Urbalite Blackout: the new emergency solution to ensure safety during power outages

Recent blackouts affecting Spain and Portugal have brought to light a crucial question for many facilities: what happens when the power supply is interrupted? In environments where safety and operability cannot be compromised—such as hospitals, parking lots, train stations, schools, prisons, etc.—ensuring proper lighting is essential.

To address this need, we have developed Urbalite Blackout, a luminaire that combines conventional lighting and emergency illumination in a single product.

Specifically designed to operate during blackouts, Urbalite Blackout features an integrated emergency system that activates automatically upon detecting a power outage. Additionally, it includes a glass closure with an indicator light, allowing for quick and easy battery status checks.

It is certified according to the IEC 60598-2-22 standard for emergency road luminaires and is equipped with a backup battery that keeps the area illuminated for 1, 2, or 3 hours—depending on the selected configuration. This ensures visibility, safe evacuation, and operational continuity even in the most critical scenarios.

CONVENTIONAL AND EMERGENCY LIGHTING IN ONE PRODUCT 

Urbalite Blackout combines two essential functions in a single unit: main lighting and emergency illumination. This dual functionality meets regular lighting needs while ensuring service continuity during potential power outages. By integrating both capabilities into one luminaire, available space is optimized, and operational and maintenance costs are significantly reduced.

This comprehensive solution eliminates the need to install additional luminaires dedicated solely to emergencies, resulting in significant savings in infrastructure, wiring, and installation time. Furthermore, it simplifies project planning and management, facilitates maintenance, and reduces the technical complexity of the installation by concentrating all functions in a single point. This is particularly advantageous in environments where space is limited or where installing additional systems would entail complex or costly interventions.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Under normal operation, the driver powers the LEDs through the alternating current supplied by the power line. Simultaneously, the inverter controls the battery charging, also drawing power from the same line. When a power outage occurs, the inverter detects the loss of energy and redirects the flow from the battery to the LEDs, allowing them to light up for the configured duration and ensuring illumination despite the power supply interruption.

This autonomous and reliable system ensures that the luminaire is always ready to activate in case of an emergency, without external intervention or delays.

SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED IN ADIF RAILWAY STATIONS 

Urbalite Blackout is already operational in the ADIF stations of Santo Estevo do Sil, Canabal, Os Peares, and Barra de Miño in Galicia (Spain), having been selected by ADIF to enhance safety and ensure service continuity in these key infrastructures. Its implementation in these stations demonstrates the luminaire’s reliability and effectiveness in real and demanding environments, where every second without light can make a difference.

THREE EMERGENCY MODES TO OPTIMIZE LIGHTING IN ANY INSTALLATION 

Carandini’s new luminaire is available in three emergency modes depending on the existing installation: Emergency RD, Emergency SC, or Emergency SR. The Emergency RD mode is compatible with DALI networks, allowing control of switching on and off without interfering with the emergency mode’s operation. The Emergency SC option does not require a DALI network, as it uses an auxiliary line to power the battery independently from the line connected to an astronomical clock or a phase-cutting device. Finally, the Emergency SR mode, which includes a Zhaga base and SR driver and requires a Controlux BLE node, allows control of switching on and off without relying on an astronomical clock, enabling programming through the Controlux smart lighting system.

SMART PREVENTION FOR A SAFER FUTURE

In a context where power interruptions, due to technical causes or extreme weather events, are increasingly frequent, incorporating emergency lighting is no longer just a compliance measure but a comprehensive protection strategy. With this new luminaire, Carandini reinforces its commitment to safety and operational continuity, offering its clients a solution capable of anticipating the unexpected and ensuring illumination even in the most critical moments.

Don’t be left in the dark; trust Carandini’s Urbalite Blackout.