The History of Emergency Lighting

The emergency lighting systems in our homes, businesses, and educational facilities is something that many might take for granted, but they are a critical component of an overall safety plan. Emergency lighting is designed to help alert one in the event of an emergency (such as flashing lights that go off during a fire) and guide occupants safely out of a building and on toward safety (such as emergency floor lights that line hallways).

This use of lights to alert community members of dangers may seem simple and modern, but did you know that it is a type of warning system that stretches back thousands of years? The following is a look at a quick history of emergency lighting and how it has evolved:

The History of Emergency Lighting

The Han dynasty was a great and innovative imperial dynasty of China that ruled between 206 BCE and 220 CE. This dynasty came to power just after the building of the Great Wall of China (built to protect inhabitants from invaders like the Mongols) and hence it was the early task of Han dynasty members to protect and ensure their wall adequately served its purpose.

Because the Great Wall covered such a massive span of distance, it wasn't possible to easily transport men or physical messages across its length. Especially in the event of a sudden attack. So what leaders of this era decided upon was a system of fire signals, both a regular interval signal that would be given to indicate all was well and an emergency signal to indicate the arrival of suspicious people and call for aid. According to historians, if a tower came under attack, pyre attendees were to light two signals to indicate that the enemy numbered 20 or fewer men or three signals to indicate that the enemy numbered 100 or more. This unique emergency lighting system helped both keep the towers safe and helped warn nearby occupants that there may be a danger. 

Other cultures used similar emergency lighting to alert of enemy forces, including early United States settlers. Here, the Continental Army (which is the army the 13 colonies fielded together in order to fight the Revolutionary War) kept beacons throughout what is now New York State to warn of impending British movements. You could also go back even further than the Han Dynasty and consider that the very first (known) lighthouse was built in Alexandria, Egypt around 300 BCE and served (as lighthouses do) to warn of bad shores and direct sailors safely to harbor.

Modern Emergency Lighting

Today, we don't really have to worry about the invading Huns nor do many of us sail offshore at night and need to seek out lighthouses, but we do need emergency lighting in our homes and businesses. Today, we associate emergency lighting with those lights that turn on, flash, and alert us of natural dangers like tornados and fires. Once alerted, other types of emergency lighting leads us to safety.

Backup Batteries for Emergency Light Systems

Because situations that typically require emergency lighting also equate to a loss of regular lighting, it is important to have backup batteries for which the emergency lighting can draw power from. Here at MK Battery, we have a number of full system emergency lighting and battery systems in stock and we work with a number of emergency lighting vendors to ensure their clients get the important backup batteries they need to ensure all of their emergency systems are a go in the event of an electrical outage. Contact our team today to learn more.