Is maintained mode (SA) mandatory? Where it is required and why Lixit is the right choice

Within the landscape of public and private building safety, emergency lighting is an essential element. There are specific contexts in which regulations require luminaires to be installed in maintained mode (SA) — meaning they remain permanently on — to ensure safe and orderly evacuation in the event of an emergency.

What the regulations say

The CEI EN 1838 standard defines the minimum lighting requirements in the event of a mains power failure. It establishes that, in certain environments such as high-occupancy spaces (cinemas, theatres, shopping centres, hospitals, schools, etc.) or in areas considered particularly critical from a safety perspective, emergency lighting must be provided in maintained (SA) mode.

This means the luminaire must remain switched on even during normal operation of the electrical system, ensuring a constant minimum level of illumination that is always visible — even before a blackout occurs.

Why maintained mode (SA) is mandatory in certain environments

The obligation to use maintained mode is driven by people’s safety. In environments with high occupant density or where evacuation may be complex, it is essential that signage and escape routes are always clearly visible, even under normal conditions.
This allows occupants to become familiar with escape routes and ensures fast, intuitive evacuation in an emergency, reducing the risk of panic, disorientation, or injury.
In addition, maintained mode ensures that light is instantly available at the moment mains power fails, with no switching delay.

Lixit: a specialised and fully compliant solution

Within this regulatory and technical framework, Lixit stands out as a specialist manufacturer of emergency luminaires specifically designed to comply with maintained mode (SA) requirements and the most stringent safety standards.

• Maintained mode as standard: all models intended for mandatory contexts are supplied with native SA configuration, ready for use in installations requiring continuous light.
• ENEC certification: Lixit products are certified according to the highest European standards (ENEC), guaranteeing reliability, electrical safety, and consistent performance over time.
• Durable, high-quality materials: luminaires are manufactured using premium materials designed to withstand demanding environmental conditions and long-term use.
• In-house production and total quality control: every Lixit device is designed, assembled, and tested internally, with rigorous quality checks at every stage to ensure flawless performance throughout its service life.

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