Regulatory framework
Emergency lighting must be designed in accordance with the regulations applicable to the building, its intended use and the fire-safety strategy. A standard is a consensus-based technical document; whether a particular requirement is mandatory depends on applicable legislation, project documentation and contractual requirements. The original handbook also refers to German and Austrian guidance. These foreign rules must not be presented as automatically binding in Croatia.
Principal Croatian and European standards
HRN EN 1838:2025 addresses lighting requirements for emergency situations and evacuation. HRN EN 50171:2022 covers central safety power supply systems. HRN EN 50172:2024 concerns emergency escape lighting systems, commissioning, inspection and maintenance. HRN EN 62034:2013 deals with automatic test systems. HRN EN IEC 60598-2-22:2022 addresses luminaires for emergency lighting. HRN HD 60364-5-56:2019 specifies requirements for low-voltage installations for safety services.
Batteries, signs and electrical installations
HRN EN IEC 62485-2:2018 contains safety requirements for stationary batteries and their installations. HRN ISO 3864 and HRN EN ISO 7010 relate to safety colours and registered safety signs. The handbook also covers requirements relevant to fire protection, occupational safety, electrical installations and the accessibility of emergency escape routes.
Working with the references
Check the exact edition of each standard and the current legislative status before using a statement in a design specification. The references reproduced here reflect the second edition of the handbook dated May 2026; this web overview is not a substitute for a licensed copy of a standard or a project-specific assessment.
LAWS, STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
LAWS, STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
When designing emergency lighting, it is necessary to know and comply with the laws, standards and regulations governing emergency lighting. A standard is a document established by consensus and approved by a recognised body that sets out rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results for common and repeated use, with the aim of achieving an optimum degree of order in a given context.
Croatia does not have one single law or standard that precisely and unambiguously describes emergency lighting, defines all terms and sets out its entire scope and legal requirements. Consequently, foreign standards often need to be consulted, predominantly European standards (EN, European Standard), German standards (DIN, Deutsches Institut für Normung), British Standards (BS) and the American NFPA 101 (National Fire Protection Association).
LAWS, STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS 10
Standards for emergency lighting in Croatia
- HRN EN 1838:2025Lighting applications — Emergency lighting.
- HRN EN 50171:2022Central power supply systems.
- HRN EN 50172:2024Emergency escape lighting systems.
- HRN EN 12665:2024Light and lighting — Basic terms and criteria for specifying lighting requirements.
- HRN EN IEC 62485-2:2018Safety requirements for secondary batteries and battery installations — Part 2: Stationary batteries.
- HRN EN 62034:2013Automatic test systems for battery-powered emergency escape lighting.
- HRN EN 12665:2018Light and lighting — Basic terms and criteria for specifying lighting requirements.
- HRN EN 60598-2-22:2022Luminaires — Particular requirements — Luminaires for emergency lighting.
- HRN HD 60364-5-56:2019Low-voltage electrical installations — Part 5-56: Selection and erection of electrical equipment — Safety services.
- HRN ISO 3864-1:2014Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 1: Design principles for safety signs and safety markings.
- HRN ISO 3864-4:2015Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 4: Colorimetric and photometric properties of safety sign materials.
- HRN EN ISO 7010:2020Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs.
Laws and regulations cited in the source handbook
- Construction ActOfficial Gazette NN 153/13, 20/17, 39/19, 125/19
- Occupational Safety and Health ActNN 71/14, 118/14, 154/14, 94/18, 96/18
- Fire Protection ActNN 92/10, 114/22
- Ordinance on Occupational Safety and Health at WorkplacesNN 105/20
- Ordinance on Fundamental Fire Protection Requirements for Electrical Power Installations and DevicesNN 146/05
- Ordinance on Fire Protection in Hospitality EstablishmentsNN 100/99
- Ordinance on Fire Alarm SystemsNN 56/99
- Ordinance on Safety SignsNN 91/15
- Ordinance on Technical Standards for Low-Voltage Electrical InstallationsNN 05/10
This list reproduces references from the 2026 handbook. Verify current editions and legal requirements before applying them.
SUMMARY OF STANDARDS
▷ illumination of escape routes, open (anti-panic) areas and high-risk task areas
▷ design and positioning of emergency lighting
HRN EN 1838:2025
▷ design of pictograms
▷ definition of LPS and CPS central supply systems
▷ design service life of batteries
HRN EN 50171
▷ calculation of battery operating duration
▷ selection of appropriate charging equipment for central systems
▷ general terminology for emergency lighting
▷ handover documentation for emergency lighting systems
▷ servicing of emergency lighting
HRN EN 50172
▷ routine inspections and records
▷ system operating durations
▷ lighting measurements
▷ definition of stationary batteries
▷ forced and natural ventilation
HRN EN IEC 62485-2
▷ calculation of required battery ventilation
▷ requirements for rooms housing batteries and safety systems
▷ rooms for CPS and LPS installations
OVE R-12-2:2019
▷ fire resistance of rooms
MLAR 2016
▷ design and fire resistance of cables
▷ definition of basic system components
DIN VDE 0100-560
▷ integration with fire alarm control panels
OVE E 8101
▷ detection of normal power supply failures
LAWS, STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS 12
Overview of standards and their scope
| Standard | Scope (as listed in the handbook) |
|---|---|
| HRN EN 1838:2025 | Escape routes, open areas and high-risk areas; luminaire placement; pictograms |
| HRN EN 50171 | LPS/CPS systems; battery design life; autonomy; charger selection |
| HRN EN 50172 | Terminology; handover; maintenance; testing; records; measurements |
| HRN EN IEC 62485-2 | Stationary batteries; ventilation; battery rooms |
| OVE R-12-2:2019 / MLAR 2016 | CPS/LPS installation rooms; fire resistance; cabling |
| DIN VDE 0100-560 / OVE E 8101 | System components; fire alarm interface; detection of power failure |