Many national, state and local building codes, including the National Electrical Code® (NEC®), the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code® (LSC®) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), require reliable and sufficient emergency illumination for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings in the United States.

In the event of a situation in which normal power is lost, stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators and passageways leading to safety must be illuminated continuously for a minimum of 90 minutes. Emergency lighting guides occupants to the nearest path of egress.