Extract from the National Building Code of Canada – 1995 **(further clarification can be attained from the Office of the Fire Marshall of Nova Scotia)

3.2.7.3. Emergency Lighting

1. Emergency lighting shall be provided to an average level of illumination not less than 10 lx at floor or tread level in
   1. exits
   2. principal routes providing access to exit in an open floor area
   3. corridors used by the public
   4. corridors serving patients’ sleeping rooms
   5. corridors serving classrooms
   6. underground walkways
   7. public corridors, and
   8. floor areas or parts thereof where the public may congregate in
      1. Group A, Division 1 occupancies, or
      2. (ii) Group A, Division 2 and 3 occupancies having an occupant load of 60 or more.
2. Emergency lighting to provide an average level of illumination of not less than 10 lx at floor or catwalk level shall be included in a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(7).
3. The minimum value of the illumination required by Sentences (1) and (2) shall be not less than 1 lx.

3.2.7.4. Emergency Power for Lighting

1. An emergency power supply shall be
   1. Provided to maintain the emergency lighting required by this Subsection from a power source such as batteries or generators that will continue to supply power in the event that the regular power supply to the buildings is interrupted and
   2. so designed and installed that upon failure of the regular power it will assume the electrical load automatically for a period of
      1. 2 h for a building within the scope of Subsection 3.2.6. **(High Buildings)
      2. 1 h for a building of Group B major occupancy classification that is not within the scope of Subsection 3.2.6. **(High Buildings) and
      3. (iii) 30 min for a building of any other occupancy
2. If self-contained emergency lighting units are used, they shall conform to CSA C22.2 No. 141-M, “Unit Equipment for Emergency Lighting.”

3.4.5.1. Exit Signage

1. Every exit door other than the main entrance to a room or building shall have an exit sign placed over or adjacent to it if the exit serves
   1. a building more than 2 storeys in building height,
   2. a building having an occupant load more than 150, or
   3. a room or floor area that has a fire escape as part of a required means of egress.
2. Every exit sign shall
   1. be visible from the exit approach,
   2. have the word EXIT or SORTIE displayed in plain legible letters, and
   3. be illuminated continuously while the building is occupied.
3. Exit signs shall consist of
   1. Exit signs shall consist of red letters on a contrasting background or contrasting letter on a red background, with the letters not less that 114 mm high and having a 19 mm stroke, if the sign is internally illuminated, and
   2. white letters on a red background or red letters on a contrasting background that is white or light tint, with letters not less that 150 mm high and having a 19 mm stroke, if the sign is externally illuminated.
4. If illumination of an exit sign is provided from an electrical circuit, that circuit shall
   1. serve no equipment other than emergency equipment and
   2. be connected to an emergency power supply as described in Sentence 3.2.7.4.(1).
5. If necessary, the direction of egress in public corridors and passageways shall be indicated by a sign conforming to sentence (3) with a suitable arrow or pointer indicating the direction of egress.
6. Except for egress doorways described in Sentence 3.3.2.3(4) and except for the main entrance door, an Exit sign conforming to Sentences (2), (3) and shall be placed over adjacent to every egress doorways from rooms with an occupant load more than 60 in Group A, Division 1 occupancies, dance halls, licensed beverage establishments and other similar occupancies that, when occupied, have lighting levels below that which would provide easy identification of the egress door-way.

3.4.5.2. Signs for Basement Stairs and Ramps

1. In a building more than 2 storeys in building height, any part of an exit ramp or stair that continues past an exterior exit door down to a basement shall be clearly marked.