Events of general power supply failure give rise to accident hazards. For this reason, European directive 89/654/EEC „Minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace“ stipulates that work places must be equipped with emergency lighting. In Germany, this directive was incorporated into national law through the work place ordinance “Arbeitsstättenverordnung” of 12.8.2004. The situation is similar in other EU countries. EU directive 92/58/EEC regarding minimum requirements for the provision of safety and /or health signs at work serves the same protective goal. It regulates the design of safety signs, e.g. for escape routes, which also must be supplied with emergency power in cases of mains failure.
