distribution files (EULUMDAT/LDT), software such as DIALux or Relux calculates illuminance in emergency mode, excluding reflections.
- Check spacing tables: manufacturers publish maximum luminaire spacings for 0.5 lx at different mounting heights. They suit preliminary design, not complex rooms.
- Check uniformity: a few very bright luminaires easily create pools of light and exceed 40:1. Several luminaires with moderate output usually give a better result.
Practical tip: design open areas for the furnished room, not the empty shell. Tall shelving, partitions or stage structures cast shadows in which 0.5 lx is quickly missed. If the layout changes, review the calculation.
Which luminaires are suitable?
Open areas call for luminaires with a wide, rotationally symmetrical light distribution that light a large circular area evenly. Wide optics with a beam angle of around 140° are typical. Corridor lenses with an elongated distribution are optimised for escape routes and less efficient on open floors.
Common designs:
- compact emergency luminaires for surface or recessed ceiling mounting, in non-maintained mode
- recessed downlights with emergency function that blend into suspended ceilings
- general lighting with an emergency driver, such as high-bay luminaires or LED panels that continue at reduced output in a mains failure
NOTLUX offers the compact emergency light with 700 lm and the recessed downlight with 500 lm, each available with a 140° optic for open areas or a 135 × 55° optic for routes.
What about operation and testing?
Anti-panic lighting is emergency escape lighting and is tested as such: under EN 50172, a monthly function test and an annual test over the full rated duration, each recorded in the logbook. Intervals are explained in Emergency lighting testing intervals.
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does anti-panic lighting need?
Under EN 1838, at least 0.5 lx horizontally at floor level across the core area, i.e. the floor area excluding a 0.5 m border along the walls. The ratio of maximum to minimum illuminance must not exceed 40:1.
From what room size is anti-panic lighting required?
EN 1838 sets no uniform threshold. A floor area of more than 60 m² is often cited as a guide, for example in the UK's BS 5266-1. The binding requirements come from national law, the risk assessment, the building permit and the fire safety strategy.
Why is the 0.5 m border excluded?
Hardly anyone moves along the walls during an evacuation, and illuminance naturally falls off there. The standard therefore assesses only the core area, where people actually need to find their way.
Can general lighting serve as anti-panic lighting?
Yes, if selected general luminaires are fitted with emergency drivers or connected to a central battery and meet EN 1838 in emergency mode. They must then also meet the requirements for emergency luminaires and be included in the regular tests.
Which beam angle suits open areas?
Wide, rotationally symmetrical optics of around 140° light large areas evenly and allow wide spacing. Corridor lenses with an elongated distribution are intended for escape routes. The right spacing follows from the lighting calculation or the manufacturer's spacing tables.
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