Batten Lights

Last updated: 23 March 2026

 

Not Just a Batten: The Evolution of enLighten's Vico Batten Light

When people hear "batten lights", they often think of basic utility lighting — the kind you’d find in a car park or a service corridor. But at enLighten Australia, we’ve never believed a batten has to be just a batten.

Since the launch of our Vico Batten Light in 2016, we’ve redefined what a batten can do — making it smarter, more efficient, and more adaptable to meet the real-world needs of infrastructure, construction, and commercial environments. Here’s how our Vico range has become one of Australia’s most trusted and versatile LED batten lighting solutions.

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2016: Launching the Vico Batten Light

The original Vico batten light launched in 2016 with sensor, emergency, and non-emergency models. Even at that early stage, it was more than a standard LED batten. Its built-in motion sensor reduced unnecessary energy consumption while its robust design ensured longevity in tough environments. Emergency versions added an extra layer of safety for essential spaces.

 

2018: Custom Brackets for Real-World Versatility

In 2018, we introduced the Uni-strut bracket, a custom-designed mounting system that allows the batten light to easily lock onto a uni-strut. It was developed in response to feedback from major infrastructure upgrades, especially the Telstra InfraCo Exchange project  — Australia’s largest LED lighting upgrade to date.

This innovation enabled quicker installs, greater flexibility, and reduced labour costs — features now standard in how we think about batten lights in industrial and infrastructure settings.

 

2019: Efficiency Upgrades

In 2019, our Vico batten got smarter under the hood. We upgraded the power consumption from 36W/38W down to 30W, and 18/20W down to 16W, without compromising light output. We also switched to LiFePO4 batteries in emergency versions, offering longer life cycles, better thermal stability, and a more sustainable solution.

 

2019: From Batten to Connectable Infrastructure System

2019 was a breakthrough year. In addition to upgrading the Vico batten’s energy efficiency — reducing power consumption without compromising output — we launched the enConnect System, transforming Vico into a fully connectable, scalable lighting solution.

Designed for construction and tunnel applications, enConnect is a robust plug-and-play system that allows vertical and horizontal connections between emergency and non-emergency luminaires using reusable leads and fittings. It enabled tailored lighting runs across dynamic worksites — from scaffolding to long tunnel corridors.

We also developed a fast-fit wall bracket, ideal for mounting battens against tunnel walls, and introduced a range of coloured batten lights to support WHS requirements, allowing easy visual identification of zones such as First Aid areas.

 

2020: High Humidity Version

Not all environments are created equal. In 2020, we released a high humidity batten light, featuring enhanced treatment of internal components designed to withstand wet or humid environments. Perfect for tunnels, pump rooms, and coastal installations, this model helped extend the reach of our battens into even more challenging spaces.

 

2021: Patented Scaffold Bracket

We continued to innovate on mounting options with the launch of our Scaffold Bracket in 2021. Designed to work with the enConnect system, this patented solution made it easier and safer to install temporary or semi-permanent lighting on scaffold structures, especially on construction sites and infrastructure projects.

 

2023: High Power Emergency Version

When it comes to tunnels or other long-span environments, you need lighting that delivers. In 2023, we introduced a High Power Emergency Vico Batten light, which provides brighter emergency light output for compliance in construction areas that demanded higher levels of emergency light. This upgrade reduced the number of fittings required and helped simplify design and maintenance.

 

2024: Smart Monitored Emergency Lighting

As part of enLighten’s evolving focus on smart, connected lighting, the enLink Batten light was launched in 2024. More than just energy-efficient, the enLink Batten integrates seamlessly into the enLink monitored emergency lighting system — enabling building owners and facility managers to track compliance, schedule automated testing, and monitor performance in real time. It’s a smarter, simpler way to manage emergency lighting across large portfolios without needing access to tenant networks.  We also added grouping and remote sensor adjustment capability into the enLink Vicos.

 

2024: A Smarter, More Affordable Vico

In 2024, we redesigned the Vico batten light — maintaining its core features, improving efficiency and installation time, and delivering it all at a more accessible price point.

 

It's More Than a Batten

The journey of the Vico batten is one of continuous innovation, practical feedback, and a refusal to accept the limits of conventional LED batten lighting.

From smart sensors and modular systems to tunnel brackets and scaffold mounts, we’ve turned the humble batten into a smarter, safer, and more connected solution.

So the next time someone mentions "batten lights," remember ,it doesn’t have to be just a batten.


FAQs about LED Batten Lights 


What is an LED batten light used for?

LED batten lights are commonly used in car parks, tunnels, warehouses, service corridors, construction sites, and infrastructure projects. They provide linear, evenly distributed lighting suited to both permanent and temporary installations.

Can batten lights include emergency functionality?

Yes. Many modern battens integrate emergency battery backup, allowing them to operate for at least 90 minutes during a power failure in accordance with Australian Standards.

What is the benefit of monitored emergency battens?

Monitored battens connect to a central system that automatically tests and reports their status. This reduces manual maintenance requirements and simplifies compliance reporting for facility managers.

Are LED batten lights suitable for tunnels and construction sites?

Yes. Heavy-duty battens with appropriate ingress protection (IP rating), mounting brackets, and connectable systems are widely used in tunnel, scaffold, and infrastructure environments.

How have LED batten lights improved over the last decade?

Modern battens are more energy efficient, longer lasting, and increasingly integrated with smart controls and monitoring systems. Innovations such as connectable systems, scaffold brackets, and LiFePO4 emergency batteries have significantly expanded their functionality.
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