Emergency lighting systems are now cost effective for any sized site

Emergency lighting systems
are now cost effective for any sized site

Ideally, a building owner would never need to upgrade their emergency lighting system. In a perfect world, every device in the building (emergency lights, exit signs, and extinguishers) would last forever. But it doesn't always work this way.

You might need to upgrade your system after a few years, or after a few decades - it all depends on whether your existing system is doing its job.

Here are some signs you might need to upgrade:

You’re not sure if your building is compliant and there’s no log of the testing/maintenance work that’s being done
Your costs to manage, maintain, and test your system are comparatively high - and going up over time
You’re finding it hard to get replacement parts for your system or software upgrades because they’re no longer supported
Any problems with the system take forever to get fixed
Your lamps and/or batteries are an older style that need replacing every year or so
Your facilities management team are struggling to stay on top of testing/maintenance requirements due to manual processes
Your team aren’t really sure how your system works because training and support is minimal

The Zoneworks system introduced in the 2000s (by Clevertronics, as it happens) removed the need for extra wiring or data cables by connecting emergency light fittings to a central controller using powerline technology.

More recently, manufacturers have begun to use Radio Frequency (RF) systems to wirelessly connect emergency light fittings to the central controller. Although limitations on RF within buildings meant a number of backbone hardware devices still needed to be installed between fittings, adding complexity and cost to the installation process.

We covered more detail on the history of computerised testing systems in our earlier blog on automation and the future of emergency lighting testing. But for now, let’s talk about the most recent advancement in emergency lighting systems - DSM meshing technology.

Upgrading your emergency system is more cost-effective than you think

Fortunately, things have changed a lot in the last few years. If your emergency lighting system is showing signs that it needs an upgrade, it’s more cost effective than ever to replace your old system with something newer and more efficient. That’s because:

You can get systems that require less hardware and backbone
You can connect your fittings wirelessly
Design, installation, and commissioning are faster and simpler

In fact, you may find that emergency lighting quotes are cheaper today than they were a few years ago, so your budget will likely go further.

Plus, your new system will likely use less energy, have a lower impact on the environment, and require minimal wiring and controllers. Parts will also last 3-4 times longer. So not only will it be cheaper to run, it could be possible to set up your shiny new system very quickly and for a lower cost.

So, what are your options?

Get the right sized system for your site

The best emergency lighting system will depend on a range of factors, but usually it comes down to the size of your site. So, let’s cover the systems we usually recommend for large and small sites.

BIG OR COMPLEX SITES

All buildings can upgrade more easily and cost-effectively with Zoneworks XT HIVE. But it really shines when it comes to bigger and more complex buildings, which are typically expensive and time-consuming to upgrade.

Here’s are the features that make emergency lighting simpler, faster, and more affordable with XT HIVE:

Minimal backbone - Emergency light fittings are wirelessly connected to the network, with one RF controller for every 1,000 fittings
Dynamic Self-Managed (DSM) meshing - Each emergency light fitting uses the RF frequency to find nearby fittings and automatically build the network, finding the most efficient way to communicate data back to the controller
Computerised system - Easily commission and manage the system using a web-based interface, giving you info on faulty fittings, maintenance logs, and test results at the push of a button

In larger buildings, the minimal RF backbone is key to simplifying the installation. To upgrade your site, here’s what you need to do:

Replace old emergency lights with new XT HIVE compatible products
Plug in one XT HIVE controller for every 1,000 fittings (usually next to the facility manager’s office) and connect it via an ethernet port for network access
Switch on the controller to access and control the emergency lighting system
Use a spreadsheet to upload the fitting register to the web-based interface

For ongoing management, you can then use your mobile device or PC to perform local fitting diagnostics and identify fittings. You can also use the web-based interface to run tests, generate reports, and keep maintenance logs for compliance. This also enables remote monitoring or the ability to monitor multiple buildings from one central point.

But the biggest difference for large, complex sites is what you don’t have to do. You don’t have to buy a huge number of controllers (just one per 1,000 fittings). You don’t have to design and install hundreds of metres of complex wiring to connect your fittings to the network. And you don’t have to spend days manually commissioning and configuring the network so your controller can manage the fittings, since each fitting is self-managed. As a result, costs to upgrade and maintain the site can be significantly less.

XT HIVE also has a number of other benefits, which we covered in our previous blog, The most advanced emergency lighting system.

SMALLER SITES

XT HIVE really shines for big buildings with a large number of fittings, but in some cases, smaller sites can benefit, too. This especially applies to aged care or nursing homes where there’s a group of sites that are looked after by the same maintenance contractor. These sites can run more efficiently with HIVE because you can install all the systems on the same network and allow your maintenance contractor to access them from their office or device. Instead of inspecting each site individually, your contractor can test all the sites at once, figure out what parts they need to order, then come pre-prepared with any replacement fittings. It’s much more efficient.

