Emergency Lighting Two Ways
Built-In or Add-On

Every commercial lighting plan has the same question buried in it: which fixtures stay on when the power goes out? Corridors, exits, stairwells and open work areas all need light during an outage. Archipelago Lighting gives you two ways to get there. Order the fixture with the emergency driver already inside, or add an EM08 driver to the fixture as its own line. Both use the same 8 W constⒶNT driver class. The difference is when the decision gets made.

Option 1: Emergency Built Into the Panel

For new construction and full fixture replacements, the simplest path is a panel that arrives ready. proⒶRCH-II is the back-lit LED panel in the planoⒶRCH collection, in 1×4, 2×2 and 2×4. Wattage is set by dip switch: 20, 30 or 40 W on the 1×4 and 2×2, and 30, 40 or 50 W on the 2×4. Color temperature sets the same way, to 3500K, 4000K or 5000K.

The 2×4 delivers up to 6,250 lumens, the line reaches up to 125 lm/W with CRI above 80, and every size is rated for damp locations. Add /EM to the catalog number and an 8 W emergency battery is installed at the factory. There is no separate emergency unit to mount, wire or track. The contractor sets it in the grid like any other panel.

This path makes the most sense when the emergency positions are known at the start of the job. One catalog number covers the emergency positions, and the rest of the ceiling uses the same panel without /EM, so the whole space keeps one look and one light level. The same built-in choice runs through the line: proⒶRCH-T troffers take /EM, and Luxmark troffers and Waymark wraparounds come as /EM08 builds with the driver included.

Option 2: The EM08 Add-On

Not every job starts with a clean plan. Fixtures may already be specified, the emergency count may change after inspection, or a space may only need backup in a few positions. That is where an EM08 driver, ordered as its own line, fits.

EM08 is the constⒶNT 8 W emergency LED driver. When normal power fails, it runs the fixture at 8 W for 90 minutes and holds that output to the end, then recharges in 24 hours once power returns. It is UL 924 listed. These models install at the factory or in the field:

• EM08-MT/150DC: for 150 V DC arrays in troffers and strips. Hallmark lists it as its emergency option.
• EM08-HMB/170DC: for 170 V DC arrays, with a test switch and status light.
• EM08-AMB/48DC: for 25–48 V DC Class 2 arrays.

Eureka vapor tights take EM08-CMB/48EDC as their own line.

One rule matters here: each EM08 model is built for a specific LED array voltage. Always match the EM08 model to the fixture’s data sheet rather than assuming one driver fits everything. Your ALG rep or the spec team can confirm the pairing before the order is placed.

Choosing Between Them

Choose built-in when the job is new construction or a full replacement, the emergency positions are known up front, and you want one catalog number and one install step per emergency fixture.

Choose the EM08 add-on when fixtures are already specified or installed, the emergency count is still moving, the space mixes fixture types, or only a handful of positions need backup.

Many projects use both. A new office might run proⒶRCH-II /EM panels in the open areas and add EM08 drivers to the strips in the back-of-house rooms, so every space gets emergency coverage without changing its fixture choice.

What Stays the Same Either Way

Whichever path you choose, the emergency performance is the same class: 8 W for 90 minutes, with a 24-hour recharge. The fixture keeps its selectable wattage and color temperature for everyday use. proⒶRCH-II also comes sensor-ready: order /SR/EM and the panel comes with the sensor port and the emergency battery together, ready for Bi-Level, ⒶCS or NLC control. The contrⒶLS platform post explains how those systems work. Plan placement and counts against the requirements for the space and the photometric layout. ALG’s spec team can help with both.

Support From the Spec Team

The Document Library holds spec sheets, IES files and install guides for the whole catalog, plus the constⒶNT Catalog 2027 with every emergency driver in one place. For layouts, fixture schedules and spec questions, reach an ALG spec engineer at spec@archipelagolighting.com or +1 (866) 912-3220.