But what if HIVE isn’t the best solution for your small site?

For some smaller sites that don’t need large-scale networks, it will be more cost-effective to use another system. In this case, we usually recommend the Clevertest Plus system. The Clevertest Plus system is the perfect lightweight solution for sites like service stations, small retail shops, small factory units, and warehouses.

Here’s how it works:

Install compatible emergency light fittings
Activate the CTP self-test function on each luminaire and put fittings into test mode (unless they’re in a facility where you don’t want them to self-test, like a cinema)
Use the Clevertest Plus app (available on the App store or Google Play) or web interface to build your site database
Create log book, maintenance and device reports via the app or web interface

Not only is installation fast and simple, but your facilities management contractor will find it quick and easy to manage your sites.

The fitting automatically self-tests every month, providing an accurate diagnosis of lamp, battery, or control gear. Your contractor can collect test results using the app and use the LED scanner if they’re onsite, recording the flashing ID as a data packet to tell the app exactly what’s wrong with it and whether it passed or not. Then your contractor can easily order replacement parts or products so they can repair and replace fittings next time they’re onsite. This maintenance activity can then be logged in the maintenance log section of the app. Professionally formatted compliance reporting is also instantly available on the connected phone device or web portal. The system means your contractor can drop in and run an emergency lighting check in as little as 5 minutes, where previously, it might have taken several hours.

Again, the cost-benefits with this system come from what you don’t need:

A test switch at the switchboard
A data cable
A wireless connection
A centralised PC
A paper-based logbook

This makes the system quick and cost-effective to install.

Clevertest Plus vs Zoneworks XT HIVE

We’ve covered two really excellent, cost-effective emergency lighting systems. But which one is right for you? That depends mainly on the size of your facility.

A SINGLE BUILDING WITH FEWER THAN 50 FITTINGS

If your site has around 50 fittings (or fewer), Clevertest Plus will tick all your boxes, giving you ease of maintenance and better compliance.

Although it’s not as advanced as XT HIVE, you still get a web-based, cloud-based platform to store your reports and logbooks and manage compliance. Your fittings will still test themselves without having a contractor onsite, but your contractor will need to visit every fitting to gather the test results each month.

Best of all, the system and app comes standard and free of charge with our compatible CLP and L10 ranges. That means that once you've got your new exit and emergency lights installed, there's no extra cost to pay for the system - upfront or ongoing. You only need to budget for your ongoing maintenance contractor and any replacement parts - and both of these costs will be significantly lower when you run a more efficient system.

As a result, Clevertest Plus is ideal for smaller sites that need a cost-effective emergency lighting solution.

MULTIPLE BUILDINGS OR A LARGE NUMBER OF FITTINGS

Once you have multiple buildings to manage or your facility has more than 50 fittings, it’s worth investing in a more advanced system like Zoneworks XT HIVE.

HIVE gives you more functions, more control of the fittings and network, and more detailed reports. But most importantly, your maintenance contractor won’t have to visit each fitting every month. They can quickly check the test results, create a report, and check the “live” status of the system at any time from their PC. The more buildings and fittings your contractor needs to look after, the more time they’ll save by remotely testing and checking each fitting.

Although it may cost a little more to purchase and install the equipment initially, time-savings on maintenance and testing will quickly add up in a larger building and facility. The payback periods are very short.

For example, one of our clients is a large stadium that has over 2,700, L10 Nanophosphate emergency fittings with Zoneworks since 2012. They recently ran the numbers and found that their emergency lighting maintenance costs have reduced by over 90%. Over the last 8 years, they’ve spent just $15K on maintenance and replacements.

Across the 1,300+ systems we’ve installed throughout Australia and New Zealand (including Sydney Opera House and most major hospitals), we’ve found similar cost savings.

No matter your building size, we can help

Stop paying high maintenance costs and stop risking your compliance with an older emergency lighting system. No matter how big or small your building, there’s a new system to suit your needs and save you money. For maximum savings, upgrade to a system you can count on for the life of your building. When you choose Clevertronics, you get Lifetime Technical Support (LTS), which means we’re here to help with training and support (at no extra cost) for as long as your emergency lighting system is installed.

Ready to get started?

The first step is to contact us. We’ll recommend the most cost-effective solution (taking into account initial upgrade costs and ongoing maintenance and testing) tailored to your situation - whether that’s Zoneworks XT HIVE, Clevertest Plus, or something else. We’ll help make sure your building is compliant, your upgrade is the best value for money, and your emergency lighting system stays cost-effective for the long run.